Story Songs - Brenton Brown
By Brenton Brown In an article I once wrote for
Worship Leader magazine, I suggested that writing the lyrics for a congregational song can best be viewed the same way we approach making an argument: what is the point I am trying to make? And what are the reasons I can give for the statement or point I am making? I argued that being intentional about the argument or statement you're trying to make in a song can be helpful in writing a song through to its conclusion.
But there is another common and very useful approach to lyric writing that doesn't necessarily involve making an argument. This approach involves using the lyric of the song to tell a story. Perhaps the best-known storytelling songwriter of our age is Bob Dylan. When we look at Mr. Dylan's lyrics we think that songs like "Don't Think Twice It's Alright" or "Positively 4th Street" bare little resemblance to the types of songs we typically sing on Sunday morning. But actually, one of the songs used the most every Sunday here in America is a story song. It is a song that takes us on a journey: "Here I Am to Worship."
Since many of us approach the act of leading congregational worship as a journey towards God, the idea of the narrative of a song taking us on a journey is not a big stretch. Actually I've found that story songs help place us as individuals within the grander story of God's dealings with His people. We go from being readers of the story, to participants within it when we are caught up in the narrative. In the best instances orthodox narratives can shape and inspire our imaginations and fill them with faith.
A Good Start"Light of the world you stepped down into darkness." It may not be "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times," but the opening line to Tim Hughes' "Here I Am to Worship" is easily as engaging. The story has started and as readers and worshipers we want to know what happens next.
Universal qualityPerhaps the most important requirement for a narrative-based congregational lyric is that the story is true for more than just the writer. Tim is telling a story, but one that all of us who know the Lord can identify with. God has opened our eyes. We have seen His beauty. We have felt the hope of eternal life with our Savior. If Tim's story had been for example, "Light of the world you stepped down into darkness / opened my eyes let me see / the drugs I'd been taking were taking my own life, were leading me further from you."
It may have been true (not for Tim of course), but it wouldn't have been congregational. If you're going to use a narrative approach for congregational songs, you need to make sure that the story has a universal quality to it. Universal though, does not make it any less true. It just means it's true for more than just you.
An Opportunity to Express WorshipBut a universal quality is not the only requirement for a congregational song. For it to be worship, the song has to move from narrative to praxis. At some point in the story the people of God have to worship. And normally this coincides with the punch line of an argument that is taking place within the narrative, as well as occurring, typically, in the chorus. Again, think of "Here I Am to Worship." Apart from the lyrics forming a familiar and true story, it is also a solid argument: I will worship you because you are wonderful. And you're wonderful because you stepped into darkness and revealed your beauty to me. By the time we hit the chorus, we not only identify with the story, but we agree with the argument. And we are ready to sing the words "here I am to worship."
A Resolving TensionOur congregational songs may not have the narrative detail of Cash's "A Boy Named Sue" or Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man," but they definitely take us on a journey deeper into worship. As leaders looking to help our congregations take this journey with us each week, these kind of songs can be helpful arrows in the quiver.
Brenton Brown recently released an EP called Introducing Brenton Brow
n. Visit, brentonbrown.com.
