Stand

STAND was not an easy album to make. It was written and recorded over a period of three years, on two continents, and in three studios. The songs follow the pattern of the Bible: telling a story that unfolds from chapter-to-chapter or, in the case of STAND, from song to song.

The story it tells is not unlike a love story. The first blush of romance – that attraction to something new and exciting – is often a concoction that is both winsome and thrilling. That thrill lies in the potential of the budding relationship; a potential that – from the perspective of the young lover – is often unrealized because it withers before the first assault of reality. Some songs tell those stories.

That’s sad. Because real love doesn’t begin to take root until the lovers, hand-in-hand, withstand that first assault, and the next, and the next. And with each assault, providing they confront it together, the bond between them grows and deepens.

STAND is about such a relationship – between the believer and Christ. In this relationship the waters are deep, the storms relentless, and the consequences eternal. Some songs tell those stories.

While I hope most of the songs here will give hope, strengthen faith, and provide comfort, there are some that are simply the brutal truth of what it means to follow Christ. It is not a journey for the faint of heart. Fortunately, it is not one we have to take alone. The songs that tell those stories are the hardest to sing, the hardest to hear, and the most crucial to understand.

I am grateful to Charles Hunt, my dear friend, and the amazing musicians for helping me tell them.

Following are full-length MP3s of the songs on this album. If you are able, please donate $1.00 for each track you download to Minjin Project (click the “Donate” tab on the website). To learn more about The Minjin Project, go to minjinproject.com. If you can’t afford the dollar, you’re welcome to download the music at no charge. Simply click the Click here to download text following each title, and right-click the resulting progress bar to download. You may use the songs in ministry, but may not re-record them or profit from them financially in any way. That’s fair, don’t you think?

A DAY LIKE THIS: TOPIC: Rejoice in the moment – Click here to download You Might Be the Answer: TOPIC: Maybe you’re the angel someone’s praying for – Click here to download What are You Waiting For?: TOPIC: It’s easier to make excuses than a difference – Click here to download The Path Home: TOPIC: On sacrificing adulthood to the dreams of youth – Click here to download Stand: TOPIC: The choice is to stand, or fall – Click here to download Jericho: TOPIC: The devil builds walls – Click here to download I’m Clean: TOPIC: Freedom from the past – Click here to download I Know in Whom I Believe: TOPIC: Do you believe what you profess to believe> – Click here to download I Just Came for the Fish: TOPIC: Unexpected meetings with Christ – Click here to download Hard Time Comin’: TOPIC: Unexpected meetings with Christ – Click here to download Gravity: TOPIC: Where is your center? – Click here to download Every Time I Fall: TOPIC: Getting up after getting down – Click here to download Buy Me a Ticket: TOPIC: It’s so hard to be holy at home – Click here to download

Following the MP3s below, you will find the lyrics to all the songs. Chord sheets (.pdf files) for each song are available as well, for $2.95, or the whole album for $24.95. Send your request to davidcrossman@comcast.net

STAND Lyrics

STAND by David A. Crossman You may use the songs, non-commercially, with my blessing. All songs copyright David A. Crossman – BMI

A DAY LIKE THIS (CCLI # 7221837)

I’ve never known a day like this
Never imagined what I might miss
If I’d stayed in bed like a sleepyhead
I might not have met you

A little magic can make your day
When somethin’ unexpected
Takes your breath away
So shake yourself awake
And see what’s goin’ down

There might just be magic
all around

Why can’t we just all be nice
And stop behavin’ like it was a sacrifice
To make a little effort to be someone nice
We might stop goin’ crazy

If someone doesn’t like your song
It’s not your problem if
They will not sing along
With a ukulele how can you go wrong?
So just sing your heart out

(Repeat first verse)

I JUST CAME FOR THE FISH (CCLI#7221799)

I just came for the fish
Mamma thought a day in the countryside
Would do me good
You see it’s been a little while
Since I got away from the grind
I could never seem to find the time
Til I heard someone say

