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What Makes a Great Worship Song?
Posted on August 12th, 2008 in Faith, Music, Worship Leadership by Fred McKinnon
Hey Everyone,
So I’ve been thinking about a series on worship songs.
Every generation has a treasure chest of songs that are dear to them. Maybe those songs came from a time period when you really devoted yourself to follow Christ. Maybe those songs represent a period of great renewal and passion in your faith.
Some songs come, some songs go. Other songs seem to have that “greatness” that makes them stay around. They park on CCLI’s Top 20 for decades. They stay in your treasure chest of songs that you’ll come back to when you are 80 years old.
- What makes a worship song a “great worship song”?
- What are a few of the songs that will be in your treasure chest?
(ps: for some reason, my “subscribe to comments” option seems to be waaay down at the bottom of the page – so if you’d like to follow the dialog, scroll way down under your comment and check that box before submitting your comment).
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28 Responses to “What Makes a Great Worship Song?”
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1. Declares truth / inspired by scripture.
2. Tune is (somewhat) predictable making it easy to sing.
3. Lyrics are understandable – if you have to use big words, unfold their meaning in the song.
4. Stays on a specific theme (doesn’t try to cover multiple topics).
5. Song key is comfortable for the majority.
6. Focuses on God and not so much on me and you.
One song that comes to mind that will probably always be around is ‘Amazing Grace’. The message of this song will always ring true and never get old.
Alastairs last blog post..New Music: You Are My God
The “great” ones are the ones that aren’t “crafted”, but have simply poured out of ones heart in an instant. The ones that seem to “write themselves”. Simple, honest, pure and from a heart that is totally responding to a love for the Lord.
Robert McKinnons last blog post..Marriage and God’s Word: What do we really believe?
i’ve found that our favorite songs tend to be one’s that were never written to be “the song”. songs that were pure, anointed, and chosen by God to bring His presence to our services. the key sometimes doesn’t even matter, look at shout to the Lord (to low for guys typically) How Great is our God (to high for guys typically) How Great Thou Art (has that one high note that makes the audience squint) Amazing Grace (ok you got me here, this one is just perfect) but you get the drift. What makes a song timeless/great is the Writer = God.
Totally agree Jon. I guess I was for a minute trying to be too practical and nearly forgetting how God can come and blow that all away.
Alastairs last blog post..New Music: You Are My God
A great worship song allows you to express your praise and/or worship in a new and fresh way lyrically. It gives words to your adoration of God that you couldn’t’ come up with on your own (or you would have!).
You should be able to sing 90% of the song after hearing it just once.
But honestly, I think it’s just a God thing. The Holy Spirit definitely “moves” more on some songs than others. For example, “Shout to the Lord” is an incredibly “wordy” song that breaks some of the classic “rules” of songwriting. but God’s in that song.
I think a great melody is an underrated part of a great song.
And I disagree that all the great songs are just instantaneous inspiration. Most of them were probably crafted over a long period of time (e.g. Tomlin’s “Forever”).
For my life, some of the most “anointed” worship songs have been:
I Could Sing of Your Love Forever
Your Love is Extravagant
There is Nothing Like
How He Loves
Forever
My Glorious (can anyone pull this off other than Delirious?)
Open the Eyes of my Heart
One Thing
Jeff Thompsons last blog post..Audio Illusion
Well, the last time I tried to start a blog on this topic, I got picked on by Lifeway
.
In my humble opinion though, I think that songs that started as prayers should be added to that list.
I also agree that the ones that are inspired and seem to write themselves are great songs. Also, I think people need to be able to instantly relate to the song, as this is important to connecting the song.
As a guitarist myself, I’m all for blazing guitar solos, but I also think that too much can cause a distraction. Anything in the song that can cause a distraction is maybe not necessarily a good thing. Using the same phrase or word repeatedly ad nauseum is a bit distracting to me. For example, take the song from a few years back “Trading My Sorrows” (remember repeating “Yes, Lord” 36 times throughout the song?). Great song, great message. For serious worship, I would never recommend it. But for an opener to get people jazzed up, it was a phenomenal song.
But, all that said, if God is in it then it is a great worship song.
Jasons last blog post..Cultivating Fruitful Relationships – The Series
Trading my sorrows… I could deal with ‘Yes Lord’ – it was the la-la-la’s. Jeff loves that song, so I won’t say anymore.
Alastairs last blog post..New Music: You Are My God
Solid doctrine that says something beyond ” I want to praise you, I want to worship you …” and declares why.
