October 2019 Assignment

Write a song about faith

Interpret the word as you will. Go ahead and get all churchy. Maybe you see love as faith in a partner, or courage as faith in yourself. Maybe you’ll write about an absence of faith.

With infinite ways to perceive faith, this assignment might present an opportunity to venture beyond your songwriting safety zone.

If you’re a rocker could you write a traditional gospel song? If you’re an old-school folkie can you craft an R&B pop tune about faith in friends? Note: Save the scantily clad choreography for the Pittsburgh Dancers Circle. 

If you’re agnostic or atheist, what do you have faith in? If you write a lot of light lovey songs could you dig deep to try to understand a soldier’s faith that a buddy will have his or her back in battle? If you’re country could you write contemporary Christian rock? If you want a peaceful world, could you write about the faith of a true believer enticed to commit an unpeaceful act?

Human’s have written songs of faith for as long as there has been song. Check out some of the oldies but goodies below. I have faith that someone in this group is going to nail the hell out of this assignment.

“Benediction” by Aaron (1396-1274 BCE). Performed by One For Israel Ministry 

“Psalms 21-30” by King David (1035-970 BCE). Performed by The Psalms Project

“Heavenly Church” Apostle Paul (4 BCE-64 CE), Romans 8:31-39. Performed by Good News Team

“Faith of Our Fathers” by Frederick William Faber (1849). Performed by the Mormon Youth Chorus

“I’ll Fly Away” by Albert E. Brumley (1929). Performed by The Kossoy Sisters, O Brother Where Art Thou?

“Let it Be” by Lennon/McCartney. Performed by The Beatles

“Oh Happy Day” by Edwin Hawkins

“My Sweet Lord” by George Harrison

“Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen

“Have a Little Faith in Me” by John Hiatt

“You Gotta Have Faith” by George Michael

“Give Me Faith” by Elevation Worship