New Worship Song Based on Psalm 107

I have been working through much of 2009 on writing some music that can be sung in a congregational setting. The latest song we have used publicly is called "O That Men Would Praise." This song comes out of Psalm 107, and if you look at the Psalm in the NIV you will notice the line "Let them give thanks to the Lord, for his unfailing love..." repeats over and over. Interestingly enough, the same line in the KJV repeats as "O that men would praise the Lord, for his goodness, for his wonderful works, to the children..."

The Psalmist chose to repeat this line, so why shouldn't I? The NIV version became the foundation of the chorus for the song, while the KJV version is the basis for the verses of the song. After that, each of the lines for the verse and for the Chorus 2 are captured from the various verses and context of the chapter, in an attempt to follow the same progression of thought. In order to came up with various ways to make the lines sing-able, I used the NIV, the NASV, the KJV and the HCSB versions to put together lines that were more poetic in nature. Also, I changed some lines (O that women) (O that his children) to encourage each group of people to sing that verse. Men verse 1, women verse 2, and all on verse 3.

Then musically, I borrowed some the feel and chords of the song from Martin Smith's My Soul Sings. I also decided to use the open capo in the key of A on this song because it allows new chord variations not really found anywhere else, along with an A drone that I think works nicely through the song by playing behind the capo. On verse 3 going into chorus 2, the open capo allows me to play a totally different voicing by playing in front of the capo without ever moving it. This builds the chorus well, and helps climax the song.

All in all, it was my desire to write a new congregational song with theological lyrics, and a sing-able melody. Would you want to sing this song in church?

orginal video source

Ignore some of the misplacement of chords due to blogger's text editor ... use the video as a template. Check it out!

O That Men Would Praise (Psalm 107) Milo Wilson 2009

INTRO
A E A D

VERSE 1
A D A D
O that men would praise the Lord
A D
For His goodness for His wonderful works
A D
To His children
A D A D
O that men would cry out to the Lord
A
He set the prisoner free
D A D
Broke away their chains

CHORUS
F#m D A E
Let them give thanks to the Lord
F#m D A
For His unfailing love for His children
A E A D

VERSE 2
A D A D
O that women would trust the Lord

A
For He calmed the storm
D A D
Quieted the sea
A D A D
O that women would rest upon the Lord
A
For He feeds the hungry
D A D
Satisfies the thirsty
CHORUS
F#m D A E
Let them give thanks to the Lord
F#m D A
For His unfailing love for His children
F#m D A E
Let them give thanks to the Lord
F#m D A
For His unfailing love for His children

VERSE 3
A D A D
O that His children would say thanks to the Lord
A D
For He is good His love endures
A D
For He is good His love endures
A D
For He is good His love endures
A D
For He is good His love endures
A D
For He is good His love endures
F#m G F#m E
Forever and ever forevermore

CHORUS 2
A D E
Let those redeemed by the Lord
A D E
Let those whove been healed by the Lord
F#m D E
Let those forgiven by the Lord
D E A
Cry out Sing out His Praise

A D E
Let those redeemed by the Lord
A D E
Let those whove been healed by the Lord
F#m D E
Let those forgiven by the Lord
D E A
Cry out Sing out His Praise
A E A D