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AcaDisc #58- Life by The Firemen
Original Release: 1999 Firemen Ministries, Inc.
Available through The Firemen
Producer:
Lynn Hunt
Engineers: Lynn Hunt
Recorded at: Selah Studios
Mixed
by: Lynn Hunt
Mastered by: Lynn Hunt
Photography: Andrew Paul Uilkie
at Peerless Photography
Design: Chris Bawiec at Visual
Solutions
Members: Brian Fuller - Bass
Rick Castleman - Baritone
Matt Schmitz - Tenor and
Baritone
James
McDuffie - 2nd Tenor
Brian Lewis - 1st Tenor
Livin' The Life
Jesus Loves Me
Lord, It's Not Fair
I Wanna Know Why
Change In My Life
Mysterium Tremendum
Ask For Angels
Treasures
You Are The Hope
Sing Alound Unto The Lord
Venetia's Song
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Words and Music: James McDuffie and Brian Fuller
Lead: James
McDuffie
Lyrics:
Chorus:
Sittin' in the pews with a frown (frown), where is
God?
Sing but ain't happy, others lookin' on at your facade
Unless
you're showin' how you feel
People will never know that He's real
So
get up off your padding and declare
He's the Lord!
My Father is Lord
Livin' the life of a Christian to the full, yes
Sets an example to
others that it's cool, aw yeah, yeah
People watchin' everyday, where
you go and what you say
You got the look but not the Way, who ya gonna
serve?
Repeat Chorus (with stepouts)
He is the Lord
Age is just an excuse yall, not a reason
Sharin' with others the
truth, no decievin', no no, come on
Young and old all on the call,
Satan pressed against the wall
Into line we all must fall, which way
you gonna go?
Repeat Chorus
Follow the way of the Savior to the end, ah yeah
Knowing your life
to the Father, He'll defend
Pretty notes and fancy things will not help
you see our King
For God's call I'm listening, how about you?
Repeat Chorus
Do you believe He is the Lord?
I know that He's the Lord
He is
the Lord
My Father is Lord
Scriptural Reference:
"So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, 'He is the Lord ; let him do what is good in his eyes.'" 1 Samuel 3:18
Words: Anna B. Warner (Stanza 1 - 1860) and David Rutherford
McGuire
Music: William B. Bradbury (1862)
Arragement: Rick
Castleman
This song also appeared on Acappella Lullabies by The
Acappella Company and as part of "Medley" on Jesus Our
Savior by The Sounds of Glory.
Lead: Rick Castleman and James
McDuffie
Lyrics:
Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible, it tells me so
Little
ones to Him belong
They are weak, but He is strong
Chorus:
(Whoa) Yes, Jesus loves me
(Whoa) Yes, Jesus loves
me
Yes, Jesus loves me
For the Bible tells me so
Let me tell you of a man
Who for you outstretched His hands
On a
cross He gave His blood
Now be washed in that crimson flood
Report Chorus
All the love that He gives is so blessed
And the grace that He gives
is so full
And when I'd found the Savior
I knew there would be none
other
None other
Repeat Chorus
For the Bible tells me so, so, so, so, oh
Scriptural Reference:
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39
Words and Music: Brian Lewis
Lead: Brian Lewis
Lyrics:
Spoken intro:
Rick: One of the greatest things about this album I
think is the way that God has blessed us with the many life experiences
that we've had during this past year, and the ability to record them on
paper in form of lyrics and music and help other people relate to the
things that we've been dealing with.
Brian Fuller: Ya know, I was
lookin' over the list of all of the songs that are on this album and there
are several on here that have such personal meaning behind them to us, ya
know because we wrote, this year I think especially on this album, wrote
from these, like you mentioned, personal experiences, whether it be
someone in our family or someone that we meet at a concert or just stay in
their homes and we get to know their families, and we had such...
