Friday, July 11, 2014

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Come Thou Fount - I love this hymn. 
 (Lyrics and Explanations at the bottom of the page.)

My Journey to finding the most amazing version: 

So I bought an album of a favorite artist of mine and he had a version of this song on his album.  So I posted it on facebook.  Then I thought - what other versions are out there?  So I spent the next several hours exploring this song on youtube.  I found quite a few interesting versions.  All told I listened to over 70 versions of this song.  Yes, 70 versions.  In this post, I will include the highlights of this particular journey.

Here is the album that began my journey:
https://myspace.com/bradcurrah/music/song/come-thou-fount-sample-94107384-104709107


And here starts my Youtube journey:


Slow pace version/all verses: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax_NMWLEb6U

Pretty, but not quite what I'm looking for:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3w9nvXuVnk


Getting closer, definitely faster version!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgv0Zl687ds


AWESOMENESS.  Best Drum version:





More like what I am looking for:





Swing-Style Version! :




Jars of Clay did a version:




hmmm, the Jericho Road version:




At this point I was beginning to think I needed to form a band and sing this song myself the way I wanted it sung.

The ABSOLUTELY slowest version.  And its such a pretty introduction too....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvkSgWlm-e4


Beautiful Voice, Beautiful version:





^^^^^Everyone should give that one a listen for sure!  In fact, I think I need to download some more of their songs.........

Very Nice duet - she has a gorgeous voice:





So what's your favorite version so far?  

Here's a good band/audience one - good violinist:




This one is more of what I keep seeing over and over and over again - Beautiful Voices singing it very BORINGLY - and the audience is very BORED.  This is TRAGIC.  (no offense adorable kids, you just need a bit more 'pep'):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f77GAIqnyrw


I love this arrangement:




Hammered Dulcimer Version:




For Some Reason, I like this one:

 


Another duo that I am now going to follow.  I think

I have found several artists that I now love:






Well, this one is different.  Very different, very cool!




^^^^More of them:

More at http://deseretbook.com/Beautiful-World-Justin-Cash/i/5071445 

and http://deseretbook.com/Waiting-Place-Calee-Reed/i/5077490


Here is a nice acapella one:




AND THEN I found it!!!!!!!!!!
Finally, Someone gets IT.
What is both ironic and wonderful - the band is in my Hometown!!!!  




And I will admit, that since I found this particular song, I am a bit obsessed with it - its such an awesome version of the song.
So I looked these kids up and they now have a band.  Show 'em some love. 

http://canvasbride.com/
https://www.facebook.com/canvasbridemusic


Bonus!  Another version of the song by Claire Shannon of Canvas Bride:









Lyrics and Explanation of Ebenezer:

Come, thou Fount of every blessing, 
tune my heart to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it,
mount of thy redeeming love.
2. Here I raise mine Ebenezer;
hither by thy help I'm come;
and I hope, by thy good pleasure,
safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
wandering from the fold of God;
he, to rescue me from danger,
interposed his precious blood.
3. O to grace how great a debtor
daily I'm constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
here's my heart, O take and seal it,
seal it for thy courts above.


The word Ebenezer comes from the Hebrew words ’Eben hà-ezer (eh’-ben haw-e’-zer), which simply mean “stone of 

help” (see Enhanced…, 1995). When Robinson wrote his lyrics, he followed the word Ebenezer with the phrase, “Here 

by Thy great help I’ve come.” An Ebenezer, then, is simply a monumental stone set up to signify the great help that God 

granted the one raising the stone. In Robinson’s poem, it figuratively meant that the writer—and all who subsequently 

sing the song—acknowledge God’s bountiful blessings and help in their lives.

The next time you sing about raising your Ebenezer, you will be able to “sing with the understanding” that you are 


acknowledging God’s help in your life (1 Corinthians 14:15).

http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx...

Another Link:

WELCOME

I will post on this website somewhat of a review, somewhat of a thought process, mainly discoveries and downright treasures of hymn finds from the internet. I'm honestly not very good with reviews, I am too blunt.  I'm not necessarily looking for aesthetics, more of a punch-gut feeling when I listen to hymns.  This will be part of my worship/discovering God time, and I'm simply sharing it with others in order to help them on their journey too.  I post randomly, so sign up on facebook or sign up for an email alert.

I've participated in Church choirs most of my life, and I've heard a lot of hymns in all types of churches and several different denominations.  I even took a Hymn class at seminary.  I love hymns, there is just something about them - they have meaning, they have cadence, you step into God's presence with a hymn.


I've already discovered a few new bands and musicians and have become a true blue fan through this process. I hope you'll discover some treasures too.

But mainly, I hope you will be reminded of God's love and His Grace and His Endurance and His Mercy through this hymn journey.