...so, back in Perth in 2012, I had an idea for a song that involved a seed that gets planted, then once grown into a tree, is cut down to make the cross of Christ. Originally it was just a few thoughts about the parellelling of a growing tree and a growing child and how both had a destiny of significance. It was to be an Easter song. A Good Friday song, to be more specific.

I had a couple of verses and a building bridge, but no chorus. Choruses that repeat aren't particularly easy to master on songs that have progression and constant change as their theme. Coming back to a repeating refrain for these types of songs can tend towards cliché and cheese. 

It's a bit like when you see an Auntie once a year at Christmas, or a Grandparent that lives in a different country, or a school friend you only see once every few years. They keep bringing you back to that 'thing' you used to do, or food you 'love', or joke you 'always' tell. All cliché and cheese. But you've moved on, progressed, changed. You're heading to a destiny they refuse to see. No chorus for this one, it is then. 

So the lyrics lay in one of my many notebooks, dormant as the seed in the story. Until one day, a young muso at church sent me a demo. A simple single piano, a gentle, lilting melody line, waiting to be married to just the right lyric. 

Ahh...I have some lyrics that would fit. And fit they did, rhythm, rhyme and reason. Great, I thought, that's an Easter song...done! Not great, thought the young muso. He hated it and took back his lovely melody. Vetoed. 

Sometimes we see a shape in a career or a relationship or a city, and we think, 'that will fit perfectly.' Until it doesn't. The trick is to recognise it quickly enough to allow it all to survive and find its fit somewhere else in the future. 

Back to the Moleskine® you go fair lyric, wait in the dark some more. 

And wait, it did, with the exception of the odd passing thought about the concept, this song had been shelved, along with the myriad of half-formed ideas and fragments of poetry, parable, and paraphrase scribbled within. 

A few years later, a friend was putting on an Easter art show in Swan Valley, WA. All the exhibits were to have an Easter theme, and he used the lyrics as a poem that accompanied one of his paintings. Great, I thought, it's all art...done!

Done, it was not, however. Seasons change and time had passed, and in 2019 our family packed up everything we owned and moved to Adelaide. I spent the first little while getting my bearings and deciding, "where to from here?"

In that time, I opened up my lyric books, and there in the pages, the ideas for the 'seed' song began to grow. First, a melody, then more lyrics, embellishments, a scrapped melody in favour of another. More lyrics, re-writes, tweaks, attempted collaborations, deletions and edits, more tweaks, more lyrics...phew! Another scrapped melody in favour of an even better one, melodic hooks, and instrumentation ideas. On and on, more and more. Someone had poured a bucket of Seasol on this thing.

Now as many a songwriter can attest, this sometimes happens. Sometimes, all in one day. Then sometimes, the next day...you're over it. And it goes back into its box. And it did. For another 2 years. Until this time last year.

Maybe it's when I see the first hot cross buns hit the shelves (usually the week after Christmas, to be honest). Maybe that's the time I start thinking about the Easter song again, like now, (as I write this, Easter is about a month away). And like I did a year ago, it all came back out of the box, in all its over-the-topness. I arranged and re-wrote, recorded and re-recorded until, at last, it is finished! 

Now, I'm no audio engineer or music producer or even that much of a technician as a muso, but with all its flaws and foibles, and false starts, I had achieved it. It wasn't some Magnum Opus, or any other type of opus, for that matter, but it was complete. Great, I thought, that's the Easter song...done! 

From an idea in 2012 to a finished piece in 2022, a journey from lyrical sapling to full musical grove (and a bit of groove too). 

Life's meander, from seed to sequoia, from cradle to grave, sometimes hidden in the dark, sometimes revealed and celebrated, sometimes forgotten or ignored, yet all purposeful and potentially productive. This song took a decade to write, but life songs are written and re-written over many decades. 

So here's my song(s), for better or worse...

...both of them. 

On That Day (The makers' mark) 

Movement 1 - The Tree

Verse 1

A seed, fallen to the earth, tended by the one, the one who brings new life 

A seed, longing for the sun, waiting for the rain, breaking through the dark 

Bridge 1

Through the years, through the storms, see it grow, see it forming

Giving shelter to all who run to that grove 

Seasons change, time has passed, see the tree, that the carpenter has chosen to fall 

On that day 

Instrumental (The Spirit motif)

Verse 2

A son came into the world nurtured by the love of the one who gave him life 

A son grows into a man waiting, for the reign that pierces through the dark 

Bridge 2

Seasons change time has come, see him grow into the one

Through the years, time has passed, see him seek his Father’s heart 

Movement 2 - The Calling

In the temple, in his nature, see him grow in love and favour

From the mountains, through the valleys, in the Jordan he’s baptised

He spreads the word and makes disciples, turns the water into wine

Heals the sick and lifts the lame, causes Pharisaic rage

Calms the storm and walks on water ,saves the life of Jairus’ daughter

He opens the eyes and feeds the masses, dares to heal upon the sabbath

Questioning power raised suspicion, when he speaks about his kingdom…

His kingdom…

His kingdom come…

Movement 3 - The Enmity 

Bridge 3 (w/ The Spirit motif)

(Jesus’ words)

…come to earth I dwell among you

the Son of man sent from above to

Write the world a new song

If they hate then show them love

From the darkness into light

I am the way, the truth, the life 

Verse 3 

(The Pharisees)

It's all too much have him arrested

False accusers so attested

To his crimes, for he blasphemes

Fallen prey to evil schemes

Break the flesh now, let us try him

Let the rulers crucify!

crucify him….crucify him!

Instrumental (The Spirit motif)

Movement 3 - The cruciform journey (the road to the cross)

See his love though he is bound 

To this salvation story that here is found 

In his stripes and in his scars, in the sorrow see the splinters, feel the shards 

Upon the beams that he shouldered, feel the sting of wicked soldiers

See the crimson, see the crown, hear the mocking of the crowd

See the love in his eyes though condemned and though despised 

Along the road that will bring us closer to his Father’s kingdom

Through the storm, through the rain 

Feel the scorn and feel the strain, see that hill, through the haze 

Through the shadows, through the daze 

See the spear, see the nails, feel the fury, feel the shame 

Hear the jeers, hear the rage from the souls he came to save 

Shake the earth, tear the veil, take the keys of death and hell

Face the wind, split the sky, the son of man is lifted high 

(Eli, lama sabachthani)

Final movement - The Sacrifice

Bridge 4 

(Jesus’ words)

Father please please forgive them

For they know not what they’re doin’

Turn away and call me guilty

If it means you’ll show them mercy

Into your hands I lay my spirit 

It is finished… 

Bridge reprise (return to The Tree w/ The Spirit motif)

Seasons change, time has passed 

See the tree, now the carpenter has chosen to fall 

On that day

Standing on that hill the tree became the cross 

That bears the makers' mark 

© 2022 Rob Humphreys Music