NEW SCOTTISH HYMNS

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE IN THE DARKNESSDEATH MAY APPROACH YOU’RE THE SHEPHERDPSALM 139 (WERE I TO CROSS)

Were I to cross from land to land And sail afar by seaDescend the depths or climb the heightsMy Lord remains with me

Before the blood ran in these veinsThe days ordained for meWere written in Your book O LordBefore I came to be

I grieve to hear Your enemiesSpeak hatred, Lord, of YouLong though they scheme with ill-intentTheir days are numbered too

How precious are Your thoughts to meHow countless, Lord, they areMore than the shores have grains of sandMore than the skies have stars

Come search and test this heart O Lord,Dispel each anxious thoughtAnd lead me onward evermoreTo tread the path I ought

How blessed I am, so bound with loveSurrounded, yet so freeIn doubt or blessing, life or deathMy Lord remains with me

Words & Music: Greg de BlieckPerformed by Emily SmithAccordion: Emily SmithUpright Bass: James Lindsay

You’re the shepherd, we’re the sheepYou won’t slumber, though we sleepOh what love our saviour showsTo the little ones he knowsWe are guilty, You are goodWe fell short, but You withstoodFor Your father’s holy nameYou endured and overcame

We were helpless in our sinYou forgave and took us inThough our hearts still turn from YouYet with patience You pursue

You’re the teacher, we are taughtBy Your precious blood we’re boughtYou’re the healer we are healedBy Your cross our hope is sealedWe’re forgiven by Your bloodOrphans called as sons of GodBrought from darkness into lightWashed in red and clothed in white

Yours the triumph, Yours the thronePraise and glory, Yours aloneTongues of angels, songs of menLet the heav’ns resound again

Words & Music: Greg de Blieck Performed by Steph Macleod and Ellyn OliverPiano: Robin MacLelland Accordion: Gary InnesGuitar: Steph Macleod

Death may approach I shall not fl eeFor daily I have trained to beAlive to Christ and dead to sinDeath cannot end what Christ begins

No longer warmed by Satan’s fi res Yet burned by unreformed desires Spirit of God, attend our fl eshFountain of life, our souls refresh

Whether at risk to life or limb Ever our hope is found in Him As Jesus suffered, so shall weBut not beyond His wise decree

Take up His yoke where freedom reignsIn love He chastens those He trainsJoy has its root, and grace its keyIn patience and humility

Many the saints who fell beforeGrief for our loss is fresh and soreThough death may hold them for a dayJesus has conquered, so shall they

Hallelujah! Christ aroseBearing the wounds He gladly choseEmblems of pain transformed by grace Sins cancelled out, joy in their place

Words & Music: Greg de BlieckPerformed by Ellyn OliverWhistle: Siobhan MacAuleyAccordion: Gary InnesDrums: Stuart Spence

Father God You look on me Yet see no sin or shameYou see Your Son who died for all To take away my blame He left his Father’s glorious throne All radiance set asideAnd hung alone eclipsed by sin‘Til sin was crucifi ed

Let Your light shine in the darknessLet Your light shine in the darkness

Empty now the threat of deathAs Empty lay the graveAnd all whose faith is in his lifeWill know His power to saveChrist returned to heaven aboveIn glorious light and powerAnd by His Spirit I have hope To light my darkest hour

Let Your light shine in the darknessLet Your light shine in the darkness

As the moon refl ects the sunNow radiant we standFreed from sin and Satan’s gripGod’s kingdom is at handDarkness, sin and death retreatAnd fl ee the marching dawnHis love casts out our fear and doubtSo let His church shine on

Let Your light shine in the darknessLet Your light shine in the darkness

Words & Music: Paul Robertson and Greg de Blieck Performed by Emily SmithDrums: Stuart SpenceFiddle: Graham McGeochElectric Guitar: Kyle Irwin

Lift your eyes to the Lord your godFather of goodness and graceChildren of God bring your gifts of praiseCome lay them down in this place

