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.
Give me sight
Give me sight
Sitting by the roadside every day,
Begging, 'cos I'm blind, so that's my way.
Here in Jericho
life is just so-so!
Oh, won't someone take pity on me?
Crowded by the roadside in the heat,
Trampled by a thousand running feet.
What's the big to-do?
Jesus passing through?
Oh, would Jesus take pity on me?
I have heard that he can do amazing things!
He makes the lame to walk,
He helps the dumb to talk,
I wonder?
Something in me sings!
Begging takes the edge off modesty:
"Jesus, I beseech you, help me see!
Lord, I want my sight,
Change my dark to night,
Son of David, have mercy on me!"
"Hold your noise," the folk around begin to shout,
"He's far above your sort,
Pathetic little squirt!"
I wonder?
Maybe I should doubt?
"Jesus, Son of David, hear my cry."
Suddenly he stops; he asks me why:
"What d'you want from me?"
"Rabbi, help me see;
Son of David, have mercy on me."
"Go," he says, "your faith has healed your sight."
At his words I see in colours bright!
Now I follow on
After God's own Son.
He has given me eternal light.
Words and tune copyright © John Hartley 2006.
Story behind the song
This song was written following a challenge to me from a friend in Christian Songwriters' Organisation to come out of the rhythm-bound hymn-writing style of which I seemed to be so fond, and try something a bit less hidebound. At the time there was a conversation going on about story-songs ... so here's my effort. Readers familiar with the bible will spot the person without too much difficulty.
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.