That therer was a fella givin fish away
Down by the sea
(Name of Jesus)
So I figured that’s the place that I should be
Eatin’ fish
You know it is my favorite dish

For a little free bread, fish and wine
I could pretend
To listen to that preacher and then
When the bread and the fish were gone
I’d go home

Then I heard Him proclaim
That I needed help of I was on my way
To somewhere hot
Now that’s not
The kind of thing a fella really wants to hear
Eatin’ fish
Not at all the kind of thing he’d wish

But the more that He talked
The more that I realized
That that fish wasn’t free
No, it came with a hook

O Lord lead me down, down, down
This fish needs the atwer now
I need to be free

Of the hooks lines and sinkers
I’ve been draggin’ round
I didn’t know ’til now
I’d fallen for so many lines
For so long, thought that I

Had all the answers, but
Your words left me gutted now
I’ve been filleted and fried
And my insides are all outside

I just came for the fish
Mamma thought a day in the countryside
Would do me good
And it did
You see I met a mighty fisher of men
And I will never be the same
No I will never be the same
Again

I’M CLEAN (CCLI# 7221800)

I’m clean
I’m clean
There’s no stain on me
For I’m perfectly forgiven
And perfectly removed from my sin

And should I ever fall that way again
Should it try to lay a claim on me

All I need to say is:
Father, in the blood of Jesus I confess
I’ve fallen once again

And I need Your covering
Need Your covering to make me clean
For I need Your covering
Need Your covering
To make me clean

Repeat

THE PATH HOME (CCLI#7221801)

When the end of your dreams finally comes
It may beat you like a drum
It may leave you bruised and battered
Black and blue
When your ship comes in
You may wish you’d learned to swim
‘Cause the captain is crazy
So’s the crew

Life’s a windshield you’re the bug
Your dreams are just another drug
Just a field of ghosts and shadows
You wade through
As each promise turns to mist
My precious child I promise this

My eye is on the sparrow
I keep a light on the straight and narrow
And I’ll always keep the path home
Clear for you

When you find that your dreams
Are made of chains
And nothin’ left of you remains
But the you that you became
To make ’em true
A cueless actor there you stand
Awaiting some absurd command
And you waste your youth in worship
Til they do

Life’s a nest of Russian dolls
You run down roads that end in walls
And the weapons that you wield
All turn on you
As each promise turns to mist
My precious child I promise this

My eye is on the sparrow
I’ll keep a light on the straight and narrow
And I’ll always leave the path home
Clear for you

So break free of those dreams
That you had at seventeen
They’re unbecoming to a person
Of your age
They are selfish and unkind
And don’t lend meaning to your life
They’re just empty words
Not worthy of the page

TEACH ME HOW TO LOVE (CCLI# 7221802)

Lord, teach me how to love
The one I don’t love
And teach me how to be
The one who brings
Healing in my wings
And help me show the love
That you show me

Lord, teach me how to see
The world through Your eyes
And teach me how to be
The one to do
As You would have me do
And show me how Your love can
Flow through me

For it’s by love
The children of the Father shall be known
Only by love
Only by love
Only by love
Can we ever hope to sing as one
Only by love
Only by love

So Lord, teach me how to love
The one I don’t love
And teach me how to be
The one who brings
Healing in my wings
And show me how Your love
Can flow through me.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? (CCLI# 7221803)

If I am, who you say I am
Then what are you waiting for?
What are you waiting for?
What are you waiting for?
If you believe, as you say you believe
Then what are you waiting for
What are you waiting for?
What are you waiting for?

“Look what it might cost me
What if I’m thought a fool?
When I’ve learned more of You
That’s what I’m waiting for”

“Life is so demanding.
If only I had more time
One day I’ll have more time
That’s what I’m waiting for”

(But if I don’t tell them
Then how are they to know?
The time for crawling’s past
Its time I stood at last

What am I waiting for?)

