Date:  Oct 08 1999 12:23:30 EDT  
From:  "Songs of Praise" <elton@songsofpraise.org>  
Subject:  Songs of Praise  


Hello everyone,

It's been about 3 weeks since our last song "You're At Peace In His Love".
This week we have something totally different... "How Long?" in a negro
spiritual style.  Hopefully we can find a choir to record this.  I wrote
the music and some of the lyrics.  My friends Steve Israel and Larry
Holder helped with the lyrics.

Here are the lyrics...

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"How Long?"

(Verse 1)
When I was just a little child
My mama said to me,
She said, "child, don't you ever be discouraged.
The Lord provides your every need,
Be patient while he grows the seed,
And soon we will join the harvest song of joy".

(Chorus 1)
Out in the fields we labor every day
And as we share the Word we often say,
"How long, how long till our Lord arrives,
And we are taken to our home on high?".

(Verse 2)
My mama taught me how to work
She taught me how to pray.
She prayed, "Lord, please have mercy on Your servant.
Our life is hard, our labor long,
But through Your mercy we are strong.
O, Bring us the rest You promised long ago."

(Chorus 2)
How long, how long, O Lord till Your return?
Waiting for You, O Lord, our hearts do yearn
To be with You and Your face to see.
How long, how long, before You set us free?

(Bridge)
How long O Lord till Your return?
O Lord, we pray You hear our cry.
We long to be
Finally free,
And plant our feet in Paradise.

(Verse 3)
When I had grown to be a man,
Lord called my mama home
There to live in that mansion built in Glory.
One day I'll see her face again,
The gates of heav'n I'll enter in.
O, Praise God, no longer will I have to say:

(Chorus 3)
How long, how long, O Lord till Your return?
Waiting for You, O Lord, our hearts do yearn.
We'll keep the faith till You do arrive,
Coming to take us to our home on high!

(Ending)
We'll keep the faith till You do arrive,
Coming to take us to our home on high!
Our home on high!

Copyright (c) 1999 by Elton Smith, Steve Israel and Larry Holder

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Please send your suggestions for music style or theme for our next song.
Requests seem to lead to good results.

Yours in Christ,
Elton Smith
http://songsofpraise.org