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.
Run, run, run!
Run, run, run!
Run, run, run,
there's a race to be run,
there's a prize to be won
at the end;
so run for the prize:
you can win if your eyes
are on Jesus,
your trainer and friend.
In a race they all train
for a crown that will fade,
and their fitness will soon pass away;
but in Christ we will reign
in a kingdom that's made
to endure beyond earth's little day.
So ...
Run, run, run ...
See the crowd all around
who are cheering you on,
all the saints who have proved God is true!
Get your feet on the ground,
set your eyes on the one
who endured cross and shame just for you.
So ...
Run, run, run ...
At the end of the race
there's a victory crown
for the ones who have fought the good fight,
and the Judge in his grace
with the saints gathered round
will award it, with trumpets and light.
So ...
Run, run, run ...
Words and music copyright © John Hartley 2009. All rights reserved.
Story behind the song
I wrote this song for a friend whose church is situated right next to where a marathon is being run, and who wanted something to use in a family service which would take "the race" as its theme. In view of the bible verses which compare the Christian life to running a race, it seemed obvious that the way to proceed was to try to string the bible verses into verses of a song, and add a chorus to encourage us to run with perseverance and fix our eyes on Jesus. The three verses I've used, from the ones suggested by my friend, are 1 Corinthians 9:25, Hebrews 12:1-2 and 2 Timothy 4:7-8. I hope and pray the song might be some use to him and the congregation.
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.