This might come as a shock. But over the course of my songwriter life I wrote some of my songs for girls. (gasp!) I know. What a sexist, toxically masculine thing to do. Right? But seriously, you gotta play to your strengths, as they say. But what most people don’t know is how I rewrote some of my original love songs lyrics and sang about a deeper, everlasting love.
And, thankfully, love songs lyrics aren’t all that difficult to change.
Because love…at least, real love…comes from the very center of your heart. Or at least it should. So, as a songwriter, I can let the love song flow out of my heart and direct it where it needs to go. And once I stopped focusing on girls (thanks to Elgielene), I could direct more of my musical energy toward the Source of music.
But I won’t just talk around the subject. I’ll share an example.
On my first CD (yes, CD) of Christian music, the first song is called “Have to Believe.” And it’s about an overwhelming feeling of responsive love for all that God has done for me. Almost like I couldn’t do anything BUT believe in a Creator who would do so much. A Creator who never gives me less than Truth and Love.
So, in the song I sing…
“And I have to believe…You did everything for me.
“˜Cause what I have to believe
Is the truth that sets me free.”
The original song title was “Hard to Believe.” And it’s a good example of how even the best love, here on Earth, doesn’t measure up to God’s love. The lyrics lacked the assured feeling of the revised version of the song.
Because, when you understand how much your Creator went through to provide you with everything you need to live, it’s not “hard to believe” He loves you. And when I say “everything you need to live,” I mean everything you need to live…forever.
And that knowledge makes it easy to change the focus of love songs lyrics from temporal to eternal.
Even when I don’t feel like I deserve the love.
Like the bridge of my song says…
“Well, I’m not sure if I deserve it.
I’m lighter than air and soaring like a bird,
And if I can love You any better”just say the Word!” © 1996 Tony Funderburk
By the way, I’ve got a special sale going on right now. It’s what I call the Do Right 25th Anniversary Cheryl Care Package sale. And it’s to help a woman (a pastor’s wife for over 20 years) who just lost her husband. I have only 80 first-run CD’s left of my first Christian CD called “Do Right.” And you can see more about it and get your limited edition copy at the link below.
Stay tuned,
Get your limited edition copy of the Do Right CD here