Better is One Day

This is a soft-rock style hymn about heaven, and the human yearning to be with God. The words are based on Psalm 84:10 (better is one day in your courts / how lovely is your dwelling place).

It was written by English evangelical worship leader and song-writer, Matt Redman (b 1974), and first published by in 1995 Thankyou Music.

It is set to an unnamed tune, also by Redman. This has a 4/4 time signature. In the key of G, the first few notes of the melody are GG F E GG A G_ GG EE D_ with accompanying chords G / C2sus.

Downloads

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Downloadable setting for piano and voice, with guitar chords

Leadsheet in the key of G

Examples

Official music video - words and chords on-screen

Small group with keyboard and guitar - professional, casual-setting recording

Singer with band, words on-screen

Singer with piano

Bluegrass style - singer with banjo led band

Chorus with piano - arrangement of the refrain

Quartet with piano, guitar and rhythm

Traditional choir with piano

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 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty ...

Chorus:
Better is one day in your courts,
better is one day in your house,
better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere.
Better is one day in your courts,
better is one day in your house,
better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere,
than thousands elsewhere.

2 One thing I ask and I would seek: to see your beauty ...

Bridge:
My heart and flesh cry out
for you, the living god;
your Spirit's water to my soul.
I've tasted and I've seen,
come once again to me;
I will draw near to you,I will draw near to you.

See more ...

Imaged adapted from Silverstrand, from Salthill - CC4.0 BY