This is a gospel-style song exhorting Christians to tell God's people of his love for them.
It has two sets of words for the verses, and accompanying styles / approaches.
- One set of publications (based in New Zealand, in the 1980s/90s) attribute the words to Leonard Barlotti (chorus verses 1-2) and New Zealand author and composer Guy Janssen (verses 3-4). These are more focused on the social-justice implications of Jesus' message.
- There are also some publications from the 1970 which have the same tune and chorus, but quite different words in the verses: these present the song as © 1972 Gospel Publishing House or © 1975 Celebration/Kingsway Music. they attribute the chorus to Leonard Bartlotti and the verses to Jan Harrington. These verses are more personal, and with them the song is popular for funerals. The chorus is sometimes changed to "Tell my people ..." or "Tell my family"
Hymn-books where the song has been published in include:
- Complete Mission Praise - Harper Collins, United Kingdom, 1975
- Alleluia Aotearoa, The New Zealand Hymnbook Trust Inc., New Zealand, 1999
- Servant songs : psalms, hymns and spiritual songs for God's people, The New Zealand Hymnbook Trust Inc., New Zealand, 1987
- Hymns for a Pilgrim People - GIA Publications, Chicago USA 2007, for the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches
It's likely there were more publications and/or recordings in the USA, but these have not been found yet: One possibility is that Bartolli wrote the refrain, which was initially used as a short worship song, then Harrington wrote a set of verses, and Bartolli wrote a different set of verses that were more in line with his original intentions. However this remains a theory until more publications are located.
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Image from MaxPixel, public domain CC0 |
Downloads
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Singer with guitar:
Choir with band:
Small group and congregation, with guitar:
Singer with piano:
Singer with electronic keyboard + ukulele
Singer with band - professional recording:
Singer with band - 21st century version, professional recording:
Virtual choir and band - chorus only:
Singer with band - gentle arrangemnt, professional recording:
Lyrics
The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:Tell my people I love them;
tell my people that I care.
When they feel far away from me,
tell my people I am there.
1. Tell my people I came and died
to give them liberty;
as they abide in me
they will be really free!
2. Tell my people where-e'er they go
to claim my risen power;
my peace and joy and love
is for them hour by hour.
3. Tell my people who grieve and mourn
that I allowed the night
of darkness to descend,
but I am still the Light.
4. Tell my people to share their wealth
and fight the sin of greed;
care for the refugee;
the hungry they're to feed.
5. Tell my people throughout the world
to strive for peace today,
show love for enemies,
be servants of the Way.
Alternative (perhaps original?) lyrics, or written for funerals?
Chorus:
Tell the people I love them, tell the people I careWhen they feel far away from Me, tell the people I'm there.
1. Last night Jesus came to me, wiped a tear from my eyes
And He said not to worry so, He would stay by my side.
2. Then He looked out upon the world, in the darkness of night
And He turned and He spoke to me, Oh, how sadly He sighed.
3. When I walked upon Calvary, and I poured out my life
I died for each one of them, so that they might have life.
4. I will always remember, when He came to me
For once I had blinded eyes, but now I can see.
Many, many thanks to Leonard (Len) Bartlotti, who has provided detailed background about this song.
ReplyDeleteI haven't published your long comment, but have kept a copy of it and as you suggested will very shortly use it to re-write the entry above: Doing this needs a clearer head than I have after a week at work!
If you are reading this before I post a reply to the above, you might check back in a week or so for update information.