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.
Don't be like a horse
Don't be like a horse
Don't be like a horse,
and simply say "of course",
and plod straight on without a care,
it doesn't really matter where,
'cos everywhere's the same.
No! God's called you by your name!
He gives a future and a hope
to his people,
and guides his children by the hand:
a horse or a mule might need a rope,
but we can hear and understand.
Don't be like a mule,
and back away, you fool,
and toss your head, and go your way
and just ignore what others say,
'cos no-one warrants trust.
No! God's plan is quite robust!
He gives a future and a hope
to his people,
and guides his children by the hand:
a horse or a mule might need a rope,
but we can hear and understand.
The horse and mule don't understand,
and need a bit and bridle;
but God makes human minds expand
if we apply the bible.
He speaks and teaches those who hear,
his love surrounds as we draw near,
his Son delivers us from fear,
his plans are never, never, never, never idle.
Don't be full of woe,
the way the wicked go,
who never trust the living Lord
or pay attention to his word
and so are on their tod.
No! For we belong to God!
He gives a future and a hope
to his people,
and guides his children by the hand:
the wicked will slide the slipp'ry slope,
but we will hear and understand.
Words and tune copyright © John Hartley 2007.
Inspired by Psalm 32:9 and Jeremiah 29:11.
Story behind the song
The basic idea for the first two verses grew out of something that I prepared for Palm Sunday earlier this year, when I was thinking about the significance of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey instead of a horse, and I read around the subject and discovered the differences between horses and donkeys, particularly in their behaviours. The following passage (taken from: this web page) struck me as quite interesting:
"Larger brain capacity is evidenced by the fact that donkeys require bridles with a larger browband than that needed for a comparable size of horse or pony. Donkeys are reported to have developed an intelligence superior to that of the horses, but its instincts give rise of different behavior, in certain circumstances, which many misconstrue as stubbornness. For example, it is not the nature of the donkey to run in panic when frightened as the horse instinctively does. Under the same conditions donkeys are more likely to stop, stand still and study the situation carefully to determine the best course of action."
Then about a month ago Psalm 32 came up in a scheme of devotions, and I started wondering about verse 9 and in what ways we might behave like various animals of the equid family. I wondered if the verse was actually asking us to be wary of two kinds of lack of understanding rather than just one, and that's what led to the lyric.
However (to change species) it's quite possible I'm barking up completely the wrong tree? (In fact, it's quite possible that I'm simply barking!)
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.