How Deep the Father’s Love is still one of the pinnacle songs in this regard. The more Cross and Resurrection the better for me.
jordans last blog post..A Great Below the Radar Worship Project From Sovereign Grace
I think this is a question that is multi-faceted and depends on WHO you ask. If you ask us worship leaders and church musicians, the answer is likely to be more complex and “practical” as one commenter said earlier.
If you ask someone who just attends church the answer might be very simple…like. It’s catchy. I like the tune. It really makes me feel good.
Honestly, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with either perspective, but we as songwriters have to be willing to admit that what we think makes a good song, might not necessarily be what resonates with our worshipers.
Why do songs like I Exalt Thee and God is So Good have such staying power? It’s not because they’re a theological textbook set to music, it’s because they are simple truths repeated to easy to sing melodic lines. If I had to boil my answer down to one sentence that would be it:
A great worship song contains a repeated simple truth that is set to an easy to sing melody.
Russs last blog post..Wearing Sunglasses In Worship: To Do or Not To Do
From someone who has no musical talent whatsoever, my opinion is that a great worship song is in the “ear” of the beholder. I think it can depend on where the Lord is in that persons life. What He may be working on in their life. So some of the songs in my treasure chest …
Open the Eyes of My Heart
Yes Lord, Yes Yes Lord (?)
Come Now is the Time to Worship
Lord I Lift Your Name on High
Refiners Fire
and now one I have just added
Empty Me by Chris Sligh
1. Singability
2. Forces an attitude of worship
3. It makes you want to sing it.
These have to be 3 easy things when writing a song. Ha, I know writing a “great” worship song is probably harder than writing a pop hit.
Tylers last blog post..Homer, AK
I think this is a deeply personal issue. One song may speak to someone, but less so to another. But in general, I agree that one key thing is a song that is born out of an attitude of worship. “Heart of Worship” is a great example; a personal cry out to God that Matt never really intended to go public with.
For some reason, “Higher” really speaks to me. Maybe it’s just the plaintive crying out to God in the chorus.
Others (for me) would include:
Hungry(Falling on my Knees)
Agnes Dei
I Can Only Imagine
Breathe (This is the Air I Breathe)
and this may sound silly, but O Holy Night.
Songs that are less about ‘me’ and more about Him. Too many contemporary feel-good pretty-sounding songs these days, that’s for sure.
Charles Wesley allegedly said he’d trade all the hymns he’d written to have written Isaac Watts’ “When I Behold the Wondrous Cross”; similarly Watts said Wesley’s “Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown” was worth all his own hymns.
Some hymns and worship songs really tear into me – “Beneath the cross of Jesus” has a phrase that I can only read and gulp at:
‘And from my stricken heart with tears two wonders I confess;
The wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness.’
- it says completely and boldly what I often try to hide.
Also, Krstyn Getty’s words had a huge impact on me when I got to the lines,
‘Hear heaven’s voices sing;
Their thund’rous anthem rings…’.
The thought of the sheer power of that huge choir still blows me away.
Both to be sung at my funeral, please…(but I won’t be hearing them – I’ll be like the guy in “Back to the Future”, sailing happily backwards through the air from the ‘thund’rous anthem’).
for me, they are the songs that i just can’t get out of my head…they may very well, not have that same effect on anyone else, but for me they take me into God’s presence…i think a lot of that depends on where i am in life and what God is doing in my life…
my list would be too long, but the ones i am getting hit with right now are these:
marvelous light…”sin has lost its power, death has lost its sting”
i am free…
healer…”i believe believe that You’re my portion, i believe You’re more than enough for me, Jesus You’re all i need”
jon marks last blog post..need a little help here…!
Alastair, I know what you mean… la la’s and na na’s as filler drives me nuts. But, if that’s the worst of MY problems… I guess I’ll live
Jasons last blog post..Cultivating Fruitful Relationships – Part 1 – Give More Than You Take
A great worship song draws one into the heart of God and helps us experience Him as He is in all His awesome glory, quiet grace and gentle forgiveness. A great worship song helps us become more like him, as we experience more of His grace and love; it helps us know it is safe and good to let go of our sin and whatever keeps us apart from Him. It helps know experientially that He is God and expands our ability to comprehend what that means in a greater dimentions.
Great singability + great theology = great worship song
Chris from Canadas last blog post..At least somebody likes me!
Short and to the point Chris!
Alastairs last blog post..New Music: You Are My God
Hey Everyone,
I had one of those “days” – back to back meetings, non-stop. I was excited to see so many people commenting and taking part (I do hope it continues through the night and into the next day).
So many great responses and thoughts.
For me, I think of singability, simplicity, and connection – is the song saying something that resonates with me, and what my heart is yearning to express!?