Brian
Lewis: Yeah, within a, within a few months time I had close friends, a
couple that lost a baby that was only alive for a week, and just a few
months later lost an uncle who was pretty much like a dad to me, and had
me and had me asking those questions that everybody asks, ya know why, why
do these things happen? And ya know it's just not fair that these kind of
things should happen. So uh, I sat down and wrote a song about it.
I pronounce you man and wife
You may now kiss your bride
They
could see the road that lay ahead
Their eyes open wide
They knew the
years they'd be together
And all the dreams they'd share
But the
cancer took that all away
Lord, it's not fair
Chorus:
But it wasn't fair when the soldiers spit in His
face
(But it wasn't fair when the soldiers put the crown of thorns upon
His head and spit in His face)
And it wasn't fair that the Savior had
to take my place
(And it wasn't fair in the garden that the Savior
asked another way but had to take my place)
It wasn't fair that my
Jesus hung on a tree
(It wasn't fair that they drove the nails and
raised the cross on Calvary, He hung on a tree)
But unfair for Him is
what saved me
That child growing in her womb
The first son that she would
know
She couldn't wait to hold his tiny hands
Or to watch him
grow
Little Cameron could have been your friend
The kind of friend
who'd care
But a week was all that he would live
Lord it's not fair
Repeat Chorus
Bridge:
Evil prospers everyday; I don't understand
Families are
torn apart; that can't be Your plan
Lord please make it clearer, give
peace to everyone
Only You can know our suffering
Because You gave
Your only son
You gave up Your son
Repeat Chorus
Yes unfair for Him is what saved me
Scriptural Reference:
"'But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?' 'So the last will be first, and the first will be last.'" Matthew 20:13-16
Words and Music: Matthew Schmitz
Lead: Matthew Schmitz
Lyrics:
Chorus:
I wanna know why (I wanna know why), oh why (Oh Lord), I
always seem to fall
Why (I wanna know why), oh why (Oh Lord), I can't
find my way
Tell my why (I wanna know why), oh Lord, You sent Your Son
to die
He washed my sins away at Calvary
I don't think to call when my back's against the wall
But still
You're there for me
And evil blocks my eyes, but Jesus is alive
And
shines a light for me, and
Repeat Chorus
When you're lost in this world and you feel all alone
And don't know
what to do
Just get on your knees and soon you will see
The Lord is
there for you, and
Repeat Chorus
And you know my Jesus died for me
And you know my Jesus died for
you
And you know my Jesus could have gone home
But instead our Jesus
set us free
Repeat Chorus (x2)
You sent Your Son to die, He washed my sins away at Calvary
Scriptural Reference:
"'Why are you sleeping?' he asked them. 'Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.'" Luke 22:46
Words and Music: Billy Strauss
Arrangement: The Firemen
Lead:
James McDuffie
Lyrics:
Spoken Intro:
Brian Lewis: And now's the time of the album where we
like to do the restaurant song (Laughter)
Brian Fuller: We've done this
in a lot of restuarants, even gotten some free meals out of it
Rick:
Yeah, sure have
Brian Lewis: And saved some money on tips!
Brian
Fuller: That's right, that's right...We'll sing, we don't have to pay the
tip! We're broke singers! (Laughter)
Rick: Where, I don't remember
where this song came from
Brian Lewis: I think it came from uh, the
Leap of Faith album
(Oh that's right, the soundtrack, yeah the
soundtrack, soundtrack to that movie)
James: And this song talks about
makin' that change, fellas. And um, you know, it's hard to make that
change, uh, to become a Christian. But if you make that change, I believe
that the Lord will, you know, guide the right way. It's not gonna be an
easy path, but it's worth it
Rick(?): That's right, um hmm
Standing 'lone and scared on top of blue hill
There was one moment
when I lost my will
I prayed for mercy, please don't send me
away
You give me sunshine, when I only see gray
The past had a hold
on me and it can't be denied
But the change didn't come easily
Don't
ya know
Chorus:
I've been lonely, I've been cheated, I've been
misunderstood
I've been washed up, I've been put down, told I'm no
good
But with You I belong 'cause You help me be strong
There's a
change in my life since You came along
Whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh, yeah
Now I don't mind working so hard everyday
And I don't pay no mind to
what people say, no
But after all the pain that I've been
through
I'd give up everything to love only You
All my life I held
my head bent in shame
But now I found You, and with You I'll
remain
Yeah, don't you know
Repeat Chorus
Now a man gets weary (when his life is on hold)
And a heart gets
lonely (when it doesn't belong)
When the road gets rocky (well you've
got to keep on
And let the new life keep shining over you)
Don't you
know that
Repeat Chorus
Scriptural Reference:
"If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever." Jeremiah 7:5-7
Words and Music: Lynn Hunt
Lead: Brian Lewis and Matthew Schmitz
Lyrics:
Who among the gods is like You, oh Lord?
