This is the first song I ever wrote as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ…nothing fancy by any stretch but it amazes me how that we knew so much of what was required of us while yet babes in Christ. Twenty-one years later, I feel we have only been learning what we’ve known all along, that faith is the key and substance of our walk with God, that we must come away from all carnal thought and participation in order to walk with God by faith and be pleasing to Him.
CHORUS (repeat after every verse):
You’ve gotta learn how to walk by faith,
you’ve gotta learn how to walk by faith,
You’ve gotta learn how to walk by faith,
if you’re ever gonna walk with the Lord.
VERSE 1
You can’t go by your own understanding;
do as He says and stop demanding;
You won’t understand so stop your figuring,
if you’re ever gonna walk with the Lord.
VERSE 2
You’ll have to say good-bye to all institutions,
carnal men’s creeds and all their traditions;
You’ll have to say good-bye to their doctrines and systems
if you’re ever gonna walk with the Lord.
VERSE 3
You’ve gotta say good-bye to mother and father;
if they won’t come with you then you just don’t bother;
Only those in Jesus will you call brother
if you’re ever gonna walk with the Lord.
VERSE 4
You can’t walk by your eyes and ears;
you’re gonna have to shake all your doubts and fears;
Be ready to accept heavy trials and tears
if you’re ever gonna walk with the Lord.
VERSE 5
The most important part of this wonderful story,
the part you must know if you’re to enter into glory,
Is if you start and finish, you’ll never be sorry,
if you put your trust in the Lord.
While traveling, 1975-Oct.’83
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Simple and self-explanatory.
On August 22nd, 2017, in our Moon River Estates home, I awoke having received the first 2 lines of this song. Later, at the computer, I began to amuse myself with the rest of the words, while Marilyn stood by thinking I was being silly. I was but I wasn't. Words quickly and smoothly came forth to express the present theme of my life that was unfolding beyond my understanding. Call it inspiration. Now, what about a tune? Would it take long, as it has with some other songs? I took up my guitar, went to D, then E, G, and A, timing the words with the chords. I partly but naturally adopted a kind of nasal, aged voice by the spirit of the song, which Marilyn also had questions about but I loved it to tears and here it is. I call it Take Two, being accustomed to recording my songs, doing retakes, sometimes far more often than once. Here I was with lyrics suggesting I was having the privilege of a retake on life. I must say I've had many regrets about the wrongs, failures, and foolish mistakes I've made in my life. I'm well aware that others have learned important things early in life, gathering wisdom and understanding in early age well beyond mine now in my seventies. I've wondered if there was such a thing as reincarnation after all and that I had a life or two to live before I attained to the understanding others have had almost out of the womb. This song promises much ...
I knew a man by whom I met Judas Iscariot. Judas, I learned, was a glory seeker, one who wanted in on the best this world had to offer and who was prepared to betray any association to get what he wanted. Ironically, what he wanted was belonging, acceptance, social security. He lost it all or rather, lost all opportunity of gaining such because he never did have it.