Three More Road Tested Valley Songs

Here are the final three songs that I've played with a congregation. Two old classics and One great unknown. The two classics ("swing low sweet chariot" and "in the sweet by and by") are of the "can't wait for God to whisk me up to heaven" variety if like me your theologically NT Wrightish on these issues I've written a post on why I still sing these songs even though they may not perfectly fit my theology. When I play these songs I like to play a song like "I will be your friend" I came across it on a kids CD to me it sounded like a song written right after reading Matthew 25. I wrote to Guy Davis's management to get permission to play it in church.

Swing low, Sweet Chariot

I (G)looked over Jordan and (C)what did I (G)see?
(G)Commin' for to carry me (D)home
(G)There was a band of angels, a-(C)commin' after (G)me
(G)Commin' for to (D)carry me (G)home

CHORUS
Swing low, sweet chariot
Commin' for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot
Commin' for to carry me home

I'm sometimes up, and I'm sometimes down
Comin' for to carry me home
But but I know my soul is heavenly bound
Comin' for to carry me home

CHORUS

If you get there before I do
Comin' for to carry me home
Tell all my friends that I'm a-comin' too
Comin' for to carry me home

Swing low, sweet chariot
Commin' for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot
Commin' for to carry me home
And now they're commin' for to carry me home

© Traditional – Johnny Cash arrangement

In the Sweet By and By

(G)There's a land that is (C)fairer than (G)day
And by faith we can see it a(D7)far
For the (G)Father waits (C)over the (G)way
To prepare us a (D7)dwelling place (G)there

CHORUS
In the (D7)sweet by and by
We shall meet on that beautiful (G)shore
In the (G7)sweet by and (C)by
We shall (G)meet on that (D7)beautiful (G)shore

We shall sing on that beautiful shore
the melodious songs of the blest
And our spirits shall sorrow no more
not a sigh for the blessing of rest.

CHORUS

To our bountiful Father above
We will offer the tribute of praise
For the glorious gift of His love
and the blessings that hallow our days.


© Traditional – arrangement Mars Hill Band

I Will Be Your Friend — Guy Davis

(C)If you’ve got troubles And you need a helpin’ hand,
(F)If you’ve got troubles And you need a helpin’ (C)hand,
(Am7)If you’ve got (G7)troubles And you (C)need a helpin’ (F)hand,
Come to (C)me, I will (G)be your (C)friend.

CHORUS
(G)I will be your (C)friend,(C7) (F)I will be your (C)friend.
(Am7)If you’ve got (G7)troubles, And you (C)need a helpin’ (F)hand,
Come to (C)me, I will (G)be your (C)friend.

If you are hungry And you’ve got no place to stay,
If you are hungry And you’ve got no place to stay,
If you are hungry And you’ve got no place to stay,
Come to me, I will be your friend.

I will be your friend (oh Lordy!), I will be your friend.
If you are hungry And you’ve got no place to stay,
Come to me, I will be your friend.

If you are lonely And you’ve got nobody to love(have mercy!),
If you are lonely And you’ve got no one to love,
If you are lonely And you’ve got nobody to love,
Come to me, I will be your friend.

I will be your friend, I will be your friend.
If you are lonely And you need somebody to love,
Come to me, I will be your friend.

"I Will Be Your Friend"
Words & Music by Guy Davis

I play this in E. Most congregations can't sing as low as Guy.