Song picture
Believe In God
Comment Share
This is from a story about an old man who unknowingly received a kidney from his long lost son. The complete story is in the section 'Story behind the song'.
singer songwriter acoustic beatles music florida new york love songs writer college performer larry whitler robin macblane
Artist picture
I am a solo singer/songwriter. My music is mostly soft although my songs could easily be performed in mostly any style.
For me, it's all about the song. That mysteriously magical thing that happens when a lyric is married to a melody. The writing process is invigorating and exciting while simultaneously being exasperating and difficult. It is that moment when music is being composed and a lyric is being written when I am truly the "artist at his easel." The creative process continues when the song is brought into the studio to be recorded because, as in writing, the production and arrangement processes also have their own sets of challenges. Those challenges are always dictated by the song itself and the task at hand at that moment is to be true to the song and carefully craft a recording that reflects what the song is about. Part three, for me, is to then take that song and perform it. It is the purest form of displaying this work of art called a song and is the only place where the magic of the creation is reflected back to me from a room full of interested listeners. And at that moment it is only as magical as the audience makes me believe it is. My CDs are all available on CDBaby.com.
Song Info
Genre
Pop Indie Pop
Author
Words and Music by Larry Whitler
Rights
2004 Quill And Keyboard Music Publishing
Uploaded
December 28, 2004
Track Files
MP3
MP3 5.2 MB 128 kbps 5:43
Story behind the song
This is a song based on a true story. I have changed the names here to protect the privacy of the family involved. The story goes back many years. "Joe Campbell, Sr" was the kind of Dad you might read about in a Hallmark Father's Day Card. He did everything with "Joe Jr." when he was a child and a young teen. Somehow, however, things changed and the two grew apart. At the point in time of this song the two "Joes" hadn't seen each other for 30 years. Joe Jr. stayed in touch with his mother, Delores, but whenever he would visit her it was when Joe Sr. was not around. The broken relationship between her husband and her son tore Delores apart. Joe Sr. became very ill. Both kidneys were practically useless and he needed a transplant. Because of reasons I couldn't even begin to understand, it was very difficult to find a compatible match. It looked like Joe Sr. would die if a match wasn't found soon. Delores had told Joe to "believe in God" many times in their 50 or so years of marriage. But Joe wasn't the "religious" type and so Delores would always attend church alone. Fearing the worst, Delores asked the Priest at the church to visit Joe in the hospital. He had never met Joe Sr. but he went to visit him anyway. About that time Joe Campbell Jr. accidentally injured his finger while working in his garage causing a cut that would require stitches. Joe Jr. wrapped his hand in gauze and drove himself to the emergency room of the same hospital where his father was. When the Priest came to the hospital he asked to see Joe Campbell and the nurse in charge directed him to the emergency room. Of course when he saw Joe Campbell Jr. he realized that there was a mistake. He knew Joe Jr. because he had seen him with Delores on occasion when he would attend church with her although he didn't attend often. The Priest explained to Joe Jr. that he had come to visit his father and that the doctors said he would not live much longer without a kidney donor. Joe Jr. decided to be tested to see if his kidney would be compatible with his Dad and the tests proved positive. Joe agreed to have his kidney removed and transplanted in his father's body but he asked that his father not be told who the donor was. Well, the rest of the story is told in the song "Believe In God". When he was nearly fully recovered, Joe Sr. went to the park outside the hospital and was playing with a group of children. Joe Jr., also now nearly fully recovered from the surgery watched his father incognito and remembered fondly all the times he spent as a child with his Dad. At one point he heard his father tell some boys who were playing with toy cars that the road that takes them away from home is the same road that will lead them back. It was a nugget of wisdom Joe Jr. heard from his father as often as he heard his mother tell him to "Believe In God". Thanks for listening and please feel free to share this song and this story. Maybe it will help someone else learn to "Believe In God". Larry
Lyrics
And the man in the yard Takes his hand and traces the scar. And for no apparent reason he says, "I believe in God. I believe in God." And some children say, "Isn't it strange, the old man's way." Then a man in a tie Takes his glasses and sets them aside And he cries. He cries. Believe in God The Father Almighty Believe in God The Maker of Heaven and Earth Believe in God And praise Him forever and ever Believe in God Believe in God Believe in God And the curious children Ask the man with the scar Why he cried out to God They say, "Don't you think it's odd?" And he shows them the scar they say, "What's that for? Were you in some war along the way?" Then the man in the tie Glances up to hear the old man's reply And he sighs Believe in God The Father Almighty Believe in God The Maker of Heaven and Earth Believe in God And praise Him forever and ever Believe in God Believe in God Believe in God Wasn't it just yesterday when Sunday mornings you'd awake and The two of us would drive down to the sea. To the sea Where'd you go And when did it end and I never thought I'd see you again then Someone told me try to pray to Jesus Then the man in the yard Took his hand and he squeezed it so hard. And for every parent's reason he said, "I believe in God. I believe in God." And the Angels say, "This is the way we reach men's hearts." And he took off his tie Slipped it into his pocket and wiped his eyes dry. And they went for a ride Believe in God The Father Almighty Believe in God The Maker of Heaven and Earth Believe in God And praise Him forever and ever Believe in God Believe in God Believe in God
Song Likes
Comments
Please sign up or log in to post a comment.