Carrie and I recently completed writing a new song together to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.
My life has been deeply influenced by the faith, philosophy, and principles surrounding the founding of the United States. Last year, I became a U.S. citizen, so this felt like a wonderful opportunity to write a song that weaves together themes of faith, freedom, and my new allegiance.
Carrie and three of our children recently recorded the song at church. You can listen to it here:
If you’d like to purchase a copy of the score for yourself, you can find it here: https://www.cwsheetmusic.com/product-page/faith-and-freedom
The US is a unique and uniquely blessed nation in many ways. The most vital point might be this, that our rights are granted by God. The UK and a few other nations have sought to establish the idea of “the law of the land”, meaning that all are equally below the law and no one is above it. However, none have stated it so plainly and accomplished it so well as the United States.
The founding documents of the USA establish God as the Creator and detail that our rights are from Him and we are accountable to Him. While they allow for any faith or no faith, what cannot be argued is that morality and rights are indivisibly linked with the Christian faith. If that is lost, then the nation will cease to be special.
In the hymn we write that our rights are not owned, but borrowed. By that I mean that we have them for a time, but one day we will be gone from this world. In a sense, our rights are borrowed, and we must ensure they are defended and preserved for the next generation.
Finally, for the chorus to work musically I write of the rights to life, liberty, and happiness. It is vital to remember that the actual quote says we have God given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Our right to life is God-given. Our right to liberty is God-given. But happiness is not a right, but the pursuit of it is. We are not owed happiness, but our pursuit of it must never be infringed.
Much more could be said, but those were just some points I wanted to emphasize.
The lyrics include quotations and adaptations from several well-known historical documents, poems, and songs that have shaped American culture and identity.
Historical & Founding Document References
- “Undertaking all for God’s great name”
Adapted from the Mayflower Compact: “having undertaken, for the Glory of God…” - “in the course of human events”
- “We hold these truths…”
- “That all are created equal…”
- “life, liberty, happiness”
Adapted from the United States Declaration of Independence: “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” - “In God we trust”
From the official motto of the United States.
Patriotic Song & Poem References
- “from sea to shining sea”
From America the Beautiful by Katharine Lee Bates. - “huddled masses yearning to breathe free”
From The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus. - “skies so spacious”
Inspired by “for spacious skies” from America the Beautiful.
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