It was written in 1965 as the theme song of Christian Aid's Beat and Folk Festival (ref) and recorded on a single by Carter and the Notting Hill Folk Group. Although the song was not intended as a hymn, it has been used in this way by a number of churches. Many schools also sing it as an assembly song because it incorporates their ethos without explicitly being Christian.
With meter 7 6 7 3, it is set to a tune that Carter wrote for the text: This is sometimes called NEIGHBOUR: So far, it does not appear to have been set to any other tunes. NEIGHBOUR has a 4/4 time signature, and in the key of Em, the first few notes are B,B, E EF GF EG B Bd B with accompanying chords Em / G / B7.
- Celebration Hymnal for Everyone
- Complete Come and Praise
- 20th Century Folk Hymnal volume 1
Downloads
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Duet with guitar, home recording:
Singer with guitar accompaniment:
Large choir with orchestra accompaniment - recorded for a TV programme:
Lead singer and band, rock-style accompaniment, professional recording:
Lyrics
The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on the publisher's website. A rough outline is:When I needed a neighbour were you there, were you there?
When I needed a neighbour were you there?
And the creed and the colour and the name won’t matter
Were you there?
2. I was hungry and thirsty …
3. I was cold, I was naked …
4. When I needed a shelter …
5. When I needed a healer …
6. When they put me in prison…
7. Wherever you travel, I’ll be there, I’ll be there.
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