For His arm is mighty and His love will endureHis plan is perfect, His victory is sureAnd His anger is righteous but His grace is freeOh what a saviour is HeOh what a saviour is He

Lift your souls to the Lord your godMaker of heaven and earthSun and moon bow before His thronePraise Him for all He is worth

Lift your minds to the Lord your godHe will fulfi ll all your needsSeek His wisdom, attend His wordsFollow wherever He leads

Words & Music: Greg de Blieck Performed by Steph MacleodKeyboards: Robin MacLellandBass: James LindsayAccordion: Gary Innes

How can it be that I should gainAn interest in the Saviour’s blood?He died for me, who caused His painHe bore my sins and I go free

How can it be?How can it be?

He left His throne in heav’n aboveAnd freely gave from endless graceEmptied Himself of all but loveTo bleed for Adam’s helpless race

How can it be?How can it be?

No condemnation now I dreadJesus and all in Him is mineAlive in Him, my living headAnd clothed in righteousness divine

Now I approach the eternal throneAnd all my fears are fl own awayI claim the crown, through Christ, my ownOn that divine and glorious day

How can it be?How can it be?

Words & Music: Greg de BlieckBased on “And Can It Be” by Charles Wesley (1707-1788) Performed by Steph MacleodBacking vocals: Allan McKinlayPiano: David Lyon Drums: Stuart SpenceGuitar: Steph Macleod Upright Bass: Gus StirratElectric Guitar: Kyle Irwin Electric Mandolin: Douglas WeirFiddle: Graham McGeoch

According to Thy gracious wordIn meek humilityThis will I do, my dying LordI will remember Thee

Thy body, broken for my sakeMy bread from Heaven shall beThe testamental cup I takeAnd thus remember Thee

Gethsemane can I forgetOr there Thy confl ict seeThine agony, and bloody sweat,And not remember Thee?

When to the cross I turn my eyesAnd rest on CalvaryO Lamb of God, my sacrifi ceI must remember Thee

Remember Thee, and all Thy painsAnd all Thy love to meLord while a breath, a pulse remainsI will remember Thee

And when these failing lips grow dumbAnd mind and memory fl eeWhen Thou shalt in Thy kingdom comeJesus, remember me

Words: James Montgomery (1771-1854)Music: Jason McAuley and Greg de BlieckPerformed by Ellyn OliverPiano: David LyonDrums: Stuart SpenceGuitar: Steph MacleodUpright Bass: Gus StirratElectric Guitar: Kyle Irwin

You are my salvationWhom then shall I fear?In darkness and temptation My light and help are near

You are all around meStronger will I standAnd danger will not crush meWhen we walk hand in hand

God most highYou shelter meAnd I will trust in YouGod most highYou shelter meAnd I will trust in You

With courage I will waitDepending on Your mercyYou alone, O Lord, will be my peace

Words & Music: David LyonLyrics based on “God Is My Strong Salvation” by James Montgomery (1771-1854)Performed by Yvonne LyonTenor Guitar: David LyonWhistles: Susan Miller

GOD MOST HIGH ACCORDING TO THY GRACIOUS WORD HOW CAN IT BE?OH WHAT A SAVIOUR

The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not wantHe makes me down to lieIn pastures green: He leadeth meThe quiet waters by

My soul He doth restore againAnd me to walk doth makeWithin the paths of righteousnessEv’n for His own name’s sake

Yea, though I walk in death’s dark valeYet will I fear no illFor Thou art with me, and Thy rodAnd staff, my comfort still

My table Thou hast furnishedIn presence of my foesMy head Thou dost with oil anointAnd my cup overfl ows

Goodness and mercy all my lifeShall surely follow meAnd in God’s house for evermoreMy dwelling-place shall be

Words: Scottish Psalter, 1650Music: “Crimond” Jessie Seymour Irvine (1836-1887)Performed by Steph MacleodPiano, Accordion : David Lyon Drums: Stuart SpenceGuitar: Steph MacleodUpright Bass: Gus Stirrat

