This song started coming to me in the night. When I woke up, I grabbed a notebook, trying to work it out and write it down. Honestly, I woke up praying for God to help me remember it, and He said, "Get up and start writing, and then you won't have to try to keep it alive in your head." I wrote it in my prayer journal with a red pen, because that is the pen that worked.
I can kind of hear the melody in my head, but I'm not sure I hear it consistently. It has similarities with "Only a Holy God" and "Look to the Rainbow." I don't know exactly how the tune goes, but I'm pretty sure it's in 6/8 time. I tried to plunk it out on the piano, and I can catch a phrase here and there, but I am miserable at writing music out. It takes me literally hours, so long that I forget what it's supposed to sound like in the process.
The lyrics, however, are in hand:
The Way the Truth the Life
(vs 1)
You are the One who knows right from wrong,
You are the wisdom in every good song,
Your staff guides us back when we wander astray,
You graciously lead us in Your righteous way.
Your way is a river, flowing with might,
You carry the humble who long for what’s right.
The prideful and wicked cannot see Your face,
They struggle against your current of grace.
Surrender to you, paradoxically sweet,
Brings freedom from strife as we bow at Your feet.
(Chorus)
You are the east, and You are the west,
You are the One who loves me best,
Infinite, reigning above all the rest,
You are my Shepherd King.
You are my Shepherd King,
Utterly better than anything,
You are my treasure, desire of my heart,
I cast away all that would keep us apart,
I die with You, rise with You, thrive in Your presence,
You are my Shepherd King,
You are my Shepherd King.
(vs 2)
You tell the truth in a world of lies
To free us from bondage to sin’s demise.
The blind cannot see ’til You open our eyes,
So speak to us clearly, and please make us wise.
The truth is that You are the King above all,
You made us, You love us, You grieve at our fall,
But from the beginning You planned a good end,
Foreknowing that Jesus would be our best friend.
You laid down Your life, with Your blood You did pay
To free us from sin, there was no other way.
(vs 3)
For sin ends in death, but life comes from You;
You fought death and beat it, to make all things new.
A new seed, You plant Yourself deep in my soul,
You root out the evil, Your love makes me whole.
Eternally living in You, the true vine,
I will be made holy, Your righteousness mine.
Right actions and thoughts are all founded in love,
And love is humility, learned from above.
Your will is the life of each woman and man
Who listens and follows and treasures Your plan.
(back to Chorus to end)
You are the east, and You are the west,
You are the One who loves me best,
Infinite, reigning above all the rest,
You are my Shepherd King.
You are my Shepherd King,
Utterly better than anything,
You are my treasure, desire of my heart,
I cast away all that would keep us apart,
I die with You, rise with You, dwell in Your presence,
You are my Shepherd King,
You are my Shepherd King.
