Let There be God in our Land / Let there be Light in the Land

A short worship chorus, which petitions for God's presence, was found in a typed "home made" hymnal most probably from the 1970's or 80's and used by the charismatic movement in Ireland: This did not list an author or composer, and no recorded examples have been found.

It is very likely that this chorus is based on the song 'Let there be Light', written by 1970s British Christian (Baptist) singer-songwriter and later music-director Judy McKenzie (later Judy Mckenzie-Dunn).

The 'Nationwide Festival of Light', was an event held by a grassroots movement formed by British Christians concerned about the changes in society towards the end of the 1960s. They ran a competition to choose a theme song, and this song came second. It was included as the B-side on a single-release of the winning song, Light up the Fire.

No further recordings or published sheet music have been located. However a set of lyrics have been found in a private collation made by an Irish church-based folk group - these are quoted below, although it has not been confirmed if they were in the original song, or an adaptation.

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Lyrics

From the 1970s home-made hymnal

Let there be God in our land
Let there be God in our people
Let there be God in our lives
From now on.

(Let there be light, joy, peace, praise, etc.)

Likely original

Let there be light in the land.

Let there be light in the people.

Let there be God in our lives

from now on.

Possible full version of the original

(see notes above)

Let there be light in the land, let there be light in the people,

Let there be God in our lives from now on;
Let there be light in the land, let there be light in the people,
Let there be God in our lives from now on.

1 Yesterday's dream didn't quite come true, we fought for our freedom
And what did it do
Laughed at the old ways, and brought in the new
Now no one can see where they stand
So ...

2 So many people are waiting to find
Peace of the body, and peace of the mind
While there is darkness, oh despair it is blind
But where there is God, there is sight
So .....