|
|
THINGS I PRAYED FOR
- 1998, ForeFront Records
Although this is his second recording, it is considered a debut as it is Eli's first recording for ForeFront and the first one under his stage name. Songs from this CD have done very well on Christian radio. Popular songs from this CD include "The Lumber Song," "King of the Hill," "God Weeps Too," and the title track.
THINGS I PRAYED FOR
Things I prayed for when I was young
That my father would love me like his only son,
That my mother would be patient with me
And my sister would not leave
And if my grandpa could see me beyond his grave
That he'd think his little man was so brave
That my hair would not stick up in weird places
And I'd be someone someday
CHORUS:
Years go by so easily that sometimes I forget
Years go by and make me see that there's no time for my regrets
No time for my regrets
Things I prayed for in my teens
That God would forgive all my evil deeds
That my father and my sister would come home
And that mom could meet our needs
And If my grandpa could see me beyond his grave
That he'd say a prayer for his family's sake
That my hair would stick up in weird places
And I'd be someone someday
CHORUS
Things I pray for now in my twenties
That God will still love me
That my Dad will like his new family
That I could hug my sister
that my mom could rest
That my wife would still melt every time we kiss
And if my grandpa has seen me beyond his grave
So cold and silent he has remained
That my hair would not fall out in weird places
And I'd be someone someday
CHORUS
& These are the things I prayed, that I'd be someone someday
words and music by Eli
THE LUMBER SONG
Said a friend to a friend one day,
Was a man who passed away
St. Peter met him at the gate
Pete said: "Walk with me if you will
I'll take you to the house you built"
Man said: "I can't wait!"
Passed a mansion made of stone
But with each new house he's
They get smaller by degrees
Stopped in front of a two room shack
Pete said hope you're happy with that
Man said: "How can this be?" Pete say:
CHORUS:
That's all the lumber--that's all the lumber
that's all the lumber you sent
Looks like the builder--man he's got your number
That's all the lumber you sent
Man didn't know what to say
poor guy was blown away
Said: "you mean this is what I deserve?"
Pete said: "I'm afraid it's so
It's too late but now you know
Shoulda done better work"
Said: You mean not lie and cheat
and helpin' old ladies across the street?
Pete says: Well, that's a start
Remember that man back in that great big house?
He found out early what it's all about
Built that place with his heart--as for you
CHORUS
BRIDGE:
What if that man was me
And I failed that miserably
You're showin' me things I don't wanna see
St. Peter if you can
Send me back to earth again
Is that somethin' you can do?
Pete said: It ain't up to me
If it was I'd like to see
How you plan to improve
Said: I'd love God and fellow man
Take a wife and make a stand
Be the givin'est guy I can be
And when I get back to this neighborhood
There'd be a gigantic pile of wood
I'd say: What's this I see?--You'd tell me
CHORUS 2x
words and music by Bob Halligan, Jr., Linda Halligan and Rick Cua
KING OF THE HILL
To hear a clip of this song, click HERE.
Stay with me awhile
It may seem foolish, but I'm scared
My beloved's yelling "crucify"
And its as if no one ever cared
Soldiers mock me with their songs
They laugh because I'm naked and I'm weak
Well I don't know how much longer I can go on
When every breath I take is just to weep
CHORUS 1:
And for a moment time stood still
To listen to the King of the hill
And all the angels just stood still
To listen to the King of the hill
I could have had servants
And I could have ruled this world as their King
And I could have had wealth beyond measure
I could have had anything
It wouldn't have meant anything
Not my will but Yours be done
I had no agenda, only Your truth
You were so proud to call me son
Now Father, I commit my soul to You
CHORUS 2:
And for a moment time stood still
To listen to the King of the hill
And I can hear You whisper, still
Father, I'm the King of the hill
Father, I'm the King of the hill
words and music by Eli
TIRED SHOES
Welcome to the salvage store
Last chance for damaged goods
By now you know the hype was all a lie
You see, I've been here for a while
Stacking souls in different piles
You can call me caretaker if you'd like
CHORUS 1:
Stilettos on the left side
Wingtips on my right
The rest of them fall somewhere in between
Well we all wear out with use
As our souls take such abuse
Tired shoes, can't remember what they've seen
Every size and color
designer brand or plain
Now they share each other's company
You see I try the best I can
to bring healing with these hands
A second chance before they rest in peace
CHORUS 1
BRIDGE:
As I watched the old caretaker wearing sandals made from scraps
Was clear to me I was unworthy to undo their straps
CHORUS 1
CHORUS 2:
Stilettos on the left side
Wingtips on my right
The rest of them fall somewhere in between
Well we all wear out with use
Our tongues give such abuse
Tired shoes, give your souls to Him
words by Eli, Music by Zaffiro
LETTERS
To hear a clip of this song, click HERE.
