Water of Life (Have you heard the raindrops)

This children's hymn is about water, as it is experienced in the world and as something essential for life.

It was written by English music and mathematics teacher, Church of England organist and choirmaster Christian Strover (1932-2020).

It was published in the BBC's children's / school hymnal, Come and Praise - and this is the only located sheet music for the song.

It is set to an unnamed tune, also by Stover. This has a 4/4 time signature. In the key of F, the first few notes of the melody are AA AA G G FF FF G G with accompanying chords F / C / F.>

Image adapted from Pikist

Downloads

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Examples

Multi-track video - one singer with various instruments

Children's choir with backing track - professional recording:

Children's choir with piano:

Singer, unaccompanied with actions:

Instrumental - organ:

Instrumental - piano:

Lyrics

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

1 Have you heard the raindrops drumming on the roof tops?
Have you heard the raindrops dripping on the ground?
Have you heard the raindrops splashing in the streams
and running to the rivers all around?

Chorus:
There's water, water of life,
Jesus gives us the water of life;
There's water, water of life,
Jesus gives us the water of life.

2 There's a busy worker digging in the desert,
Digging with a spade that flashes in the sun;
Soon there will be water rising in the wellshaft,
spilling from the bucket as it comes.
There's water ...

3 Nobody can live who hasn't any water,
When the land is dry then nothing much grows;
Jesus gives us life if we drink the living water,
sing it so that everybody knows.
There's water ...