Speaking of Ben’s sisters… bumped into this video
Easter Song
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Three thoughts (although I wanted to avoid any theological debates here):
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As believers, we believe in an after-life, yes? The soul is eternal. Most of Jesus’ ministry communicated this concept to His followers.
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Physical death here, of course… but spiritual death for saved souls never die - because whoever believes in their hearts that “God raised him [Jesus] from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) Saved from what? From death, through Jesus’ victory over it, as St. Paul tells us. This song celebrates that moment.
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Most importantly, the song is from the standpoint of Jesus. To illustrate, I will focus on the final lines of the verses:
- Verse 1:
Jesus’ prophetic words of His conquering death (personally) and as you point out, the eventual conquering of death for us all in the last days.
- Verses 2/4:
Jesus met Death and Death did die! This is recognition that death could not defeat the Son of God.
- Verse 3:
As this verse is centered around the Rising (from death) of the King of Kings and the empty tomb, the message is clear once more that the song is talking about Jesus. Eternity was forever changed in that moment our risen Lord returned.
The message of the song is about the “showdown” between Jesus and Death. It is about THAT MOMENT. Death could not claim victory over Jesus… and in that Victory, as saved belivers in faith, we have new life from that moment.
This was my intent for the lyrics.
Your comments makes me second-guess having attempted to collaborate over the forum.
Perhaps, this would have been better served to be taken offline? In this case, it was just a ball that got rollin’ and frankly, it just developed through @Grace sharing the line, my first pass at lyrics around the line and @Michael_Mark’s contributions to smooth out the words (with your contribution, I might add, Sir 
)… a work in progress…
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@JohnM, you also contributed as I added the King has risen into the song because of YOU - and I thank you:
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The Purple Hulls are sooooo dang good @JohnM!
A couple of things…
I tried to write out the melody to help you understand how I tried to work in what I heard you sing on your demos.
As I mentioned, I like the stylings of your voice but to be honest… I didn’t really know how to write in every cool think you sang.
So… I just did the best I could to try to put a framework to it.
Sincerely, I would prefer you sing it as you feel it is supposed to be sung…
Because I am a big fan of the little breaks in your voice over my attempt to write the notes.
My preference is that you would get a general idea, learn the chords and just sing what comes natural.
Sorry @Michael_Mark, 
I understand…
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Ok, I tried adding the Dsus4 and D7. Not sure what I think of the tag I did… But I thought I’d try it. I struggled to transition quickly, so ignore those mess ups…
also, just watched my previous video to compare, I think I also sped up the tempo…
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@WillCoop, Yeah I’m guilty too. Revelation 2, 20, 21 chapters talk about second death. I’ll reply offline. Initially I was slightly carried away by the catchy phrase “death died” etc. Very soon I realized the phrasing could be misleading. I said it openly now because of the reach and impact when Ben would be pulled into this.
I agree this is work in progress, we will put a “mod” to this! Cheers!
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Wow… I like it it alot @Grace! Whoo-hoo!
I think it is really good.
How is it feeling for you - back in 4/4 and all? Is it feeling more natural?
I think there is a little timing issue… But we can work that out.
Your singing is great…
Thank you for giving this song a special voice!
Now, I wish I could collaborate with you… Or help in some way…but I am not sure what to do next to help you.
I wonder is I can create a TEF of it… Also as to put it into a file to help with the timing.
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If you go back and listen to the one you recoded with the melody line I played in 3… The part of the verses with “a Clarion Call” (Verse 1) and “Our Victory” (Verse 2), you sang up to the high G and down to an E - which sounded really nice. I think it would also work well in the 4/4 time.
In this later version, you sang back down to the same lower G (identical to the to the end of the first lines in each verse) - the G that started the song.
This also sounds nice too… but is slightly more repetitive.
Do you prefer to sign down at the end of the 3rd lines as you did on the first? Or, would you like trying to sing those lines going up to the Higher G and settling into the E?
By the way… Did your brother ever see the words?
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WillCoop,
Awesome! Yes, I like the 4/4. Which do you like better?
Yeah, I think my biggest weakness is timing.
I’m not sure what the next step is either… I played till my hands hurt with that last video trying to get the timing down!
I do like to go down, but I did notice it was more repetitive like you said. I can try the other, and slow down, and fix the timing…
My brother only got a chance to glance at them and listen to one of my videos. He’s been pretty busy with online college and work. But I’m gonna keep bugging him about it.
I think he could really help me with the timing, he’s real good with music. Just not a string guy, he loves his piano and singing.
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Well, I like both versions… and the playing was really clean - evident of the work you put in. I heard the way you put in the Dsus4 and the D7… Oh… and the E-minor sounds great too.
The voice inflection you put on the word when you sing “Die”… THAT is what I like but cannot easily write in…
@Grace, I appreciate your efforts so much… but please don’t push too hard and hurt your hands playing too much, OK? We have time
For the timing… I can tell you the first two chord you start out perfect for the first 2 chords… but you are waiting 2 extra beats to come in on the “His message”. The same thing happens on the next lines. I think it is the “pick-up” notes that are throwing you off…
I really like the way you went up at the end! FANTASTIC!
