The song was written by Graeme Stewart in 1974 when he was a youth group leader at a suburban church in Sydney, Australia.
The sheet music was provided by Graeme and his family, and Graeme has given his permission for it to be shared for worship purposes (not commercial gain).
Only one published version has been found: the song was included, unattributed, in God Gives- Songs for Kids Book 1, edited by Rod Boucher [et al.] and published by the Joint Board of Christian Education in Melbourne, Australia in 1986 (ref).
It was sung in New Zealand in the 1980s, in British Columbia - and videos on YouTube show that it is currently used in American vacation bible camps. (The comments in one video describe it as "old-school, probably handed down from Medieval times"!)
It is more praise and worship or Sunday School song than a hymn traditional hymn, but is very effective as round: three groups, one on each part, and popular in vacation bible-schools and summer camps.
Downloads
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Examples
Solo singer with guitar, including Milk-breakout
Trio with guitar and drum
Summer camp version
Quartet with piano - showing actions
Close harmony trio - professional recording
Lyrics
Love the Lord your GodWith all your heart and all your soul
And all your mind and
Love all humankind
As you would love yourself, and …
Love ---------------,
The Lord your God
With all your heart,
And all your soul and mind and love all people.
We’ve got Christian lives to live,
We’ve got Jesus’ love to give, we’ve got nothing to hide,
Because in God we all abide ...
Is there a way to print the lyrics and the piano music for Love the Lord Your God?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I haven't been able t find the sheet music as yet - I'll be loading it here as soon as I find it.
DeleteI'm looking like mad for it myself. My church choir in college always used to use it as a warm up.... I was in the choir five years. Now they aren't doing it anymore and I want to reintroduce it to them. If I can't find it by Christmas I'm going to dictate it and write it up myself... If i do so I'll send it to you!
ReplyDeleteCassie, if you could send it, that would be great.
DeleteHi Cassie, did you write the sheet music for this song? Could you provide it to me? I'd like to introduce the Song in my Royal Ranger Team.
ReplyDeleteUnsure if anyone accesses this site anymore, but I was excited to see the Editor looking for the origins of Love the Lord Your God. My wonderful father wrote this song many years ago, in the 1970's, as a youth group leader at a suburban church in Sydney, Australia. To this day he can't quite believe that it is sung all over the world. He is still a faithful follower of Christ and loves music!
ReplyDeleteHello Lou, I'm after the sheet music for this. Is it available?
DeleteHi Lou, first of all, please thank your dad for us. We enjoyed singing Love the Lord Your God very much. It was the first song I learnt to play by ear.
DeleteSecondly, what is the copyright status of the song? A man from our church is putting together a collection of public domain hymns for our little church. Would it be ok to include Love the Lord Your God in this collection?
Hi Lou, first of all, please thank your dad for us. Love the Lord your God was the first song I ever played by ear. We enjoyed singing it very much.
ReplyDeleteSecond, what is it's copyright status? A man from our church is putting together a collection of public domain songs. Would it be ok to add Love the Lord your God to this collection for our little church?
Jenny
Seems that I found on SCRIBD that Love the Lord Camp Song is written by Mona Bagasso Crane, and c. 1987 by Songs and Creation, Inc. Hope this helps.
ReplyDeleteThe great thing about the internet is that almost anyone can publish anything. However the downside is that people can claim that they wrote things, when they didn't.
ReplyDeleteIn this case, I was definitely singing the song in New Zealand in the early 1980s. Another visitor has said that their father wrote it in Australia in the 1970s. Based on that, I'm 100% certain that Mona Bagasso Crane didn't write it in 1987. It's possible that Mona wrote an adapted tune or some new guitar chords for the existing tune - and s/he can certain copyright those. But the song itself is older.
Yes, probably so...