Mysterium tremendum
You
stretched out Your right hand and the earth swallowed them
Mysterium
tremendum
In Your unfailing love
You will lead the people You have
redeemed
Mysterium tremendum
In Your strength You will guide them to
Your holy dwelling
Mysterium tremendum
The nations will hear and
tremble
Mysterium tremendum
By the power of Your arm they will be as
still as a stone
The Lord will reign (The Lord will reign) (The Lord will reign, will
reign, the Lord will reign)
The Lord will reign (The Lord will reign)
(The Lord will reign, will reign, the Lord will reign)
The Lord will
reign (The Lord will reign) (The Lord will reign, will reign, the Lord
will reign)
The Lord (the Lord) will reign (will reign)
forever
Forever and ever (Mysterium tremendum)
Scriptural Reference:
"Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you- majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? You stretched out your right hand and the earth swallowed them. In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will grip the people of Philistia. The chiefs of Edom will be terrified, the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling, the people of Canaan will melt away; terror and dread will fall upon them. By the power of your arm they will be as still as a stone- until your people pass by, O Lord, until the people you bought pass by. You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance- the place, O Lord , you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, your hands established. The Lord will reign for ever and ever." Exodus 15:11-18
Words and Music: Lynn Hunt and Rick Castleman
Lead: Matthew Schmitz
Lyrics:
Spoken intro:
Matt: When the world was made life began. It was
perfect and whole, but sin changed life to death. The Son came forward to
return life to its blameless state...
Rick: "I am the Way, the Truth,
and the Life," He said, so He was sent to restore the work of His father,
and life seemed to overcome...
James: But as He hung from the cross and
His life ebbed away, He whispered, "It is finished." Death once again
reigned...
Brian Fuller: Three days passed as life stood still. Then,
life filled the void that death had token whole. Life arose victoriously
and has been given to us...
Brian Lewis: Life has been restored to
perfection through the One from whom it was so freely given.
Fading twilight, dusk is near
A star emerges bright and
clear
Shining gently from on high
Is this my guardian angel guiding
me tonight?
Lost and hopeless, can't even stand
Then comes a stranger, a helping
hand
There by your side in your time of need
Unforseen comfort, a
bringer of God's holy peace
Chorus:
Ask for angels (ask Him, ask Him for angels)
Guiding
light (guiding light)
Ask for angels (ask Him, ask Him for
angels)
Through the night (through the night)
Ask for angels (ask
Him, ask Him for angels)
God provides (God provides)
And when you
ask for angels
They are at your side
Praying mother, sleepless child
Weary traveler, driving through the
night
Unaware of darkness near by
For there is an angel keeping them
in the light
When it seems the world is closing in with all its might
When it
seems you're all alone and must give up the fight
Just call upon the
Lord and He is there to see you through
He'll send ten thousand angels
strong, an army just for you
Repeat Chorus
And when you ask for angels
They are at your side
Scriptural Reference:
"See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared." Exodus 23:20
Words and Music: Rick Castleman
Lead: None
Lyrics:
Love, a four letter word so loosely used
Our world takes and so
abuses this precious gift
Peace, an inner-thing that calms and
heals
In troubled times and hearts of fears
Grant us these treasures
Chorus:
God is love, He is peace
We are the vessels
Please
give us these things
He is life, He is eternity
Lord we long to
serve You
And we long to be with Thee
Joy, it's a happy heart and smiling soul
The truth of knowing you
are whole; pass it on
Hope, a seeing that you can achieve
An outlook
saying you believe
God will provide
Repeat Chorus
Love the Lord with all your heart
And put none before Him
This is
the greatest command
The next is like unto it
Love your neighbor as
you'd love yourself
Repeat Chorus
Lord we long to serve You
And we long to be with Thee
Scriptural Reference:
"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 2 Corinthians 4:6-7
Words and Music: Phil McKinney
Arrangement: The Firemen
This song
also appeared on Can I Come by The
Firemen.
