As a grumpy old man it is my lot to complain about things. The challenge of older age is to find enjoyment in complaining and being annoyed (that’s definitely something Qohelet could’ve said). Anyway, thinking about the way many modern church songs are written, I thought it might help us all to consider how The Magnificat, Mary’s song of praise in Luke 2, may have been written had she lived now rather than 2,000 years ago. I reckon it would go something like this:
My soul glorifies the Lord,
oh yes, my soul glorifies the Lord,
my soul glorifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
Holy is his name.
Holy is his name.
Holy is his name.
Holy is his name.
For the Lord has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant,
Yes, he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant,
the humble state of his servant.
So my soul glorifies the Lord,
for he has been mindful,
yes he has been mindful,
of so mindful,
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on,
yes from this time on,
all generations will call me blessed,
they will call me blessed,
yes all generations will call me blessed!
They will call me blessed
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
such great, great things has he done for me.
They will call me blessed for he has done great things.
Holy is his name.
Holy is his name.
Holy is his name.
Holy is his name.
My soul glorifies the Lord,
for his mercy extends to those who fear him,
to all those who fear him,
from generation to generation,
to all generations.
Yes his mercy extends to all those who fear him,
to all generations his mercy extends.
Holy is his name.
Holy is his name.
Holy is his name.
Holy is his name.
He has done great and powerful things,
he has scattered the proud,
he has brought down rulers,
he has lifted up the humble,
he has filled the hungry,
he has sent the rich away empty.
He has done great and powerful things,
he has scattered the proud,
he has brought down rulers,
he has lifted up the humble,
he has filled the hungry,
he has sent the rich away empty.
He has done great and powerful things,
he has scattered the proud,
he has brought down rulers,
he has lifted up the humble,
he has filled the hungry,
he has sent the rich away empty.
He has shown mercy to his people,
to the descendants of Abraham,
to his descendants forever,
just as he promised.
Holy is his name.
Holy is his name.
Holy is his name.
Holy is his name.
Sure, it’s quite a bit longer. And a lot more repetitive. But those do seem to be common features of modern songs, don’t they?