Monday, July 30, 2007

P&W is it a good thing?

It seems that once in a while someone has to discuss the P&W songs out in the blogdom so here’s my discussion.

I like some of the praise and worship songs. I really enjoy the ones that get our teems going. It’s great to hear them sing out.

What do you think of this song?


Is it a good thing to sing songs that have a bit of creative license if you are doing it to love the Lord?


I’m Trading My Sorrows
By Darrell Evans

La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
Amen

Chorus 1
I’m trading my sorrows,
I’m trading my shame,
I’m laying them down
for the joy of the Lord.
I’m trading my sickness,
I’m trading my pain,
I’m laying them down
for the joy of the Lord.

Chorus 2
Yes, Lord, yes, Lord
yes, yes, Lord;
Yes, Lord, yes, Lord
yes, yes, Lord;
Yes, Lord, yes, Lord
yes, yes, Lord;
Amen.

Verse 1
(Solo)I’m pressed but not crushed,
persecuted, not abandoned,
struck down,
but not destroyed;
I’m blessed
beyond the curse,
for His promise will endure,

(All)
that His joy’s gonna be my strength.

Bridge
Though the sorrow
may last for the night,
His joy comes with the morning.

Chorus
I’m trading my sorrows,
I’m trading my shame,
I’m laying them down
for the joy of the Lord.
I’m trading my sickness,
I’m trading my pain,
I’m laying them down
for the joy of the Lord.

Chorus 2

Yes, Lord, yes, Lord
yes, yes, Lord;
Yes, Lord, yes, Lord
yes, yes, Lord;
Yes, Lord, yes, Lord
yes, yes, Lord;
Amen.

Chorus 2

Yes, Lord, yes, Lord
yes, yes, Lord;
Yes, Lord, yes, Lord
yes, yes, Lord;
Yes, Lord, yes, Lord
yes, yes, Lord;
Amen.

Bridge
Though the sorrow
may last for the night,
His joy comes with the morning.

Chorus
I’m trading my sorrows,
I’m trading my shame,
I’m laying them down
for the joy of the Lord.
I’m trading my sickness,
I’m trading my pain,
I’m laying them
down for the joy of the Lord.

Ending
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
Amen

La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
Amen

Oh-Oh, Amen
Oh-Oh, Amen

8 comments:

kc bob said...

I am not unbiased on this one Milly. I have worshipped my way out of some pretty depressing times singing my heart out to this song. I think that it is good to lay down those sorrows in song - even (and mainly) when you don't feel like it.

That said, I will say that sometimes I don't resonate with the la-la's and Yes-Lord's but sometimes I do :)

karen said...

We did this song a lot when I was on a P&W team. I love it. Except the la la la la yes Lord yes Lord yes yes yes....
Love the trading my sickness and pain part...

pearlie said...

Not an easy thing to do, trading the heavy things for the lighter, but singing would definitely help.

BTW, I "tagged" you. Check it out here ;)

Anonymous said...

Well.... I'm sure you read my comment on Thinklings so this won't be a surprise. I just can't get passed the part of the song that talks about "trading my sorrows/shame/sickness/pain for the joy of the Lord". Maybe I'm too literal. I know others have said they sing it as choosing to focus on the "joy of the Lord" versus those other things.

But the song talks about trading one for the other and I just don't see them in competition. It's like, we have things like sorrow and sickness because we are not choosing joy. And I just can't go there.

As far as singing out goes, I like a good, upbeat song as well as the next person. But the question is, is emotion driving your personal praise and worship, or is praising God causing the emotional response? I think it should be the latter.

Sorry to be such a downer but I appreciate you broaching the subject.

Anonymous said...

Brian,
Not a downer at all you have valid points.

I’ll be bringing them up next.

Thanks for coming by.

Kevin Knox said...

Torn.

KB is right. I can touch the Lord singing this song, but for me it's highly rare because the song is saccharin and lies. It's a cloud that brings no rain. I can trust the Lord with my cares, and know He has my good at heart, but the thought that I might successfully trade in my pain for His joy is a lie. Unless you think Golgotha was a giggle-fest after Jesus was done praying.

Grrrr.

Must stop ranting. :-/

Now, other PW songs that aren't so blatantly false can eat me alive. I sing them for all I'm worth, and am moved unendingly by them. Barlow Girls, Never Alone. The Voice of Truth (tells me a different story.) Awesome God. El Shaddai. I Can Only Imagine. I've Never Been More Homesick Than Now


PW is good stuff. You just picked a song that irks me.

kc bob said...

Here is the scripture that somewhat supports the joy part:

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Understand CP's point of view but, for me anyway, I have to sometimes release the sorrow and the pain to Jesus in worship before I can experience the joy set before me. I submit that this does not trivialize or minimize the sorrow/pain but puts us in a position where the sorrow/pain is put in perspective ... but ths could just be for me.

Unknown said...

Feels pain and touchy

Get it