Well, It's a New Day

This is a 1960's style hymn about the new law of love taught by Jesus.

It was written by American Roman Catholic musician, composer, some-time Catholic priest and later children's educator and retirement-home operator, Jack Miffleton (b TBA), and first published by World Library Publications, USA in 1969 in the Young People's Folk Hymnal Version 1.   

It was included on Miffleton's album 'With Skins and Steel" (ref), and later included in WLP's The People's Mass Book 1974.  Both the words and music are now out-of-print.

It is set to an unnamed tune, also by Miffleton. This has a 2/4 time signature. In the key of Em, the first few notes of the melody are E GA B A B_  A F DD  with accompanying chords Em / D.

Downloads

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Lead sheet (melody + guitar chords) - hosted by an external site, presumably with permission

Examples

Original professional recording, re-mastered

Singer with piano

Singer with band, professional recording

Rock band, unnamed alternative tune

Lyrics

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

Chorus:
Well, it's a new day, think new thoughts,
for there's a new way. Change your hearts,
there's a new law in the land.

1. A man can kill with a knife of steel,
with a gun, a bomb or a lance,
But there's a New Law, there's a new law:
A man can kill with a glance!

2. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,
that was the law of the land,
but there’s a New Law, there’s a New Law:
Love makes a greater demand.

3. You shall love the Lord your God,
and your neighbour as yourselves,
But there's a New Law, there's a New Law;
Love your enemy as well.

4: A sinful man lusts for power and fame,
women, wealth, and wine;
But there's a New Law, there's a New Law:
A man can lust in his mind.

See more ...

• Hymns about love
• Hymns about law

Image adapted from Sunrise in the Clouds - used by permission

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY Chorus:
Well, it's a new day, think new thoughts,
for there's a new way. Change your hearts,
there's a new law in the land.

1. A man can kill with a knife of steel,
with a gun, a bomb or a lance,
But there's a New Law, there's a new law:
A man can kill with a glance!

2. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,
that was the law of the land,
but there’s a New Law, there’s a New Law:
Love makes a greater demand.

3. You shall love the Lord your God,
and your neighbour as yourselves,
But there's a New Law, there's a New Law;
Love your enemy as well.

4: A sinful man lusts for power and fame,
Women, wealth, and wine,
But there's a New Law, there's a New Law:
A man can lust in his mind.