Lyrics
If I sang the songs the angels sing,
If I grasped the depths of everything,
Though the mysteries of this world were mine –
I’m nothing without love.
I could give to every child in need,
I could save the planet from our greed,
I could stand for justice till I bleed –
And never know His love
Love is patient, love is kind,
Not envious or boastful;
Humble, pure and undefiled,
Rejoicing in the truth.
I could give my money to the poor,
I could preach the gospel door to door,
Even save a thousand souls or more –
And still not know His love
Love is trusting, quick to mend,
Protecting and forgiving,
Persevering to the end –
This love will never fail.
When the finest words have passed away,
And the best we have is yesterday,
There is one thing that is here to stay –
His never-failing love,
His never-failing love.
Performance song based on 1 Corinthians 13
In my concerts, occasionally I throw in a performance song; it gives people an opportunity to sit back, mull over what’s being sung, or have a quick snooze! I particularly enjoy doing this song, as it gives a modern perspective on the famous passage of St Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians.
I’m intrigued by where this passage comes in the letter. Paul has been discussing a lot of issues facing the Corinthian church, as they seek to live godly lives in a pagan culture: dealing with sexual immorality, lawsuits, food, appearance, and how to run a service properly.
But then, in the middle of all this practical advice, comes this beautiful passage about what is at the heart of the gospel: you can say and do all the right things; but, in the end, if you don’t have love, it’s all a waste of time.
This song is intended as a quizzical, slightly provocative take on whether we are getting the big things right, or whether we are sometimes straining gnats and swallowing camels…
