The Songs that Influenced Me -1

There is nothing in the world so much like prayer as music is.  ~William P. Merrill

Men profess to be lovers of music, but for the most part they give no evidence in their opinions and lives that they have heard it.  ~Henry David Thoreau

Music is powerful, and I guess by writing this, I’m going contrary to what Henry David Thoreau said about men not giving evidence in my opinion and life that I have heard it. I don’t know about you, but some songs have had such a strong influence on me, that I can write the story of my life, by mentioning the songs that were heavy on my heart at those times.

I remember a joke we used to share back then in our university days, about the emotional life of an average unprincipled fresh girl in university. It starts at home after her final exams… the predominant song in heart then is “I’ll see you when you get there… if you ever get there”. As soon as she enters part one, there is what they called “October Rush”, you seem to be the rave of the moment, with different guys dotting over you, there seems to be so much pressure on you and within your first semester your song is “Let’s wait a while…”, by second semester, you have caved in to pressure… and it’s “Last night… I saw the moon…”. By your part two, new freshers have come in, and attention starts to shift to other Freshers… your song becomes, “we don’t even talk anymore…”, by the second semester, you catch him trying to observe the moon and the stars with a fresher, and your song becomes…”he belongs to me, the boy is mine…”, by part three you know you are no longer in the league, except you want to go the way of aristo’s, and your song becomes, “I’m a survivor, I’m gonna make it…”, this song lasts till your final year, part 4 or 5, and then your song becomes, “I’m so glad, I belong to Jesus…”.

Well that was a joke, but in reality, if you think about it, our lives and motivations can be plotted by the songs that really meant a lot to us, and that we really paid attention to. If I decide to do a thorough work of commenting on the songs that made impact in my life at different stages, this will either be a book, or I’ll need many more posts. I’ll start with one though, and see if it’s what people really want to know.

Just recently I stumbled again on one of the songs that was my greatest motivation in my early teenage years. I was in JSS3/SSS1 (form 4) back then, and this song really had a profound effect on me. It had so much effect on me, that even though I didn’t have a very good musical voice, I sang it in public on every opportunity I had to sing. It’s 16yrs and interestingly, I still remember 95% of the wordings. The version I heard then was sang by Kids… Acappella Kids, I later discovered another version by Ray Boltz. It’s a song that influenced and strangely still influences me. I’m sure you are curious already… it’s written out below.

Title – Thank You

I dreamt I went to heaven and you were there with me
you walked  upon the streets of Gold, beside the Crystal Sea,
We heard the Angels singing, someone Called your name…
You looked and you saw this young man, he was smiling as he came….

and he said, friend, you may not know me now and then he said, but wait,
you used to teach my Sunday school, when I was only 8
And every week you will say a prayer, before the class would start
And one day, when you said that prayer, I asked Jesus Into my heart.

Thank you, for giving to the Lord. I am a life, that was chaaanged,
Thank you, for giving to the Lord. cos I am so glad you gave.

Then another one stood before you, he said remember the time
A missionary came to your church, and those pictures made you cry.
You didn’t have much money, but you gave it anyway
Jesus took the gifts you gave, and that’s why I’m here today

Thank you, for giving to the Lord. I am a life, that was chaaanged,
Thank you, for giving to the Lord. cos I am so glad you gave.

One by one they came, far as the eyes could see
Each one felt somehow touched by your generosity…
Little things that you had done, sacrifices made
Unnoticed on the earth, in heaven now proclaim.
I know that up in heaven, you are not supposed to cry
But I am almost sure, that there were tears in your eyes

as Jesus took your hand, and you stood before the Lord…
He said my child look around you, great is your reward…

Thank you, for giving to the Lord. I am a life, that was chaaanged,(2x)
Thank you, for giving to the Lord. I am so glad you gave.
I am so glad you gave…

I don’t know if the lyrics are as powerful as if you listen to the song… maybe one of these days I’ll call people for a meeting and just sing it so they can hear. I still believe very strongly in doing good randomly. Helping people that are helpless. I believe that the little things we do here, and the little sacrifices we make because of others, will be applauded one day.

This is one of the songs that has influenced me, I hope you find it motivating too.