Lead: James McDuffie
Lyrics:
Spoken intro:
Brian Fuller: Man, it's the fourth album
already
Rick: I can't believe it's been four years
Brian Fuller: And
we're rerecording this song off the first one
Matt: I can't even
remember the last four years
Brian Fuller: You remember we recorded the
first album in a trailor
Rick: I do, I remember
Matt: Taco
Bell
Brian Fuller: And then we get to go to the closet!
(Laughter)
James: Giddy up baby, giddy up...that's awesome
Rick:
It's amazing that "You Are The Hope" has been such a impactful song in our
lives. Uh, we started out singin'g it when we were such a small group and
nobody knew of us and God knew that certain words and certain songs would
bless our ministry and bless the people who hear the songs that we sing,
and I believe that this is one of 'em.
You are the hope, You are the love
You are the joy that comes from
above
Be with me, oh Lord, all my life
You are the truth and You are
the light
You are the joy that builds up my life
Be with me, oh
Lord, all my life
Sing with me brothers
You are the hope, You are the love
You are the joy that comes from
above
Be with me, oh Lord, all my life
You take my life into Your
hands
And without You I'll never stand
Be with me, oh Lord, all my
life
You take my life into Your hands
Without You I'll never
stand
Be with me, oh Lord, all my life
So many times
We don't seem to understand that the Father's right
there
All He wants us to do is get on our knees
And ask Him for his
help
We're here in this world
So many things we don't seem to
understand, no we don't
But my Father's there and He knows your
problems
You take my life into Your hands
And without You I'll never
stand
Be with me, oh Lord, all my life
Be with me Father (Be with me Oh Lord, all of my life)
Please be
with me
I know if I call on You, You will be there all of my life (Be
with me Oh Lord, all of my life)
Scriptural Reference:
"The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love." Psalm 147:11
Words and Music: Rick Castleman
Lead: Brian Lewis
Lyrics:
Sing aloud unto the Lord
Sing to Him a new song
Give Him the
praise that He deserves
Sing to Him a new song
Lift your voice, sing
to Him all day long
Sing hallelujah to the Lord
Praise His name for all time
Sing to Him a new song
Give to Him
the glory
Sing to Him a new song
Lift your voice, sing to Him all
day long
Sing hallelujah to the Lord
Glory to the Father
Sing to Him a new song
To the Spirit and the
Son
Sing to Him a new song
Lift your voice, sing to Them all day
long
Sing amen
Chorus:
Halle (Halle) Halle (Halle) Hallelujah
Halle (Halle)
Halle (Halle) Hallelujah
Amen, Amen, Amen
Sing aloud unto the Lord
Sing to Him a new song
Give Him the
praise He deserves
Sing to Him a new song
Lift your voice, sing to
Him all day long
Sing hallelujah to the Lord
Repeat Chorus
Scriptural Reference:
"Sing for joy, O heavens, for the Lord has done this; shout aloud, O earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the Lord has redeemed Jacob, he displays his glory in Israel." Isaiah 44:23
Words and Music: Brian Fuller
Lead: None
Lyrics:
Spoken intro:
Brian Fuller: Well, this next song probably has
touched more people before it's been released than any other song I think
that we've ever done. It all started in Granbury, Texas when we met a
young lady named Venetia Habey, and during the weekend while we were
there, she died in a car accident. We got back and James and I were
actually workin' on another song, um, which one was it? Livin' the
Life?
