Concert Notes & Song Lyrics

This Train

Traditional American Song arr. by Joel Raney

As a composer and producer of commercial music, Joel Raney has written soundtracks for more than 2,000 television and radio commercials, plus numerous scores for short films. His sacred choral anthems, cantatas, handbell and piano arrangements, and instrumental works are consistent bestsellers. Joel lives in the greater Chicago, Illinois

And So We Sing

Words and Music by Mark Hayes

Composer Mark Hayes is an internationally known composer, arranger, conductor and concert pianist. He is known for his unique American sound with styles including gospel, jazz, folk and classical. He is a regular guest conductor at Carnegie Hall in NYC, but calls Kansas City, Missouri his home. We have done a lot of his arrangements, and you will see some this concert, but “And So We Sing” is one of his original pieces.

What’s in a melody? What treasures does it hold?

Will it captivate our senses, express what’s deep within our soul?

Music longs to move us through the beauty of its art.

It can take us on a journey, the journey of the heart.

And so we sing, whether young or old.

We’re on a grand adventure, and our stories should be told.

We celebrate the music in ev’ry living thing, and so we sing from our hearts, each on our own part,

and so we sing, and so we sing.

Hear the message in our music. Hear the gorgeous harmony.

Hear us lift our voices skyward singing strong, singing proud, singing free!

And so we sing, whether young or old.

We’re on a grand adventure and our stories should be told.

We celebrate the music in ev’ry living thing, and so we sing from our hearts, each on our own part,

and so we sing, and so we sing.

How we’ve learned, how we’ve laughed, how we lived, how we’ve loved.

And still we sing, whether young or old.

We’re on a grand adventure and our stories should be told.

We celebrate the music in ev’ry living thing, and so we sing from our hearts, each on our own part,

And so we sing, and so we sing.

There’s Gonna Be a Homecomin’

Words and music by Kyle Pederson

Kyle Pederson is a Minneapolis-based composer, lyricist, pianist, and educator. His work has been commissioned, premiered, and recorded by All State/Honors choirs, and youth, church, college, and professional choirs around the world. Kyle enjoys working at the intersection of the sacred and secular, and his lyrics and music invite the choir and audience to be agents of hope, grace, and compassion in the world.

There’s Gonna Be a Homecomin’

Home, I’m comin’ home, comin’ back to people and the places that I know.

There’s gonna be a homecomin’, oh, I’m heading home, to the people and the places that I know.

Gonna have me a homecomin’, it’s where I wanna be,

where the places and the people all know me.

Somewhere that I can be fully free, no front and no façade,

Where I can just be me. Somewhere that I can be fully free

Where I can always be, born to be.

Home, I’m comin’ home, comin’ back to people and the places that I know.

Gonna have me a homecomin’, it’s where I wanna be, where the places and the people all know me.

Ain’t no jealousy, ain’t no judgin’ found, just whole hearted love, and hope to go around.

Home, I’m comin’ home, comin’ back to people and the places that I know.

There’s gonna be a homecomin’, where I wanna be, where the places and the people all know me!

Oo, we are havin’ a homecomin’. I gotta get home, just for me, come and see!

Home, I’m comin’ home, comin’ back to people and the places that I know!

I’ve Been Everywhere

Words and Music by Geoff Mack, arr. by Jay Althouse (made known by Johnny Cash)

As a composer of choral music, Jay Althouse has more than 800 works in print for choirs of all levels. His music is widely performed throughout the English-speaking world. He lives in North Carolina.

Happy Face Medley

Put on a Happy Face (from Bye Bye Birdie) and You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile (from Annie)

arr. by Mark Hayes

Break

You Make Me Feel So Young

Arr. by Jay Althouse

This song was sung by such artists as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Helen Reddy and Michael Bublé. A little known fact…it was from a 1946 movie titled, “Three Little Girls in Blue.”

Let me listen

Words by Charles Silvestri

Dan Forrest has been described as having “an undoubted gift for writing beautiful music…that is truly magical” (NY Concert Review) with works hailed as “magnificent, very cleverly constructed sound sculpture” (Classical Voice), and “superb writing…full of spine-tingling moments” (Salt Lake Tribune). His music has sold millions of copies, has received numerous awards and distinctions, and has become well established in the repertoire of choirs around the world via festivals, recordings, radio/TV broadcasts, and premieres in prominent international venues. (copied from his website)

We come from different places,

You and I,

On different paths we journey;

Let me walk beside you for a while ̶

let me listen.