I think I will try to work on matching your style and send another rhythm.
I will look into TEF too.
It is times like these I wish I played better and had a better way to record! 
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Yes sir, 
Wasn’t too bad. I know a guy who played till his fingers bled, don’t worry , I won’t do that. I also had finished school and couldn’t think of much else to do, except I did draw a dog.
Thank you! It’s nice to have some direction in the correction instead of just knowing it’s off!
Glad you like the ending, wasn’t sure about it, but wanted more of the emphasis we talked about.
Maybe I could record one of the melody and see if I can figure it out, then you could take it and fix the timing…
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I will work with whatever you send! Also, I just realized my TabEdit was an older version so I updated.
I don’t know if the software in demo mode will let me write my own… but I will try…
@Grace, I am sure that you like Bluegrass music because you’re on the site. Logical, right? :banjo
That said, I am interested to know if you listen to other stuff too… Maybe Folk or Indie or even some Christian modern music? Do you sing at Church? Care to share some artists or singers you like?
I am asking because of the stylings of your voice.
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Great job on the song! (In the OP)
Oh, um nope. I’m a semi accomplished tune writer, but I’m not good with lyrics. I’m working on getting better but I’m not good enough to be much help. If you want to hear an idea that you have played/sung I can do that, you’ll just have to tell me what you want
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WillCoop,
Yep, I love bluegrass. I do often sing at our church. Other music… Here’s a few groups I like, some of these you might consider bluegrass, others maybe more on the gospel music side, I don’ care for CCM though.
Rochesters, The Bishops, Greater Vision, Hyles-Anderson College, New Found Road.
Here’s one of my favorite of the Rochesters.
Bishops
Hyles-Anderson
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Also, what does indie mean?..
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You may get a little laugh out of the definition. Indie is a term used for INDEPENDENT - a kinda vague title, yes? However, that is exactly the point.
I think it first got this name because many artists were not sign by the “big record companies” so they chose to sign with small, independent labels instead. I think this can encompass many artists in Christian Contemporary, for example.
Indie artists are artists who are really good but for one reason or another, fall outside the mainstream genres of music. It may be a style or genre difference. It might be a type of music that is newer (and thus, is not yet “popular”… too risky for a big company). Sometimes bigger names can move to independent labels so they can gain artistic freedom… to do an album or project that a big company isn’t interested to support.
Oh my gosh, when the Rochesters’ song started, I thought the lead sounded very much like you - @Grace! To be clear, there is are on or more other females who sing on this right, but the others had a different sound. The lead singer though… It made sense to me how this could be an influence of yours.
I am glad you shared these with me. I didn’t know these artists so you have taught me - Thank you!
The Hyles-Anderson harmonies were spectacular.
Have you heard Control by Tenth Avenue North? I know it is a different style - more rock style - but this song has spoke to me of late.
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Interesting… When you said indie, I had no idea what you meant.
Glad I could share! I do love the Rochesters! I probably listen to them the most.
I’ve never heard Control, or of Tenth Avenue North. The song has a good meaning! Though I do prefer more natural voice instead of the extra voice effects they use. When it says " the king of heaven wants me" it kinda reminds me of a song my brother wrote called He Wants Me.
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It may sound crazy but I think I can tell from the vocals in “Step of Faith”.
So… I put in Rochester into Spotify and didn’t find this album… because it was listed under “Rochester/Mathews Tradition”. I have seen Spotify do this before with “Marty Stuart” as it is different than “Marty Stuart and the Fabulous Superlatives”. The poor guy’s catalog is split so you have to really know what you are searching.
I went to see Marty here in Michigan and actually… my wife and I met him after the show and I got a picture with him! Anyway, I was looking for his latest album entitled, “Old West” under Marty Stuart and it wouldn’t appear even as many albums were there.
I thought, it isn’t possible, so I searched by the album name only… and that is when I discovered that it was under “Marty Stuart and the Fabulous Superlatives”.
Anyway, I downloaded the album. Assuming you like Rochester (on their own) is there a favorite album you would recommend?
As for control, yes… definitely a different sound! I just like the song message… as it has been the story of me for most of my life that I tried to do things my way… by sometimes going after what I thought was good.
That all began changing 2 years ago - when I heard this song for the first time, by the way. So… The idea of letting go in surrender is a wonderful and liberating idea.
Hey, I was able to start crafting the song on TabEdit! It is slow because I am learning as I go.
I honestly wonder if it night have been quicker to write it long-hand in manuscript… but I know I would be too hard on myself and take much longer to make it look decent!
Anyway, I don’t know if there are easy ways to add the chords and/or to put words into the music yet.
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@D_HRRFan7303 Speaking of CCM, my good friend, John Steed, was recognized by the Christian Country Music Association for his music. In 1999 he won the New Artist of the Year award. In 2000 and 2001 he also won the Male Vocalist of the Year awards. Other awards included Song Writer of the Year and a #1 single in the gospel music charts. Here is one of John’s latest projects.
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