Wedding Song / There is Love (Together as One)

This hymn for weddings was written by American singer-songwriter Noel Paul Stookey (b 1937) - who is better known as Paul from 60's folk-trio Peter, Paul and Mary.

The song written as a gift for the wedding of fellow band-member Peter Yarrow, which took place in a Roman Catholic Minnesota, USA in 1969. The first commercial release was in 1971, as an advance single of a track from Stookey's album "Paul".

Copyright has been assigned to the Public Domain Foundation, an American non-profit organisation which facilitates the creation and impact of music for social change, and this is now administered by Music and Media International.

It is set to an unnamed tune, also by Stookey. This has a 4/4 time signature. In the key of E, the first few notes are a long run of B's. Sheet music is available from several music publishers (links below,) but it does not appear to have been included in any in-print hymnals.

As it is mostly used at weddings, the song is usually sung by a soloist.

Bride and groom in the sunset silhouetted - 1 He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts Rest assured this troubadour is acting on His part. The union of your spirits, here, has caused Him to remain For whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name There is Love, there is Love. 2 A man shall leave his mother and a woman leave her home And they shall travel on to where the two shall be as one. As it was in the beginning is now and til the end Woman draws her life from man and gives it back again. And there is Love, there is Love. 3 Well then what's to be the reason for becoming man and wife? Is it love that brings you here or love that brings you life? and if loving is the answer, then who's the giving for? Do you believe in something that you've never seen before? Oh there is Love, there is Love. 4 Oh the marriage of your spirits here has caused Him to remain For whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name There is Love, there is Love.

Downloads

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Downloadable sheet music scored for Piano/Vocal/Guitar

Examples

Original recording?

Solo singer - keyboard / band backing:

Duet with acoustic guitar - recorded live:

Singer with piano backing - TV show performance:

Singer with guitar-led band:

Lyrics

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

Original lyrics
1 I am now to be among you at the calling of your hearts ....

2 A man shall leave his mother and a woman leave her home ...

3 Well then what's to be the reason for becoming man and wife? ...

4 Oh the marriage of your spirits here has caused Me to remain ....

Lyrics slightly altered by the writer:
He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts
Rest assured this troubadour is acting on His part.
The union of your spirits, here, has caused Him to remain
For whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name
There is Love, there is Love.

A man shall leave his mother and a woman leave her home
And they shall travel on to where the two shall be as one.
As it was in the beginning is now and til the end
Woman draws her life from man and gives it back again.
And there is Love, there is Love.

Well then what's to be the reason for becoming man and wife?
Is it love that brings you here or love that brings you life?
And if loving is the answer, then who's the giving for?
Do you believe in something that you've never seen before?
Oh there is Love, there is Love.

Oh the marriage of your spirits here has caused Him to remain
For whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name
There is Love, there is Love.

There is another alternative in use, which explicitly names God, eg "God is now to be among you ...".