Water - Background on the Songs

For some reason I started reading scriptures in the bible related to water.  From this came the project of writing a group of songs based on water.  I had always loved the song "Wade in the Water", so this was the first song I reworked. The following are the songs in the Water project and a little background. The only exception to the water theme is "Come Unto Him" which is based on the sermon on the mount.

Wade in the Water – an old negro spiritual.  I used some of the verses from the original song and wrote some new verses.  The bass line used in the song came from a lesson from Scott's bass lessons.

God of All Power – I wrote, I found an odd version of the Bible which referred to him as the God of All Power. Part of the song came from 1 John 5, verses 6-8 “This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.”

Come to the River: I wrote this, it came from Revelations 22 “ Then the angel[a] showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city;”

Still and Peaceful Waters: Verses one and two are from the spiritual titled “Amen”, but I think I also saw it in a hymn.  The other verse and the chorus came in part from Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.[a]

3     He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness[b]

What Can Wash Away My Sin: Old hymn, one of my Emmaus friends played the piano for me.

Come Unto Him: I wrote this one, it came from the sermon on the mount.

Jordan River:  I wrote this one which came in part from John 1:28 – about 1:30.  I found the loops for the cello and violin on line.  I built the chorus of the song around these loops.  In the case of this song the music came first and words came second.

I’m Going Down to the River:  I wrote this one. While looking for background for the Jordan River song I read all the gospels related to John baptizing Jesus.  This song was inspired by Matthew 3 where John tells Jesus I need to be baptized by you:

The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him,[b] and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son,[c] with whom I am well pleased.”

Wayfaring Stranger:  This is listed as either an old Negro spiritual or an Appalachian hymn. No one is sure who originally wrote it.  I love the Johnny Cash version. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIlbZAP8ASQ

A lot of country and folk artists have record this song.  Often the verse about the savior is left out which I put back in the song. The bass line used in this song also came from Scott's bass lessons.