Oh time sticks to me
And it tears from my skin
So that I can't remember
Just how long it has been
Oh but in my mind I can see you
And I think of you so kind
OK, I know it was my fault
That I fell so far behind
CHORUS:
So God, take this prayer I send to you
And I hope it finds you well
As for me, I'm all right
As far as I can tell as far as I can tell
With my unwritten letters
So I stopped writing letters
In fear of what you would say
But I know it's not forgiveness
If it's only for one day
Turn the lights down please so I can sleep
On my pillow wet with tears
While the clock on the mantle
Is pushing forward with my fears
CHORUS 2x
words and music by Eli, Music by Zaffiro
MORNING HAS BROKEN
Morning has broken
Like the first Morning
Blackbird has spoken
Like the first bird
Praise for the singing
Praise for the morning
Praise for them springing
Fresh from the word
Sweet the rains new fall
Sunlit from heaven
Like the first dew fall
On the first grass
Praise for the sweetness
Of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness
Where his feet pass
Mine is the sunlight
Mine is the morning
Born of the one light
Eden saw play
Praise with elation
Praise every morning
God's recreation
Of the new day
Morning has broken
Like the first Morning
Blackbird has spoken
Like the first bird
Praise for the singing
Praise for the morning
Praise for them springing
Fresh from the word
words by Eleanor Farjeon, Musical arrangement by Cat Stevens
CAPTAIN
Captain my captain
Looks like we're going down
We've been overcome by the waves
Captain my Captain
We're all gonna drown
Its to much for us to be saved
For ten long years I have served You well
Now I'm begging You to make the water stand still
Captain my Captain I'm going down (2X)
Cause in my eyes
I can see no way
It's my final plea You must hear
The oceans turned ugly
And we've gone astray
Oh my Captain the worst I fear
Stand there then and make no sound
Oh why should You care if we're all gonna drown
Captain my Captain I'm going down (2X)
Though You've always led me to solid ground
But on the way I still question if You'd let me drown
words and music by Eli
SPARROW
Perched upon a mighty cliff
That overlooks the waves
No sound of building houses
Or roads that must be paved
I never really thought about it
Until the other day
Storm rolled in and I watched a sparrow just up and fly away
CHORUS:
And if I were a sparrow
I'd fly high enough to see
beyond my circumstances
To a place God has for me
Release me to another place
No human eye can see
My spirit cries for lullaby's
My Savior's love complete
The sun is whispering in the sky
And for a while I'll stare
Waiting for another day
Of gliding through the air
CHORUS
Though I'll never fly with sparrows wings, still I know He watches me
words and music by Eli, Music by Zaffiro
RIGHTEOUS BEGGARS
Same old you, same old me
And I haven't slept in forty days, and I haven't slept in forty days
Trying to remember the difference between right and wrong
Remind me...
CHORUS:
We're here at the master's table
Begging for something to eat
The wicked have taken our place
And they've left us to starve at their feet
Righteous beggars to starve
Same old place, standing at the same old place
And I haven't prayed in forty days, and I haven't prayed in forty days
Still waiting for the last message left on your machine
Please get back to me
CHORUS
words and music by Eli
GOD WEEPS TOO
To hear a special mix of this song (God Weeps Too - News From Kosovo Mix), click HERE.
This is for the man who never learned to read or write
He worked two jobs instead of going to school
I know it hurt you as a child, please remember all the while
That God weeps to
This is for the widow who now must sleep alone
When the memory of a kiss will have to do
Every night when she lays down you can almost hear the sound
When God weeps too
CHORUS:
God weeps too, God weeps too
Though we question Him for all that we go through
Still it helps me believe and my pain it does relieve
Just to think that God weeps too
For every survivor of the wickedness of man
Whether your a black man or a Jew
Some people kill in Jesus name
He is not the one to blame
Cause even God weeps too
CHORUS
words and music by Eli, music by Meserole