(And if I don’t touch them
Then how are they to heal?
It’s time I walked my faith
Those who are lost can’t wait

What am I waiting for?

You are My hands and My feet
You are My ears and My eyes
You are My light to the world
You are My sight to the blind
Tell me

What are you waiting for?
What are you waiting for?
What are you waiting for?

What are you waiting for?
“What am I waiting for?”
What are we waiting for?

YOU MIGHT BE THE ANSWER

Verse 1

You might be the answer
To someone else’s prayer
A temporary angel that God appointed there

Pre-Chorus

Just the right time
Just the right place
You become his heart and hands
And at that very moment
You become part of God’s plan

Chorus

So take the time to listen
Take the time to care
Sometimes all you really need to do
Is be there
Take the time to reach out
Bend to meet a need
You may stumble on that moment
When you can set a captive free

Verse 2

You may be the comfort
That someone needs to feel
A warm embrace of healing
A strong had at the wheel
Just the right time
Just the right place
You suddenly say something wise
At that very moment
You’re seeing through the Father’s eyes

BUY ME A TICKET

Verse

O buy me a ticket
Put me on a plane
Send me to Africa or
Send me to Spain
Baby when I get there
I’ll be so holy
You won’t even know me
All I need is a change of scene

Refrain

O it’s so hard to be holy at home
Where everybody knows
All your imperfections
And they’re well acquainted
With the times you fell
It’s so hard to be holy at home
Where everyone who knows you
Knows you’re not a saint
And those who know you best
Have seen you at your worst
It’s so hard to be holy
So please

Verse 2

Buy me a ticket
Put me on a train
Send me somewhere no one knows
How holy I ain’t
Maybe when I get there
I’ll grow into the man
That I need to be
You won’t recognize me
All I need is a change of scene
Repeat Refrain

EVERY TIME I FALL (CCLI# 7221805)

Verse

Every time I fall
Every time I wander
I still can hear you call
Speaking to me in rain and thunder
Tellin’ me about that love
That I am so unworthy of
Tellin’ me things that can’t be seen
In books or films or magazines

Verse 2

But every time I fall
Gettin’ up gets harder
I barely hear You all
Though I know You’re callin’
So much louder
Tellin’ me to take Your hand
Bridge the gap at Your command

Refrain

But it takes all my faith
Simply to stand here
And wonder why
I can’t hear

Verse 3

‘Cause now and then the world
Comes to me with whispers
Tellin’ me her lies
‘Til I believe I really miss her

Chorus

And Jesus won’t you tell me why
I’m still so weak and still so blind
Tell me why I fall behind
And why I can’t control my mind

Verse 4

‘Cause every time I fall
Gettin’ up gets harder
I barely hear You call
Though i know You’re callin’
So much louder

Refrain

Jesus please don’t leave me now
I need You more than ever now
Pick me up and show me how
To love You
To love You
To love You

I KNOW IN WHOM I BELIEVE (CCLI #7130031)
Chorus

I know in whom I believe
I know in whom I believe and
All is well with my soul
I know in whom I will trust
I know in whom I will trust and I believe
Believe with all of my soul (2X)

Verse 1

And when the world is cold and dark
And everywhere I turn
There is no shelter from the rain
No comfort for the pain
I know You have Your purpose
And the things You see
Are far beyond the things I see
You know the depths of me

Verse 2

And when my expectations fail
And everywhere I turn I find that
I’ve lost all control
Doubt runs in circles through my soul
I cling to echoes of Your words
Though in the things You say
I can’t discern You’re will at all
I’m pinning shadows to the wall still
I know in whom I believe
I know in whom I believe and (2X)
I know in whom I believe and
All is well with my soul

JERICHO (CCLI# 7221813)
Verse

Tear down these walls
Remember Jericho
You are the church
Of the living God
Tear down these walls
Or what happened to Jericho
Will happen to you
If you don’t tear down
These walls

