Confessio: Irish American Roots – Keith & Kristyn Getty
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The latest album by Keith & Kristyn Getty is a diary of hymns and songs that underscore the Gettys’ Irish American journey. In 2020, the Gettys spent ten months in Ireland, tracing their journey back to Northern Ireland and the Scots-Irish-American roots of their hymn writing. The album features guest artists such as Sandra McCracken, Alison Krauss, Dana Masters and Kirk Whalum, and a mix of new original songs, new arrangements of well-known hymns, and a remixed version of their most popular modern hymn “In Christ Alone”. It is beautifully produced by Ben Shive. The Gettys ended up recording enough songs for two albums, so they plan to follow up this album with another album Christ Our Hope In Life And Death, in the summer of 2022.
Below are a few comments about each song on Confessio: Irish American Roots:
Confessio – This song, inspired by the prayer of St. Patrick, was written by Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, Fionán de Barra and Matt Papa. The song features the incredible Getty band, including acoustic guitar, violin, bass, drums, and backing vocals.
Key lyrics:
We go homeward
Christ, be with us as we go
We go homeward
Christ, be with us on the road
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- Song of the Week Lyrics ~ Jesus Christ is Born by Mac Powell
This Is My Father’s World – This song was written by Maltbie D. Babcock. The arrangement is by Keith Getty, Fionán de Barra and Ben Shive. This beautiful arrangement features acoustic guitar, violin, bass, light percussion, strings, and backing vocals.
Key lyrics:
This is my Father’s world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross – This song was written by Isaac Watts (words) and Lowell Mason (music). This beautiful arrangement features horns, strings, acoustic guitar, backing vocals, and piano.
Key lyrics:
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride
Pass the Promise – This song, inspired by Hannah’s song, was written by Kristyn Getty and Sandra McCracken and features Sandra McCracken on vocals. The song features drums, violin and a memorable chorus. It’s my favorite song on the album.
Key lyrics:
Pass the promise
To our sons and daughters
God most high, God our Father
We bear witness
Amazing Grace – This song was written by John Newton and was recorded in Keith Getty’s friend’s fish and chips shack in Ireland. The beautiful arrangement features Keith Getty on piano, Dana Masters and Kristyn Getty on vocals and Kirk Whalum on saxophone.
Key lyrics:
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.
Come Thou Almighty King – This song was written by Felice De Giardini. The arrangement was by Tommy Bailey, Sarah Gehri, Nathan Mickle and Tom Yarbrough and features the Getty Girls. The song features violin, backing vocals, Irish instruments, and some excellent acoustic guitar.
Key lyrics:
To the great one in three
Eternal praises be
Hence – evermore!
Death where now is the sting
Crown Him the King of Kings
We to eternity
Love and adore!
And Are You Sleeping? – This song was written by Malcolm Guite and Kristyn Getty. The song features acoustic guitar, violin, and backing vocals.
Key lyrics:
And she has risen from her bed
And held her arms out wide
And touched his wounded hands and heart
And gone to be his bride
Waulking Song/All My Heart Rejoices (Song of Anna) – This song was written by Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty and Sandra McCracken and features Sandra McCracken on vocals. The song about Anna (Luke 2), includes reference to Psalm 34:18, and features acoustic guitar, violin, and backing vocals.
Key lyrics:
And all my heart rejoices, rejoices
As angels lift their voices to proclaim
Praise be to God
Redemption resounds
Till all the earth
Rejoices, rejoices
It Is Well With Me Soul – This song was written by Horatio Spafford (words), Philip Bliss (music). The beautiful arrangement by Keith Getty builds powerfully toward the end, and is featured in the film Sabina: Tortured for Christ, the Nazi Years, features violin, piano, strings, and choir.
Key lyrics:
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend;
Even so, it is well with my soul
How Can I Keep from Singing? – This song was written by Keith Getty and Fionán de Barra. This song features acoustic guitar, Irish instruments, piano and backing vocals.
Key lyrics:
No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that refuge, clinging
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?
Be Thou My Vision – This Traditional Irish hymn was arranged by Keith Getty, Ben Shive and Fionán de Barra. The song features Irish instruments, strings, piano, drums, and backing vocals.
Key lyrics:
High King of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all
Farewell to Ballymoney – This instrumental was written by Keith Getty, Ben Shive and Fionán de Barra. The song features the incredible Getty band. If you have never seen them in concert, you are missing a treat.
In Christ Alone – This song was written by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend and features Alison Krauss. The song is a remixed version of a song that appeared on the 2012 album Hymns for the Christian Life. The song, which builds powerfully, features acoustic guitar, Irish instruments, and backing vocals.
Key lyrics:
And as He stands in victory,
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
I enjoyed each of these songs. My favorites were:
Confessio
Pass the Promise
Amazing Grace
It is Well With My Soul
How Can I Keep From Singing?
Farewell to Ballymoney
- We Win the World with Singing. Watch, or read, John Piper’s message from the 2021 Sing! Conference.
- Your Song Saved My Life. Watch the lyric video for U2’s new song “Your Song Saved My Life”, from the film Sing 2.
- Hometown Christmas. Watch this “Behind the Scenes” video as NEEDTOBREATHE, Switchfoot and JUDAH discuss their song “Hometown Christmas”, available exclusively on Amazon Music.
- Pass the Promise. Watch the lyric video of “Pass the Promise” by Keith & Kristyn Getty, featuring Sandra McCracken.
- In The House. Watch the new video for “In The House” from Crowder.
Jesus Christ is Born – Mac Powell
This week’s song of the week is a new Christmas song from Mac Powell, who also wrote the song. Watch the lyric video here.
(CHORUS)
Jesus Christ is born
Jesus Christ is born
Let all of Heaven and earth rejoice
On this Christmas morn
Jesus Christ is born
The Savior of the world
Let all of Heaven and earth rejoice
Jesus Christ is born
The Spirit told the prophets
And the prophets spoke the word
That word was spread throughout the land
Prepare the way of the Lord
And the angels told the shepherds
And the shepherds bowed to pray
Then the angels and the shepherds and the wise men sang
This song on Christmas Day
(CHORUS)
The disciples shared their stories
And the Bible brought the truth
That preacher spoke those words to me
And I’m singing them to you…oh
Jesus Christ is born
Jesus Christ is born
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice
On this Christmas morn
Cause He died upon the cross
And He conquered death and sin
He rose up from that grave
And He’s coming back again
