New 'Footprints' song

I wonder if people would like to consider using this new text? It is inspired by the ‘Footprints’ text and can be sung as a hymn or an effective solo song to the Irish traditional tune ‘Londonderry Air’ aka ‘Danny Boy’. Just right for someone doing Celtic music. Let me know if you use it at robyatkins@yahoo.co.uk

Upon the shore, I walked with Him at even
And I looked back upon the path we’d trod
And in the sand I traced our way at even
And I was glad I’d walked through life with God:
For side by side we’d journeyed through together
All through the world’s wide wilderness of care
And side by side we’d journeyed through to even
Safe at his side the Lord my God had brought me here.

But in my joy I caught a strain of sadness
To give me pause when thinking of my way
For on the shore I saw he’d left me lonely
When I had most the need of him to stay:
When I was tried he’d left me worn and wandering,
He’d left me lone when I was fighting fears
He’d let me tread the steepest slopes in solitude
Before he came back to my side to dry my tears.

But then the Lord drew near to me in comfort
And in his tenderness he made it plain
That in the times when dread and darkness threatened
He was my shield and shelter from the pain:
For on his shoulders he was gently bearing
And on his shoulders I from harm was free:
The single trace of footprints of the Master,
The single trace of footprints shows he carried me.

So on the shore I walk with Him at even
I face the latter days of life secure,
For if my pilgrimage reserves me sorrow
The footprints show that He is strong and sure:
If I am near the gates of heaven weary,
No longer strong enough to stride alone
The footprints show that he is there to carry me:
The footprints show the Lord my God will bear me home.

Copyright 2001 Robert Atkins; all rights reserved

 

By the way, I hope this doesn't qualify as new age junk just because I mentioned Celtic. That's just a style suggestion for something that is just a fairly traditional hymn based on Isaiah 46:3,4.

Just a clarification after reading the Prince of Preachers post.

Roby

 

I forgot to mention. Here is a link to a page with a midi file and a music score for this song. The whole site is magnificent!

http://www.btinternet.com/~skitol/index.htm/Footprintssg.htm