James: Livin' the Life
Brian Fuller: Yeah, workin' on Livin
the Life, and this one came to me, and I wanted to name it "For Venetia,"
so we wrote it and in the process of e-mailin' it back and forth to her
parents and stuff, we received more emails about this song, sayin 'Hey,
I've seen the words, when can I get a copy of the album?' In fact, one
young lady e-mailed me the other day and said that she had gone to the
cemetary to visit the gravesite of Venetia and the words to the song were
there. Um, so it's touched a lot of people already, and the message is not
just about Venetia but about how short life is, and how we've gotta make a
decision before it's too late.
She was just 16
Blonde hair and full of life
Livin' on Monday
like she lived on Sunday
Could have made a wonderful wife
But in an
instant she was gone
No goodbyes, no calls on the phone
Just friends
left behind
Chorus:
How much longer will you wait?
How much time will it
take
For the Spirit to touch your heart my friend?
He's begging and
pleading to come in
He's trying time and time again
Before it gets
too late
All her friends gather 'round
Hear of the real sad news
There's
more pain now in their young hearts
No comforting words will do
They
need the peace found in Him
No excuses, no more lies
Just givin' it
to the Lord
Repeat Chorus
I hear the trumpet sound
There in the distant sky
Flashes of
light and rays of hope
As Jesus claims His bride
In an instant He
will come
No more begging, no more pleading
It's time to go home
Repeat Chorus (x2)
Before it gets too late
Before it gets too late
Scriptural Reference:
"And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." Romans 8:27
The Lion Sleeps Tonight (bonus track)
Words and Music: Traditional
Arrangement: Luigi Creatore, Hugo E.
Peretti, and George David Weiss
Lead: Matthew Schmitz
Lyrics:
Spoken intro:
James: This is the song that everybody wants to
hear
Matt: Everybody
Brian Fuller: Whether you're a man, woman,
child, dog, bird, they all wanna hear this song.
James: You name
it
Brian Lewis: Everybody loves it!
Matt: Everybody wants
it
Brian Fuller: Oh, Louie that was good. Everybody loves it. They do.
And it's not because Matt does the lead.
Matt: They've gotta love it!
And it's only because I do the lead.
Rick: I pretty much guarantee
it.
Matt: With the fun that's enthralled through me, there's nothing
that could possibly touch this song (Laughter).
Brian Fuller: But it
is, it's a fun song to do on stage, and everybody wants us to record it,
"What album is that on?" when they come to the table, "what album is that
song on?" So...
Matt: It's not on, well now it is on an album
Brian
Fuller: It is on an album. And it's coming up
James: Right now
(Animal sounds)
We de de de, de de de de, de de dum mumumbaway
We de de de, de de de
de, de de dum mumumbaway
We de de de, de de de de, de de dum
mumumbaway
We de de de, de de de de, de de dum mumumbaway
In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
In the
jungle, the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
Chorus:
Aweemaway, aweemaway
Aweemaway, aweemaway
Aweemaway,
aweemaway
Aweemaway, aweemaway
Aweemaway, aweemaway
Aweemaway,
aweemaway
Aweemaway, aweemaway
Aweemaway, aweemaway
In the village, the peaceful village
The lion sleeps tonight
In
the village, the peaceful village
The lion sleeps tonight
Repeat Chorus
Hush my darlin', don't fear my darlin'
The lion sleeps
tonight
Hush my darlin', don't fear my darlin'
The lion sleeps
tonight
Repeat Chorus
Whoa, whoa, whoa-oh
Whoa, whoa, whoa-oh
Repeat Chorus (x3 and fade)
Special thanks for additions and/or corrections to: The Firemen and Cyberhymnal
Acadisc is a synopsis of various albums of Christian acappella groups. It is written by The Acadisc Team and is very open to additions and/or corrections. These can be addressed to Ken at ken@acadisc.com.
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