This is a hymn about the call to repentance. It is based on the first five verses of the Book of Matthew, in which Jesus teaches the disciples about not being judgemental.
It was written by Australian Roman Catholic (Franciscan Missionary of Mary) religious sister, Irene O'Connor FMM (ref).
The song was written while she was living in Singapore, and (apparently) not recorded until she returned to Australia and worked with Sister Marimil Lobregat at the Catholic Radio and Television Centre in Sydney to make the album Fire! Songs of God's Love which was released by Phillips in 1976.
The catalogue of the National Library of Australia says that a 20-page song book was produced by Ave Maria Publications, c1973, which included the vocals - but it's not clear if this was sheet music or simply the words.
Downloads
Examples
Original recording by Irene O'Connor
Lyrics
Chorus:Begin with yourself, O brother,
Recognise your own faults,
But don't accuse another.
A happier and better place this world would be,
If we'd begin that hope correcting you and me.
1 You see this speck in your brother's eye
We want to get it out, we're determined to try;
But listen, brother, to what Jesus said,
Get the beam out of your eye, O hypocrite, instead.
2 It's easy to make defiant speech
But what we have to do is to practice what we preach;
Its useless telling others what to do,
Be a good example, now it's up to you.
3 So let's begin with ourselves O brother
And we make this world a better place for others
And like a snowball rolling along,
We will gather others to our throng
And the world would be a better place,
And the world would be a better place.
And the world would be a better place,
And the world would be a better place.
(the chorus is not sung after verse 3)
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