This page is provided so that you can hear the tunes of items which we use in church. Mostly they are written by the vicar. Please note that they are copyright - we are very happy to give permission to you to use them, but we would like to hear about it. Please include any use on your Christian Copyright Licence returns.
Down this page:
- the words,
- the story,
- the sheet music,
- media player.
Foxes have holes
Foxes have holes
Foxes have holes, and the birds have their nests:
Lord you had nowhere to lay down and rest.
Lord, we would follow wherever you go:
guide us to travel the road you will show.
Folk of this world pause to bury their dead:
shouldering burdens as heavy as lead.
Help us break free and respond to your call:
preaching your kingdom to one and to all.
Some would look back, and would first say goodbye,
Placing your call below family tie.
Lord, we would offer our hands to your plough:
Help us look forward and follow you now.
Seventy-two you decided to choose:
Going before you to tell your good news.
Lambs among wolves, yet they found your great power.
Lord, choose us now as your envoys this hour.
Words and tune copyright © John Hartley 2007.
Based on Luke 9:57-10:3 & 10:17.
Story behind the song
The gospel passage set for next Sunday (as I write) - Luke 9:51-10:3 - is a challenge to committing oneself to following Jesus, despite the difficulties there may be. I wanted to write a song that would serve as a response to this challenge: that would take the hard words of Jesus seriously and give us a chance to say that we will follow him despite the competing claims on our loyalty.
John Hartley.
Windows Media Player. When you click the left-hand "play" button your computer should have started to play the tune. If it didn't, you might be able to get the tune by clicking here, or by right-clicking the link, choosing "save target as", saving it onto your computer, and then opening it with a music-playing program.
Please remember that a midi file of a tune isn't supposed to be a state-of-the-art musical arrangement - it is only supposed to give a basic idea of how the tune goes. Any reasonable organist / keyboard player / music group could make it sound far better.