Friday, June 7, 2013

Who Would Have Thought - Draft 20


Hopefully this is the one!


Who Would Have Thought (Lift High The Cross)

Who would have thought the schemes of man
Could bring about our father’s plans?
Who would have thought that rage and spite
Would work for good and bring us life?

Who would have thought the cursed cross
sin’s bitter wage, the hangman’s tree
Would be our joy and our delight
the flag, the glory of the free?

Chorus:
Lift high the cross
Sing out Jesus’ name
Lift it up, sing it out
It's God's power to save.

Lift high the cross
Sing out Jesus’ name
Lift it up, sing it out
Praise his glorious name!


Who would have thought the Lord of life
could lie so helpless in the grave?
Who would have thought that out of death
would come God’s mighty power to save?

Repeat Chorus

Bridge
No eye had seen
No mind conceived
No heart had dreamed
Who would have believed?

Repeat Chorus

Who would have thought this broken heart
could be renewed and purified
Praise be to Christ, this dying frame
will rise and gain eternal life!

sar 2013

11 comments:

  1. I love the chorus and bridge - really takes off.

    What would happen if you switched the 2nd and 3rd lines in the first verse? The rhyming patter would match the other verses..

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    1. Not really. I think the position of the 'Who would have thought' is structurally stronger than the rhyme. Because verse 1 is in a different position to the other verses (it doesn't get a chorus), I don't think the different rhyme pattern matters. In fact, it may even help.

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    2. Fair point. I look forward to hearing it!

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  2. Nothing to add. Just want to cheer from the sidelines and say hooray for you for persevering with this. You are going to nail it and it is going to be fantastic.

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  3. I like it a lot, nice work. There'd better be a fabulous tune to knock the other 'Lift High the Cross' out of my head. It was a school speech night favourite...

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  4. Like it here too. Is this the one you were telling me about last Sunday?

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  6. Genuine question - not a criticism - is there something a little morbid about me, a sinner, singing "Lift high the cross", which was an execution moment? I feel like a member of the crowd cheering on that wonderful but dreadful act. It was of course a wonderful moment despite its hideousness, so you're probably right to get us to splendour in it...

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    Replies
    1. Yes Jane there is! That's the point:

      Who would have thought the cursed cross
      sin’s bitter wage, the hangman’s tree
      Would be our joy and our delight
      the flag, the glory of the free?

      It's like we're hanging electric chairs around our necks. This hideous thing has become the symbol of our freedom. The cross is God's power to save us. We glory in it.

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