The Willem » Songs

Listen to the Transition

the_willem — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 02:38:08 +0000

I was talking with Richie tonight about bands that have gone through transitions in faith. Pedro the Lion came up, Page France came up. A couple others have meandered through my head since then. None has fit what I’m really looking for though.

I want to hear an album written and recorded during which the band got saved (committed their lives to Christ). I want to hear the entire album put out that includes songs done before that transition and has all the stuff written throughout the whole period. I think that would be the most interesting project ever, but there is of course no way to plan it.

If anyone knows of such an album, please comment here or send me an email.

It’s hard to argue when/ You won’t stop makin’ sense…

the_willem — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:11:59 +0000

In case you’re not in the know, that’s from a great song from Snow Patrol called “Hands Open.” I’m not sure if they’re a Christian band or if that song is intended to have the meaning to me that it does, but oh goodness did that send me into a tizzy.

Here are the lyrics:
It’s hard to argue when
you won’t stop making sense
But my tongue still misbehaves and it
keeps digging my own grave with my

Hands open, and my eyes open
I just keep hoping
That your heart opens

Why would I sabotage
the best thing that I have
Well, it makes it easier to know
exactly what I want with my…

Hands open and my eyes open
I just keep hoping
that your heart opens

It’s not as easy as willing it all to be right
Gotta be more than hoping it’s right
I wanna hear you laugh like you really mean it
Collapse into me, tired with joy

[x2]

Put Sufjan Stevens on
and we’ll play your favorite song
“Chicago” bursts to life and your
sweet smile remembers you, my

Hands open, and my eyes open
I just keep hoping
That your heart opens

It’s not as easy as willing it all to be right
Gotta be more than hoping it’s right
I wanna hear you laugh like you really mean it
Collapse into me, tired with joy

[x3]

Ok, so looking at the “Sufjan Stevens” verse, it’s pretty clear this is directed towards a lady (not judging on Sufjan, because he’s awesome, but that verse makes it pretty clear.

All the same, the rest of the song just makes me want to look up to heaven and sing out to God.

I’ll break a bit of it down:
It’s hard to argue when
you won’t stop making sense
But my tongue still misbehaves and it
keeps digging my own grave with my

Lately I’ve been arguing with God all the time, but He keeps showing me how right He is. He makes perfect sense and He is perfect love.
I have routinely spoken myself into trouble, both spiritually and relationally. I need to speak life, or else I’ll speak myself into death (not physical of course, but spiritual and emotional and relational).

Hands open, and my eyes open
I just keep hoping
That your heart opens

It’s not as easy as willing it all to be right
Gotta be more than hoping it’s right
I wanna hear you laugh like you really mean it
Collapse into me, tired with joy

Really? That clear? That obvious? I suppose I don’t need to explain the chorus much…but I’ll go over the second half. This life is not as easy as willing everything to be right or hoping it already is. Without Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, there is in fact no way for everything to be right, because we fall short of righteousness according to the Law.
God’s joy and His laughter are blessings; amazing gifts that we should all be seeking and that I have been seeking for days and experiencing for years.

Why would I sabotage
the best thing that I have
Well, it makes it easier to know
exactly what I want with my…

Well this part seems relatively easy as well. I’ve felt lately like I AM sabotaging the gift I’ve been so generously given.

I’m not diving into the last verse, but the point’s been made. I’m off to do other random stuff now, like laundry and working on my Spanish sermon.

Clay (in Your Hands)

the_willem — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 07:43:35 +0000

By Willem Jongejan

Written 8/20-21/08

V1: You are greater than all of this.

You’re creator of all of this.

You’re the potter of all of us.

PC: We are clay in Your hands.

We are clay in Your hands.

C1: (so) Mold me, Lord.

(so) Mold me, Lord.

Shape me, as only You know how.

C2: (so) Move me, Lord.

(so) Move me, Lord.

Shake me, as only You know how.

C3: (so) Hold me, Lord.

(so) Hold me, Lord.

Love me, as only You know how.

PC \

C123 > [vamp?]

C3 /

With You

the_willem — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 07:30:48 +0000

By Willem Jongejan

Written 7/10/08

V1: I come before You, Lord,

Repenting of my sins.

And I receive Your grace,

Now my new life begins.

PC: And through all of this I know.

C: I can’t exist without You.

And I know I wouldn’t want to.

For in You I am made new.

Now there’s nothing that I cannot do.

V2: When I look upon Your face,

I am finally at peace.

(and) When I stand here in Your presence,

I know I’ve just been released.

Br: Jesus, with You in my heart,

I’ll never lack anything.

Jesus with You by my side,

I’ll have love-everlasting.

Cx2

Battle Plan

the_willem — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 07:24:09 +0000

By Willem Jongejan and Jared Wakefield

Written 7/10/08, Revised 8/16/08

V1: These strongholds/

Are invading my heart.

The devil’s/

Been tearin’ me apart.

PC: But (now) I know/ (now is second time)

That I’ve got a way.

To fight back/

To keep him at bay.

C: I’ll repent of the sin I’ve been livin’.

I’ll rebuke all the lies I’ve been given.

I’ll replace ‘em with Your truth from above.

And I will receive your eternal love.

V2: The devil’s/

Been tryin’ again.

To tempt me/

And trap me in sin.

I’ll repent.

I’ll rebuke him.

I’ll replace.

I’ll receive love from You.

This is my battle plan.

Oh Dear Sweet Moses

the_willem — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 07:15:15 +0000

There once was a pup named Moses,

Who had a bad case of halitosis.

He had such rank breath,

You could catch your death,

But you can’t help but love little Moses.