Songwriting is the act of baring one's soul to another in the form of words and music.
I love this song, (He Sent His Son from the Children’s Songbook) it is one of my favorites. It doesn’t need a second verse, but I thought there were some things that could be added. Some things that feel true to me. To me, the added second verse is a kind of second witness to the message of the first verse.
Composing a hymn was a little more difficult than I thought it would be because of the structure of the way a hymn is set up. When I compose a contemporary song, I have a lot of freedom to switch up the rhythms and melody from verse to verse or even chorus to chorus to suit changes in lyrics.
Today I want to go into the background behind May’s song – “As I Ponder My Eternal Value”. The first verse is about trying to recognize and appreciate our own value, worth and potential. I think that before we can truly value other people as individuals, we need to value ourselves. We are all like a $100 bill, worth the same amount. Some $100 bills might be crumpled up and some might be crisp and new, but they all have the same worth, 100 dollars. Each person is like a $100 bill…..equally valuable.
As I Ponder My Eternal Value by Marilee Kay Verse 1: As I ponder my eternal value, help me feel the worth of my soul. Father, Thou hast blessed me with Thy light, and Thy Son can make me whole. As I