So briefly do our lonely paths converge,

Yours and mine,

Along this human journey;

What hollow loss to never hear your song ̶

Let me listen.

Let me listen,

Let me listen as you tell your story;

Your triumphs and your tears,

Your trials and your fears.

Your story never has been mine to tell ̶

So let me listen.

And if a silence is your choice to keep,

Then I will keep it with you;

As long as we walk together,

You and I,

I will listen.

Too long you’ve waited, too long,

To share your journey, your song ̶

So let me listen.

Wayfaring Stranger

Arranged by Craig Courtney

A native of Indiana, Craig Courtney began playing the piano at the age of three and the cello at the age of eleven. Later in life, after graduating from University of Cincinnati, he studied for a lengthy period of time in Italyand it was during his church work there that he began composing for church choirs. Mr. Courtney combines his training and background as a pianist, a cellist, a vocal coach, an accompanist and a choral director to create words that bear his unique style and we certainly benefit from his rich writing in this arrangement today.

The haunting melodies and harmonies of the song, “Wayfaring Stranger” is an American Spiritual which some also call Song of Sorrows. In addition to the main tune, you will hear the piano and cello play “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child.” As in some of our other songs in this concert, there is a sense of fear and not feeling welcome. But in all of the songs, including this one, the singer(s) seem to have hope. By our actions may we help them look at the present and toward the future with clearer eyes and feel loved. (On a side note, our director, Christine, commissioned Mr. Courtney, before he became well known, to write an anthem for her church choir at that time. What a bargain! (And it is one of his top selling anthems.)

Wayfaring Stranger

I'm just a poor wayfaring stranger
Traveling through this world below.
There is no sickness, no toil, no danger
In that bright land to which I go.
I'm going there to see my father,

I’m going there no more to roam.
I'm just a going over Jordan,
I'm just a going over home.

I know dark clouds will gather 'round me.
I know my way is hard and steep.
Yet golden fields lie out before me
Where weary eyes no more will weep.
I'm going there to see my mother.
She said she'd meet me when I come.

I'm just a going over Jordan,
I'm just a going over home.

I want to wear a crown of glory when I get home to that good land.

I want to shout salvation’s story in concert with the heav’nly band.

I’m going there to meet my Savior, to sing his praise for evermore.

I’m just a poor wayfaring stranger while trav’ling through this world below;

I'm just a going over Jordan,
I'm just a going over home.

All of Me

Words and music by Kyle Pederson

Look at my skin.
Do you see only skin, or the soul within...

do you see what’s true?

Look who I love.
Do you view me as less,

like none of the rest of me matters to you?

Turn off the talk on the air,
and the voices who seem to just care

about dividing and hiding us where

you won’t see.

Look at my faith.
Do you see my creed, and choose to believe

that’s all of me?

Look at my vote.
On that alone are you likely to show

contempt for me?

You don’t have to see.
But if you take the time to look at me,

you’ll see the same fears and a good heart,

and the same tears that tear you apart.
See the same love, the same hope,
the same need, the same joy.

So, look at my skin.
See the skin and the soul within.

See what’s true.

Look who I love.
And see my faith and my vote,

but not those alone,
seek to know me, too.

Turn up the voices of truth.

Learn to let mercy through.

Love will guide us to
a world where we see.

All of me.
Turn and see.

Will you see? All of me.

You Raise Me Up

Words and music by Rolf Lovland and Brendan Graham, arr. by Mark Hayes

Recorded and made famous by Josh Groban.

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary
When troubles come and my heart burdened be.
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence
Until You come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains.
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas.
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders.
You raise me up to more than I can be.

Lean on Me (with We Shall Overcome)

arr. Mark Hayes

What better way to bring a concert of hope, inspiration, compassion and care to a close.

Lean on Me (with We Shall Overcome)

arr. Mark Hayes

What better way to bring a concert of

hope

inspiration

compassion

and

care

to a close.