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.
He saved others
He saved others
He saved others,
himself he cannot save!
he set others free,
so let him dodge the grave!
Let him now come down and show
that he's the Chosen One,
Let God save him, then we'll know
that is God's own Son.
He saved others,
but now he's going to die!
He set others free:
let him save himself: let him try!
The people all are watching you,
they stand around and jeer;
the rulers all are gathered too:
they look at you and sneer:
You saved others,
but now you're going to die!
You set others free:
Save yourself: go on, try!
INSTRUMENTAL BREAK
If you are the King of Jews
Come down from the cross!
You're the Christ, so you can choose:
we thought you were the Boss!
Here's some wine so drink your fill
to help you face the pain.
King Divine, you'll face the kill,
and you will never reign!
You saved others,
but now you're going to die!
You set others free:
Save yourself: go on, try!
Don't pray "God forgive us for
we know not what we do."
You have disobeyed God's law
and he will punish you!
Don't tell criminals they'll be
"in paradise today."
You'll all die in agony
No matter what you say!
You saved others,
but now you're going to die!
You set others free:
Save yourself,
Save yourself,
Save yourself,
Just you try!
Words and tune copyright © John Hartley 2006.
Story behind the song
This song was written for a service of Good Friday Meditations, in which six twenty-minute slots were each to have a bible passage for meditation, and a song to bring out one particular aspect of it. The aspect of the crucifixion (Luke 23:33-43) to be emphasised in this case is the mockery of Jesus and the way in which his execution is trivialized almost into a street-party. This was the only one of the six songs used which didn't have a note of realization of the real meaning of Jesus' death.
I would normally try to display the sheet music below so that people could be helped fitting the tune to the words. I will do so if someone contacts me and tells me that it's worth the effort.
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.