Monday, January 7, 2008

Satisfied

Yesterday at church I we sang a song called "Satisfied" that I just really loved. The words were awesome, and something about the tune struck a chord in my soul. So, last night I went online to search for it. I was sure it was a new contemporary praise song, and you can imagine my surprise when I saw it was written by Clara T. Williams in 1875. I listened to an old recording to what was probably the original tune, and I was a little disappointed. I went to bed sad that I couldn't find it, but amazed at how relevant the words are 130 years later.

I tried again today, and found it! I guess this group of musicians, associated with Red Mountain Church in Birmingham, Alabama, puts old hymns to new musical arrangements. I have listened to several of their songs, and love every one. Their website gives the music, so we printed it out for the song "Satisfied", Lance quickly learned it on the guitar, and we have been singing it tonight.

Here is the link where I found the song "Satisfied" on the album "Depth of Mercy":
http://www.redmountainchurch.org/rmm/alb/dom.html

Here is a link to their myspace page, where you can listen to several of their new songs and see when they are touring:
http://www.myspace.com/redmountainmusic

And the best part; here are the words to "Satisfied" as relevant today as they were in 1875:

*
All my life long, I had thirsted
For a drink from some cool spring,
That I hoped would quench the burning
Of the thirst I felt within.
*
Feeding on the filth around me,
Till my strength was almost gone,
Longed my soul for something better,
Only still to hunger on.
*
Poor I was, and sought for riches,
Something that would satisfy,
But the dust I gathered round me
Only mocked my soul's sad cry.
*
Well of water, ever springing,
Bread of life so rich and free,
Untold wealth that never faileth,
My Redeemer is to me.
*
Hallelujah! He has found me
The One my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies all my longings
Through His blood I now am saved.
*

7 comments:

Lance said...

Very satisfying post, Laura. I really like Red Mountain Music.

Red Mountain Music says:
we're told we have a folk, sometimes country sound. I think we'd prefer our music to be considered simple, thoughtful, acoustically driven, whatever that means.

Lisa said...

I like them too. We had their CD, but we left it at our old church and forgot to get it back! Maybe it's time to get a new copy...
It really is a great song with great words. I think the original said something like, "I have found him" instead of "He has found me"-I like the change. It's awesome to think He found me and saved me and loved me of His own choice.

Keri said...

Also one of my favorites. David found it on Itunes a while back and put it on our Ipods so he could learn the chords and play it. You should look into Indelible Grace as well www.igracemusic.com They do a great job of taking really old hymns and putting them to new music and I love the richness and depth of the old hymns. Thanks for sharing! :)

Laura said...

Lisa - Yes, it's funny how knowing that the original words were "I have found him" and in the second verse "Feeding on the husks around me" causes me to ponder the meanings of the original words and that of the new words. I like both versions, and appreciate the meaning of both.

Keri - Thanks for the link to Indelible Grace. I have heard about them, and have now spent the evening listening to their albums on their site. I thought I would find my favorite and buy it, but I think I'm going to have to buy all of them!

Brandon J. Brown said...

I found your blog trying to find out more about this song....

It is awesome. Our church did it on sunday, and I started searching for it as soon as I got a chance...

Joann said...

I know this is an older post, but I found it while searching for the hymn Satisfied. You see, my great great grandmother wrote those words back in 1875 and I'm really happy that they have touched other people in the here and now as they have touched me.

Style Seeds said...

I have searched for this song for 4 years. It pops into my head all the time...and it's amazing that I searched for it tonight, because I really really needed it. You are the angel God put in my life tonight. Thank you for being sensitive to his purpose. I don't know you, but thanks to God, you've impacted me more than you'll ever know.