Be Like your Father (But I say unto you)

This is a gentle folk-style song about the demands of holiness

It was written by Beverlee Paine, based on Matthew 6:43-45.

The song was the title-track of the recording "The Fisherfolk And Post Green Community ‎– Be Like Your Father" which was released by Celebration Records in 1979 (ref). Paine performed the song on this recording. This album, now on CD, can still be purchased from Celebration Services today.

It was included in several books, including More Songs of the Spirit - Songs of the Renewal volume 2, published in 1981 by Kevin Mayhew Ltd. Later it was published in the Celebration Hymnal for Everyone 1994 and 2012 editions - and this is the best source of sheet music for it today.

The tune has a Cut time signature. In the key of C, the first few notes are C F E D C D.

Downloads

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No downloadable versions have been found, of either performances or the sheet music. If you know where to find one, please leave a message in the Comments box near the bottom of the page.

Examples

Folk-group with guitar, original recording:

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:

1 But I say unto you...

Love your enemies and pray for those who hurt you.
.... And

Chorus:
Be like your Father in heaven above
Who causes his sun to shine on evil and good,
And sends down his rain to quench all men's thirst.
In him we live and move and have our being.

2 If you forgive your brother so will God forgive you ...

3 When you see the hungry, feed them from your table ...

4 Love your enemies and pray for those who hurt you ...