Category: songs

Gospel, Other original music and arrangements, songs, Vocal

Gethsemane

Steven Kent Sanford

This is a hymn for Holy/Maundy Thursday, telling the story of the Agony in the Garden and arrest of Jesus, based on the Gospel of Mark.

The vocal parts are emulated by the Plogue “Alter/Ego” real-time singing synthesizer.

Words and Music are copyright © 2019 Steven K. Sanford.

Gethsemane

Stay here while I pray, do not slumber
I am deeply grieved, e’en to death.
Stay here, keep awake, pray you will not
come into the time of the trial.

Stay here with Me, stay here with Me.

Abba, Father, can this hour pass Me?
Take this cup from Me, I’m distressed.
All for You can be, yet You ask Me.
Not My will be done, but Your will be.

Stay here with Me, stay here with Me.

Simon Peter are you asleep now?
You can’t stay awake for one hour?
Keep alert and pray, for the spirit
willing is, but yet is the flesh weak.

Stay here with Me, stay here with Me.

He went off and prayed to the Father.
Peter, James, and John fell asleep.
Heavy were their eyes, they were dumbstruck,
when the Lord returned to arouse them.

Stay here with Me, stay here with Me.

Do you take your rest, are you sleeping?
Now has come the hour, I’m betrayed.
Son of Man is giv’n to the sinners.
Now at hand you see My betrayer.

Stay here with Me, stay here with Me.

Judas came to Jesus and kissed Him.
Armed with clubs and swords, they laid hands
on the One that Judas called Rabbi.
They arrested Him like a bandit.

Stay here with Me, stay here with Me.

Daily did I teach in the temple.
I was there, but you did not seek
to arrest me then, yet you come here.
Scripture’s now fulfilled, all have fled Me.

Stay here with Me, stay here with Me.

(updated 8 July 2019)

Guitar, Live recordings, Live stream, Other original music and arrangements, Percussion, Piano, Pop & Rock, songs, Vocal

Can’t Dance – live stream

Steven Kent Sanford

Scored for: voice, piano, guitar(s), bass, and drums

I set out to write a “bubble-gum pop song” fit for a teen diva, and came up with Can’t Dance. The lyrics capture the awkwardness of high school nerds who lose themselves in each other and to the music. My friend and fellow composer Stephanie Meyers provides the “diva” for this one, accompanied by several of our talented friends.

This is a live stream VCFA internet broadcast recording from 12 August 2015.

Guitar, Live recordings, Live stream, Other original music and arrangements, Pop & Rock, songs, Vocal

To My Children – live stream

Steven Kent Sanford

Scored for: solo voice and guitar

I have two children who survived the unpleasantness of the divorce of their mother and I when they were young. This song is my apology to them, and reaffirmation of my love for them and my grandchildren.

This recording is a live stream VCFA broadcast to the internet from the Songwriter’s Festival concert on 12 August 2015. Reed Robbins accompanies on guitar.

Country & Western, Guitar, Live recordings, Live stream, Other original music and arrangements, Percussion, Piano, songs, Strings, Vocal

Don’t Give Up on Me – live stream

Steven Kent Sanford

Scored for: solo voice, guitar(s), bass, drums

This is a live stream recording of the VCFA Songwriter’s Festival concert on 12 February 2016, with me singing my original country-and-western song Don’t Give Up on Me (accompanied by a few talented friends).

I wrote this for my wife, who had to put up with me travelling to remote work locations every week for a few years before I retired.

There’s another version of this song here.

Live recordings, Live stream, Other original music and arrangements, Piano, songs, Vocal

Finding You – live stream

Steven Kent Sanford

Scored for: solo voice and piano

Finding You is an original love song to my wife of over 20 years, and is fairly autobiographical.

This is a live performance from VCFA streamed to the internet on 10 February 2017. The pianist is Claudine Joelle Robbins.

Guitar, Live recordings, Live stream, Other original music and arrangements, songs, Vocal

Flying High – live stream

Steven Kent Sanford

Scored for: solo voice and guitar

For one of my rescore projects, I wrote the music for an insurance company TV advertisement that featured the misadventures of a dim-witted small plane pilot. I wrote an original song for this spot (included in the compilation Adventures in Advertising).

I had the opportunity to perform this song live on 8 February 2017 with Reed Robbins on the guitar. This is a live-stream video of the event as it was broadcast on the internet from VCFA.