It was written by Australian Marist (Roman Catholic) priest Kevin Bates (-2024), and was originally released on his 1980 recording "Passover Saturday" produced by Malgriff Australian Recordings (ref). Later it was included in the "A Journey Remembered" compilation in 1995 (ref). More recently As One Voice have released a contemporary-Christian-music style recording.
The unnamed tune has a 6/8 time signature. The chorus is in a minor key: in Dm, the first few notes are D D A A AGF EE F E. The verses are in a major key: in F, the first few notes are FFF cccc_.
No published sheet music has been found. The hand-written version below was found in a parish filing cabinet in New Zealand - it is not known whether it came from an official source, or was transcribed by someone who heard a recording. It's not good-enough quality for printing, but can be read on-screen.
Downloads
This section may contain affiliate links: I earn from qualifying purchases on these. Free downloads are provided where possible (eg for public domain items).
Examples
Professional singers - guitar accompanied (the arrangement used here is considerably more difficult than the folk-style arrangement that was used in the 1980s.)
Lyrics
The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website.The song starts with a five-line chorus, and this is repeated after each of the four verses. A rough outline is:
Chorus:
The Spirit of God has been given to me
And the giving has not been in vain.
The Spirit of God has been given anew
So that anyone seeking the truth, the life and the way
May know Jesus Christ is his name.
1 Make sure the poor hear the word ...
2 Make sure the hungry are fed ...
3 Make sure your prisoners go free ...
4 Be sure when breaking my bread
No comments:
Post a Comment