Do you change the lyrics of popular tunes to worship songs

[earoach]

Originally Posted by dan1952

Not sure whether EC intentionally changed any lyrics, or simply misplaced a verse or two, but I don't recall him changing any lyrics in order to shill for a product. There is a difference between the two occurences...

I find it funny that you would draw that particular distinction between making records for sale and preaching the Lords word. I feel music is about inspiration/interpretation, not rote memorization/regurgitation. I do, however, find the use of initals instead of using someones name to be lazy and disrespectful, myself. His name is Eric Clapton.
Eric

BTW, I have heard My Sweet Lord in many, many churches, with some lyrics either changed or not used. Christmas songs by Bach, many European Christmas carols have been adapted for singing in worship. (Angels We Have Heard On High, Hark The Herald has been altered from its original...many, many examples.) Good thing lots and lots of folks have the heart and inspiration to strive for more.

[Sleph]

isn't that how Cartman went triple myrrh?

[Jim10]

Lady Antebellum - " I Run To You".

we sing

Chorus
This world keeps spinning faster
Into a new disaster so I run to you
I run to you Jesus
And when it all starts coming undone
You are the only one I run to
I run to you

[SmilinWillie]

It seems that sometimes in secular music, the emphasis is on the tune more than the lyrics. Some lyrics of course make no sence. ie.. "Louie Louie". So we naturally will hum the tune forever and not know but maybe a few of the lyrics. (ever see those tv shows?)

With Christian music, the emphasis is just the opposite. It's all about the lyrics. If the goal is to reach people where they are, why not take a great song and maybe add lyrics and now they hum the song and remember the lyrics?

On a side note, there are some songs that are so huge and classic unto themselves that we should leave alone.. ie.. The Thrill is gone, almost anything by the Eagles and Beatles.

Just my 2cents worth.
Smilin' Willie

[74 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by dan1952

I personally detest the practice of replacing the original lyrics with something else, no matter what product is being sold...(Old Navy is the latest offender...)

Luther used tavern drinking songs to write hymns that common folks would relate to... A Mighty Fortress is probably his best known.

We've used music and wrote our own words with mixed results... you know they were ok but if you go that far might as well write your own music too.

Changed a line in "Spirit in the Sky" from I'm not a sinner, I've never sinned... To I'm a sinner, you know that I've sinned...

RockerDuck this song ^ would probably work at your place...

[HOBBSTER01]

Originally Posted by dan1952

I personally detest the practice of replacing the original lyrics with something else, no matter what product is being sold...(Old Navy is the latest offender...)

+1

[CharlyG]

Nope, but we may change a word or two in some praise songs if the focus is horizontal rather than vertical.

[Teleworshipkid]

Originally Posted by CharlyG

Nope, but we may change a word or two in some praise songs if the focus is horizontal rather than vertical.

"...and Heaven meets Earth like a SLOPPY WET kiss..."

What the heck?!? Who came up with THAT line??? We just substitute "beautiful" instead.

[roscoestring]

I've done so in the past but seldom use the songs. I did it with the theme from "The Beverly Hillbillys" and the Kiss song "Beth" and a Johnny Cash tune "Long Black Veil". Those come to mind. I hear others do it all the time.

[tjalla]

Originally Posted by Sleph

isn't that how Cartman went triple myrrh?

(faith) +1

[christhee68]

Just do like my brother's praise band and play the actual popular song:

http://youtu.be/Oik4bbpDLi8

[Chickin-Pickin]

Originally Posted by Jim10

Lady Antebellum - " I Run To You".

we sing

Chorus
This world keeps spinning faster
Into a new disaster so I run to you
I run to you Jesus
And when it all starts coming undone
You are the only one I run to
I run to you

We did that too, worked really well...

that said, some chrisitan songs get the words altered. Take [I]How He Loves[I] by John Mark McMillian ( Crowder Band if you prefer) the line in the original is Heaven meets earth like sloppy wet kiss, but we have done with merciful kiss. In some cases, merciful kiss was better suited to the message and was less likely to offend some people.
Our leader doesn't have any kids and when I explained to him the significance of a sloppy wet kiss that I get from my son, it totally fit that day.

And let's face it, the reaction from some people was worth changing the words :D

[Chickin-Pickin]

Originally Posted by Teleworshipkid

"...and Heaven meets Earth like a SLOPPY WET kiss..."

What the heck?!? Who came up with THAT line??? We just substitute "beautiful" instead.

You can use merciful too...
See my last post for a different perspective on sloppy wet kiss

[iamharlan]

Originally Posted by Chickin-Pickin

You can use merciful too...
See my last post for a different perspective on sloppy wet kiss

It was John Mark McMillan who came up with that line...he's the guy who wrote the original version. David Crowder Band is actually who is making it a popular song...and they changed "sloppy wet" to "unforeseen". Just FYI. I actually like "sloppy wet kiss"...it sounds messy and beautiful, just like Heaven meeting Earth looks/sounds like.

But as for the original question...I'm with a few of the above. I'm not a fan of making any major changes to a secular tune. I'd rather just not do the song. Maybe if it's a matter of changing a curse word or something else very minor, but that's about it.

[iamharlan]

And I just noticed you mentioned McMillan...so disregard that part at least. The rest stands. :)

[livinblood]

This subject always riles me up. Why do we need to be secular to get people to praise? We should strive for secular to want to be us, that is the call. If you ever get the chance check out "They Sold their Souls for Rock and Roll", It was such an eye opener.

[DeepSouth]

Jesus went down to Georgia...

[CharlyG]

I heard he just left Chicago.

[livinblood]

Originally Posted by tjalla

Sidenote and fwiw - I've realised that lyrically this tune is not about hooking up, one night stands, infidelity or anything remotely unwholesome... its as biblical as a song about sex can get - steering clear of further theological discussion.

As a happily married man and father of two I wholeheartedly sing it at gigs in front of friends, family, people I know from church etc - so long as there's no kids in the audience.

That said, I would certainly NOT play it in church though, even with altered lyrics!

But that all I'll say before I get this thread locked down

Nice realization. That is so off. So wholesome but you won't do it with kids around or at church? C'mon man.

[CharlyG]

What do you think of "sacred" songs going secular? Would you sing it with the original lyrics.... We would, and here's an example.

Stand By Me.

Jesus, you've always been my lawyer
Stand By Me
You've always been my doctor,
etc etc etc.