Bridge

You build ’em so high
That you can’t see over them
Dig ’em so deep O so deep
All you have is a hole
So wide so wide
That you cannot even breathe inside
And so the Lord
Just has to tear down your walls

Refrain

The devil builds walls
But we pass him the bricks and the mortar
Raise our sons and our daughters
To build ’em the same
He knows that all walls divide
And that’s how he aims to conquer
And the church falls on its knees
And worships the walls

Refrain 2

We build a wall
Whenever we major in the minors
Time to take off the blinders
And love love
Love one another like the Bible says
Love one another like the Bible says
(You knock another brick out of that wall)
Love one another like the Bible says
(Knock knock knockin’ at that wall)

GRAVITY (CCLI# 7129040)

Verse 1

O be my gravity
Lord be the center of my universe
The moral compass that will guide me home
When I roam

Verse 2

O be my sanity
My anchor that will hold in any storm
The light of reason that will lead to truth
Back to You

Chorus

Holy holy Lord God almighty
Holy Spirit rain down with glory
Shake the pillars of the earth

Bridge

Shake my soul and shake your Church
Shake us ’til the walls fall down
Shake my heart and Shake my faith
And put my feet on holy ground

Verse 3

O be my surety
When even those I loved have turned on me
When all Your promises have come to pass
Help me stand

HARD TIME COMIN’ (CCLI# 7221814)

Verse

There’s a hard time comin’
You’d better believe it
You’d better be ready
So get your heart right right now
Know what you believe in
Live like you believe it

Bridge

‘Cause when they come for you
At the break of dawn
You’d better be ready
Better have your armor on
And when they stone you
Oh and they beat you down
Give you a choice between your freedom
And a hole in the ground
Which will you choose
Which will you choose
When your heart’s a heap of ashes
(And) they’ve taken everything from you

Mid-Section

Taken your freedom
Wrapped you in chains
They’ve taken you home
Your work your family
’til nothin’ else remains
Broken your bones
Stolen your breath
They’ve even used your words against you
‘Til you stand condemned to death
Which will you choose
Which will you choose
O Jesus laid it all out
He kept nothin’ from you
This was His promise
This was His vow
This was the price you paid to follow
Will you follow Him now

Verse 1

STAND (CCLI# 7169944)
Verse 1

I will stand – When the storm is most relentless
I will stand – Even when I’m most defenseless
I will stand – Even when my world is shaken
And when Reason bows to chaos
All around me everywhere
Still I will stand

Verse 2

I will stand – in the face of accusation
I will stand – When lies are told about me
I will stand – When those I love go on without me
When the world dissolves in violence
I will not maintain my silence
I will stand

Chorus 1

And I will stand upon – the everlasting Word
And I will trust in the ever-living God
And I will not be ashamed
But forever I’ll proclaim
The Father’s love to everyone
Through Jesus Christ who saves them
I will stand

Verse 3

I will stand – Before the congregation
I will stand – in the face of condemnation
I will stand – with the Gospel in my right hand
And my Savior by my left
Though otherwise all by myself
Still I will stand
And I will stand upon – the everlasting Word
And I will trust in the ever-living God
And I will not be ashamed
But forever I’ll proclaim
The Father’s love to everyone
Through Jesus Christ who saves them
I will stand (2X)

Verse 4

I will stand – When my prayers remain unanswered
I will stand – Though I carry wounds unhealed still
I will stand – and every time I kneel
Despite whatever I might feel
Still I will be resolved that this is where
I stand

Chorus 2

And I will stand upon – the everlasting Word
And I will trust in the ever-living God
And I will not be ashamed
But forever I’ll proclaim
The Father’s love to everyone
Through Jesus Christ who saves them
I will stand

Bridge

And I will not be ashamed
But forever I’ll proclaim
The Father’s love to everyone
Through Jesus Christ who saves them