Some of my all time faves stem from more of the Vineyard songs in the renewal movements of the early 90′s … songs like:
Draw Me Close
Holy Love
More Love, More Power
No Other
Other old Integrity classics like
“I Am The God That Healeth Thee”
“As the Deer”
“I Exalt Thee”
and more recent favorites such as
“Here I Am To Worship”
“Heart of Worship”
“How He Loves Us”
For the Kingdom,
Fred McKinnon
http://www.fredmckinnon.com
http://www.theworshipcommunity.com
Fred McKinnons last blog post..What Makes a Great Worship Song?
To me what makes a great worship song is that it is one that is:
1. Easy to learn the words to, or has a catchy tune
2. Makes you feel something when you are singing it. You actually feel something or a connection of some sort.
Hope this helps.
Rebecca-Naomi
It is a given that a great song has to have solid theology and a hook.
What makes me listen to a song over and over again is when the song makes me think about God, a doctrine, or a behavior/mindset in a new way. Then there are just the songs that seem to have God’s hand on them for a certain time… presently “Healer” Comes to mind.
But to contradict myself, my favorite of all time is “Agnus Dei” very simple.
Brents last blog post..NBC Teaching the Church
Agree with singability and theology.
I think instrumentation or symphony or harmony in the voices plays a role too though perhaps not all the time.
(Also have a question that can be posted elsewhere if inappropriate – does a deaf person appreciate a worship song or a song for that matter and does the song still play the role, in her/his souls, that it does to those who can hear?)
Keith
Keith,
That’s a great question – it would be so inspiring to get perspective from someone who was deaf, who couldn’t hear the music, but could only see and express the lyrics.
For the Kingdom,
Fred McKinnon
http://www.fredmckinnon.com
http://www.theworshipcommunity.com
Good Worship Song = perfect balance between unique & familiar, complexity & simplicity: ie – it must be melodically or musically unique enough to not bring to mind other songs, yet not so unique that it carries a large ‘learning curve’ to learn to sing, AND there needs to be just enough complexity (unpredicatability?) to keep the song from being boring, yet not so much that it’s hard to ‘catch on to’ for your target age-group/congregation. Lyrically, a song should be theologically correct, but focused to one main subject, and make room for the worshiper to RESPOND to that revelation simply – a spot in the song where people can just close their eyes and love on God in song.
[...] Fred McKinnon asks this great question and one that I think has been defined and redefined often through many, many years. I wanted to spend some time looking in depth at this great question. A lot of people have submitted their thoughts in the comments section of Fred’s original post, but I thought this deserved a whole blog post – so here we go. [...]
Hi! After reading most of your comments, I realise that a great song actually is established by God himself – Holy Spirit inspired one. God look at the heart of the person who craft that song: is it for His glory for man’s glory? I remember what Jesus said about Mary, the prostitute woman who poured oil on Him – ‘ Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. ‘
But again maybe we should remember why ‘happy birthday’ is known all over around: the kids! Babes are the true worshippers and praisers. They have nothing behind their praise or worship, but what they have received. Thats why, i think, Amazing Grace is one of the greatest song and known almost all over the Christian and non-christian world. Another one, is the one that say, ‘I have decided to follow Jesus…’ Well, i am not a musician, but Amazing Grace is famous among the new born Christian, while the later is famous among the new born Christian and kids in the church.
I’m a fan of big choruses and Huge bridges. And something in a key where the congregation can belt the chorus and be comfortable enough to scream the bridge. But honestly, all the stuff is a waste unless the song and the team is bathed in prayer and working together for the benefit of the church. Thanks.
Casey
Just found this, so sorry if I’m late for the party
GREAT topic to explore though – particularly at a time when there are more songs, resources, albums etc. than ever before. Essential to think about.
Maybe a bit high level and needs some detailed thinking through, but I think a great song is one that portrays truth about God and helps the congregation voice a response.
That’s why an awful lot of the great songs have verses that declare truth and simple catchy choruses that allow the congregation to respond.
Examples:
For thou O Lord -> I exalt thee
Light of the world -> Here I am to worship
My Jesus, my saviour -> shout to the lord
Great is the Lord -> and Lord I want to lift your name on high
The Splendour -> How great is our God
I’m forgiven ->amazing love
Lord you are good -> We worship You
Also, especially in congregational worship, musically interesting and expressive yet simple and memorable is what you’re aiming for. There’s a lot of complicated stuff out there which is fun but doesn’t necessarily help the congregation worship and doesn’t stand the test of time.
Daniel Smarts last blog post..I’m in his hands