DeleteSorry for the long delay. 100% certain my father wrote it, and there are still many people that would remember him singing it for the first time as a youth group leader, introducing the kids to fun Christian music. There is no copyright on it, he wrote it without thinking about the impact such a simple song would have. He is more than happy for anyone to use it. Happy to pass on his email address if you would like to contact him personally, if you're interested I can arrange to get you his email address in a more private forum. He gets a real kick hearing about people still using the song now!
ReplyDeleteHello if it's not much trouble could I get in touch with your father regarding this song? We've been singing this song in our church youth group here in Manila Philippines for years. And we are recording a proper version of it. We'd lie to give him his due recognition. Hope to hear from you! Thanks!
DeleteThis is a long shot but do you have an update on that proper version? I'm looking for this song on Spotify. It's been cool to find this page and learn the history of the song. I learned it from an Australian missionary very far from any English speakers. Awesome how God's praise spreads.
DeleteI am going to write a version of this round for my handbell choir. I would love to thank your dad and let him know how it is being adapted for our congregation today.
DeleteThis song is a favourite of mine from youth group in the early 80's. It often goes through my head and heart. It's so uplifting. It's definitely making the rounds. I'm from British Columbia in Canada... the little tune is obviously cheering on many all over the world! :) - Kim A.
ReplyDeleteDear Lou,
ReplyDeletePlease thank your dad from me, and thank you for clearing up the uncertainty.
Dear Lou,
ReplyDeleteAWESOME! I've been singing this song my whole life and I'm 41. I'm now a music teacher at a private Christian school and I'm going to teach it to my classes. Would love to properly credit your dad in the program for the spring concert....what's his name?
(or does he prefer anonymity? should I just put "Lou H's dad"? ;-) )
Either way, finding this gem and this site is a blessing~~
Hello
ReplyDeleteI'm from Germany and I love this Song, too, but I never heart the last rhymes, which was in the YouTube Video from the summer Camp version. Is there a way to get it?
This would be great.
Love Dossi
Hi Dossi
ReplyDeleteThe man who wrote and composed this song, Gerry Markland, is currently poorly with cancer; please pray for him.
God bless
Paul
Please, where may I get the sheet music for this wonderful song?
ReplyDeleteThank you.
God Bless
Kit
Hi,Lou,
ReplyDeleteI remember learning this song in 1976 at a Scripture Union Camp in Queensland. It was an instant favourite of mine and over the years I have taught it to hundreds of other children at clubs or camps. Once, we had a group of children camping at the back of a campground near the beach and it started to drizzle rain, so the kids all went to their tents to amuse themselves until the shower passed. Next thing they started singing this as a round, spontaneously from their tents. It was one of those breathless "God moments" that you always remember. The comments from the other campers the next day were very appreciative. Hope you can tell your dad what a blessing it has been.
God bless
Shirley
Thanks everyone! Sorry for delay again, I keep forgetting to check the thread! So great to hear of everyone's enthusiasm for the song! I've got sheet music that am happy to share from dad (his name is Graeme Stewart, for those like Skippie ever wanting to credit him), just not sure how to attach to this website? If someone can guide me as to how am happy to provide it for all to access and enjoy
ReplyDeleteBlessings to all,
Lou
Hi Lou! I would love to get in touch with your father. My e-mail is luke_worsham@rocketmail.com if you want to connect us that way! (I'd also appreciate help from the editor getting connected if that's possible!)
DeleteHi Lou, email it to editor@godsongs.net and I'll load it to this page.
ReplyDeleteRegard
Mary
Hi Mary, this is so great that you've found the author to the song! I have been wondering (and watching this page) for a few years. There is a published version of it in a book called God Gives Volume 1, published in Australia in the 1980s. Graeme wasn't credited in that book, but perhaps it's helpful to some to know that.
ReplyDeleteThanks Natalie, it's indeed helpful to know. I'll add that to the page now.
DeleteIt has also been translated into Slovene and is a great favourite of the kids in my church in Ljubljana!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sarah, it's amazing how far a song like this can travel.
Delete