This is a holy placeHow can I be here, how can I show my face?For what do I deserve?No more than judgement and disgrace

How can I enter Your presence lightlyForgetting all You’ve done, forgetting all You’ve done?Let me remember Your sacrifi ce, And the price at which this freedom is won

I am a sinner yetHow deep I’ve wounded, how shallow my regretAnd though I don’t deserveYour blood has cancelled out my debt

I will not enter Your presence lightlyForgetting all You’ve done, forgetting all You’ve doneLord I remember Your sacrifi ce, And the price at which this freedom is won

Oh Spirit now beginCome sanctify me, and break this heart of sinAnd let my life becomeA place that Christ might enter in

I will not enter Your presence lightlyForgetting all You’ve done, Great Father, Spirit, SonI will remember Your sacrifi ce, And the love with which my freedom is won

Words & Music: Greg de Blieck Performed by Steph MacleodGuitar: Steph Macleod Bass: Gus Stirrat Fiddle: Graham McGeoch

Fill Thou my life, O Lord my GodIn every part with praiseThat my whole being may proclaimThy being and Thy waysNot for the lips of praise aloneNot even a praising heartI ask, but for a life made upOf praise in every part!

In every look and toneWith those who share my daily toilAnd those I love at homeNot in the temple crowd aloneWhere holy voices chimeBut in the silent paths of earthThe quiet rooms of time

Fill every part of me with praiseLet all my being speakOf You and Your great love, O LordPoor though I be, and weakSo shall You, Lord, from me, even meReceive the glory dueAnd so shall I begin on earthThe song forever new

So shall each fear, each stress and careBe turned into a songAnd every winding of the wayThe echo shall prolongSo shall no part of day or nightFrom sacredness be freeBut all my life, in every stepBe fellowship with Thee

Words: Horatius Bonar (1808-89)Music: Greg de Blieck Performed by Steph Macleod and Ellyn OliverAccordion: David Lyon Drums: Stuart SpenceGuitar: Steph Macleod Upright Bass: Gus StirratElectric Mandolin: Douglas Weir

Produced, engineered, mastered by Greg de Blieck @The Beatcave

Additional engineering on 2, 4: Iain Hutchinson @Glo-worm studios

Additional engineering on 6,7,9,10: Alistair “Bal” Cooke @La Chunky studios

Additional recording on track 11 @Steph’s loft.

All other instruments and programming (except 6,9,11) by Greg de Blieck

Executive Producer: Jason McAuley

Cover photo is by Edgar de Blieck

FILL THOU MY LIFE THIS IS A HOLY PLACEPSALM 23

NEW SCOTTISH HYMNSABOUT THIS RECORDING

One aim of this album was to introduce some new songs that churches in Scotland might fi nd useful in their own unique worship services. Scottish traditional music and folk melodies have an adaptable quality that renders the best of them timeless. Paraphrases from the Scottish Psalter like Psalm 23 have been sung across the world for centuries, and it’s important to remind new generations that these ancient words of scripture remain profoundly relevant. Scottish writers like Bonar and Montgomery showed that a wealth of transforming biblical truths could be taught and absorbed through songs, so we also wanted to introduce examples of their lyrics to new listeners.

The motivation for making this hymns recording did not spring simply from a desire to create art. Hymnwriting is about making music fi rstly out of gratitude to Jesus Christ. With all our imperfections and limitations, Christians struggle to express anything more than an echo of His greatness, but we believe that this is a thing eminently worth sharing. For the person who fi nds this idea strange, it will hopefully make more sense as you listen! Our hope is that every listener might hear the joy that comes from the gospel: the good news of God’s saving and transforming love, made available to every person through his son, Jesus.

If you want to know more, start here: www.christianityexplored.org

ABOUT NEW SCOTTISH ARTS

New Scottish Arts is an arts outreach & education ministry. Our purpose is to serve the Christian community in Scotland by enabling Christians to share their faith through the creative arts, by facilitating vibrant outreach events and projects that will impact on local communities and the whole of Scotland.

www.newscottish.org/hymns