Worship | Prayer | Music | More
Today is Olivia and I’s twentieth anniversary! Over on Instagram I have been posting a photo and song lyrics from the songs I’ve written for her over the years. Below is a playlist of the songs! They vary widely in quality and time period…haha. But they are the songs for your listening pleasure. Check out the posts over on Instagram.
I wrote this with my lovely wife Olivia and our dear friend Anje! Check out the country version HERE!
Wanted to write a simple song for the people to sing at church for a long time. I have some like Mover of Mountains and I Need You Lord, but I usually end up with way too many words and harmonies for the “common folk.” ;). This one turned out well I think! Let me know if you agree…
Your Name – Ben Ward
When I hear your name
I know everything’s going to be alright
When I hear your name
I know I’ll make it out alive
When I hear your name
Whispered, shouted, crying full of pain
When I hear your name
Everything’s changedWhen I say your name
I feel my heavy heart get light
When I say your name
I see wrongs made right
When I say your name
If I whisper, If I shout it, If I sing it it’s the same
When I say your name
Everything’s changedIf all is right
Or much at stake
All I need to hear is your name
All I need to say is your name
JesusIf all is right
Or much at stake
All I need to hear is your name
All I need to say is your name
JesusWhen I say your name
I see wrongs made right
When I hear your name
I know everything’s going to be alright
When I say your name
If I whisper, If I shout it, If I sing it it’s the same
When I hear your name – Jesus
When I say your name – Jesus
Everything’s changed
I so love Coldplay…so I weaved in a little “Yellow” with a song I wrote with Stephanie White, “More.” The parts I used actually worked well, I think. How about you?
(I recorded this a couple of weeks ago. Hence, the Christmas Tree:)
More with Yellow
Written by Ben Ward, Stephanie White, and ColdplayLook at the stars
See how they shine for you
And all the things you doI came along
I wrote a song for you
And everything you doMore than enough for me
More than my eyes could see
More than my everything
Overflow, so much more
Here in my brokeness
Fill up my emptiness
Be more than my heart could hold
Overflow, so much more
More than enough for meYour skin, oh yeah your skin and bones
Turn in to something beautiful
Do you know, you know I love you so
You know I love you so
Download MP3.
Ho, Ho, Ho!!! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. I rerecorded a Christmas Song I wrote a few Christmases back called “Come Home.” I had the first line “For a Few Moments at a Time…” for several years. I actually worked on that song during my lunch breaks at this day job I had in Cambridge, MA (iXL if you wondered). Olivia and I had moved up to Boston to go to grad school in 1999 and needed to make some $$$ in the meantime. I really didn’t know how to write songs yet (My first Berklee songwriting course was a few months away) but I was determined. So I’d bring my guitar to the office and go down by the Charles River and write. The song never went very far, but when I was looking to write a tune for a Christmas Production in 2007 that line’s lyric and melody seemed to fit.
Christmas is about home. It’s about family, friends, reflecting, and all that stuff. But it’s also about how our Father sent His Son to rescue us. That’s the ultimate family restoration. For a few moments at a time, come home.
On a fun side note another version of this song with Olivia and me singing it at church is my most popular video on YouTube. When O was on the show that was the one that pulled up when people searched for her. I’ve included it below…we are MUCH bigger…ha.
Come Home – Written by Ben Ward
For a few moments at a time
I see so clearly
For a few moments at a time
All the world is right
Christmas trees and Angels
Bows and ribbons tangled
For a few moments I’ve come home tonightFor a few moments at a time
No one is angry
For a few moments at a time
No one says goodbye
All my friends and family
Gathered round the fire
For a few moments I’ve come home tonightI’ve come home
I belong
Sing those old familiar songs
About peace on earth
And Jesus’ birth
And healing all the hurtsIn this moment here tonight
I stand forgiven
In this moment here tonight
Love has brought me light
I’m so tired, I’m not running
I’ve found rest on Christmas Day
In this moment I’ve come home to stay
In this moment I’ve come home on Christmas Day
This is it…my fave. I learned it in a Madrigals group in high school (If you don’t know what that is) (I was cool).
What’s your favorite carol?
Merry Christmas!!!