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.
The last straw
The last straw
Why this waste?
What a disgrace!
The perfume in that jar,
sold for cash,
instead of splashed
on Jesus, would go far!"
What a stink!
Stop, woman, think!
The poor we could have fed,
if you'd sold
that nard for gold
instead of wet his head!"
"Let her alone," said Jesus,
"She's done a beautiful thing.
I'll not be here always,
I tell you, the world will sing
of her great love and sorrow
wherever the gospel's proclaimed.
You can feed the poor tomorrow,
when death my soul has claimed,
when death my soul has claimed."
One year's pay
gone in a day:
it's poured into his hair.
How's it right
to_ignore the plight
of thousands in despair?"
What a smell!
Sniff it, and tell!
Rebuke her for this deed!
Such a sign
of love divine
will not feed those in need."
"Let her alone," said Jesus,
"She's done a beautiful thing.
I'll not be here always,
I tell you, the world will sing
of her great love and sorrow
wherever the gospel's proclaimed.
You can feed the poor tomorrow,
when death my soul has claimed,
when death my soul has claimed."
That's the end!
If he'll pretend
that he is so much higher,
I'll betray!
What will you pay
if I will sell the Messiah?
Words and tune copyright © John Hartley 2006.
Story behind the song
I was inspired to write this song while thinking about midweek worship for Holy Week: on the Monday after Palm Sunday it's common to contemplate the incident where the lady anoints Jesus at Bethany, causing indignation among some and (according to Mark's Gospel) precipitating Judas' betrayal. A friend on Christian Songwriting Organisation had recently drawn my attention to "Friday morning" by Sydney Carter, and I'd been wondering about writing a similar song. The rhyming couplet which opens the lyrics sprang into my mind, and the rest followed shortly.
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.