Independence Songs 2017

A Collection of Great Songs for Churches Independence Celebration.

(Some songs have been adapted)

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GIVE THANKS AND PRAISES

By Roy Rayon

SWEET JAMAICA

By Eric Donaldson

Give thanks and praises We are 55 Though the road was rocky and the hills were steep Still we survive We put we faith and trust in the Father Who’s keeping us alive So give thanks and praises We are 55.

Sweet Jamaica is now on the move Help me with my song and mek di people dem come sing along Puddung yuh cutlass, yuh gun and yuh hoe Take up yuh Bible den people let us go Call up the youth man and then let us show Sweet Jamaica God want yuh fi know Chorus If dem dread locks run dem mek dem come If dem a bald head run dem mek dem come If dem a screw face run dem mek dem come In a de church wi fi run dem mek dem come

How good and pleasant it is That we can live in harmony That all races colour and creed Can live in peace and unity Jamaica our homeland Given from our Father’s hand Him we give the glory And praise continuously

Rain a fall but di dutty tough Pull up yuh sleeve man nuh tell me bout nuh hard work Come on son, just leave daddy Lef di man come dig grung with me Today we sow, tomorrow we reap Den everything will be sweet, sweet, sweet Corn and yam bananas too and our livestock won't be few

Give thanks and praises We are 55 Though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death Still we survive With our hands in the hand of the Father Our country will survive So give thanks and praises We are 55

Chorus Run Ms. Milly don't act silly Go call you son, the one name Willy We want to work a little faster We gonna praise God little a bit harder Black, green, gold and high boots too Don't worry granny I've got one for you Grandpa Joseph still run come Here is high boot go have some fun Dis yah hard life won’t last us long Let's praise God for the work is done

So put you han’ inna de air an’ praise him For we pretty little island praise him For the love in the nation praise him Let all the people praise him Praise him Praise him Wheel!”

If dem a dread locks run dem mek dem come If dem a bald head run dem mek dem come If dem a screw face run dem mek dem come In a de church, we fi run dem mek dem come

2

I AM DREAMING OF A NEW JAMAICA

By Stanley and the Starlights

I AM A BORN JAMAICAN

By The Astronauts

I'm dreaming of a new Jamaica; a land of peace and love.

Some say they see no hope, that's why they leave this land.

I know there’s hope somewhere, that's why I wrote this song so all who believe in love, come sing this song with me ... so all who believe in love, come sing this song with me ...

I'm a born Jamaican; I'm a son of the soil.

I love the sea, I love the sand, Lord I love the sun.

No matter where I roam, Jamaica is my home.

I love people, coconut water and the sun ...

I hear some people say They are going away But if I even leave I won’t be going away stay

Chorus lah, lah lah lah laaah laaah laaah, lah lah lah lah laah. lah, lah lah lah laaah laaah laaah, lah lah lah lah laah. lah, lah lah lah laaah laaah laaah, lah lah lah lah laaaaaah.

I'm a born Jamaican; I'm a son of the soil.

I love the sea, I love the sand, Lord I love the sun.

No matter where I roam, Jamaica is my home.

I love people, coconut water and the sun ...

I hear some people say They are going away But if I even leave I won’t be going away stay

My children all have gone And leaving me behind I know there is hope somewhere That's why I wrote this song So let me tell you, all who believe in love I say to sing this song with me Everybody say, all who believe in love I say to sing this song with me

I'm a born Jamaican; I'm a son of the soil.

I love the sea, I love the sand, Lord I love the sun.

No matter where I roam, Jamaica is my home.

I love people, coconut water and the sun ...

Chorus I know we can build this land By working hand in hand Come mek we show the world By, working hand in hand So let me tell you, all who believe in love I say to sing this song with me Everybody say, all who believe in love I say to sing this song with me Chorus 3

THIS IS THE LAND OF MY BIRTH

By Eric Donaldson

LORD GIVE ME STRENGTH

By Luciano

This is the land of my birth I say this is the land of my birth I say this is Jamaica My Jamaica, the land of my birth

Lord give me strength, to face another day.

Carry on life's road, carry all my load.

Give me strength, oh God to carry on, oh my Lord.

Oh, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, Please hear me when I plead.

All help already pass and, all help for years to come, Without who am I could not be, yeah.

Many are trying to leave, you outta their lives, But I wouldn't be so unwise.

And so I promise to serve thee, oh my Lord, And I beg thee some mercy.

I will never leave her shores I will never run away I will always believe In the black, the green, the gold I say All nations greater for their trials We must face the test of time And our people they are strong And we going to get along Though some people say we are poor But the progress you make my friend Is not always how rich you are

Chorus Lord, give me strength to face another day.

To journey along life's road, to carry my heavy load.

Give me strength, oh God, to carry on, oh my Lord, yeah.

This is the land of my birth I say this is the land of my birth I say this is Jamaica My Jamaica, the land of my birth

Life has become a burden, living in this evil system, Oh God, please strengthen me.

I cannot make it along, I need you as my own, Oh God, I call on thee, yeah.

Some are trying to leave, you out of their lives, But I wouldn't be so unwise.

And so I promise to serve thee with all my all, And I beg thee some mercy.

JAMAICA LAND WE LOVE Singer Jay We love thee Jamaica We love thee Jamaica Man we love our born land Me born and me grow in Jamaica island Mi affi know something bout mi own island The national dish - ackee and saltfish The national flowers - lignum viti The national bird is the humming bird But some people call it the doctor bird

Chorus Say, give me strength oh God to carry on, And do thy Holy Work, whoo, yeah, yeah.

Give me strength that I can make my stand, Above the sinking sand, ah, oh, yeah.

The national tree is the Blue Mahoe The national colours – black, green and gold

Many are trying to leave, you outta their lives, But I wouldn't be so unwise.

And so I promise to serve thee with all my all, And I'm begging thee mercy.

So Jamaica, yes Jamaica, Jamaica Land we Love Jamaica, yes Jamaica, Jamaica Land we Love Jamaica, yes Jamaica, Jamaica Land we Love Jamaica, yes Jamaica, Jamaica Land we Love

Chorus

4

THANK YOU LORD

By Bob Marley

ONE LOVE

Thank you, Lord, for what you've done for me.

Thank you, Lord, for what you're doing now.

Thank you, Lord, for ev'ry little thing.

Thank you, Lord, for you made me sing.

One love, one heart Let's get together and feel all right Hear the children crying (One love) Hear the children crying (One heart) Sayin', "Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right."

Sayin', "Let's get together and feel all right."

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa

By Bob Marley

Say I'm in no competition, But I made my decision.

You can keep your opinion.

I'm just calling for God’s Holy Communion.

Chorus

Let them all pass all their dirty remarks (One love) There is one question I'd really love to ask (One heart) Is there a place for the hopeless sinner Who has hurt all mankind just to save his own?

Believe me

Thank you, Lord, for what you've done for me.

Thank you, Lord, for what you're doing now.

Thank you, Lord, for ev'ry little thing.

Thank you, Lord, for you made me sing.

Sing along, sing along.

One love, (What about the one heart) One heart, (What aboout love) Let's get together and feel all right As it was in the beginning (One love) So shall it be in the end (One heart) Alright, "Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right."

Sayin', "Let's get together and feel all right."

One more thing

I don't fear their oppression, Just to prove my determination.

I don't yield to temptation, I have learnt my lesson in God’s Revelation.

Thank you, Lord, for what you've done for me.

Thank you, Lord, for what you're doing now.

Thank you, Lord, for ev'ry little thing.

Thank you, Lord, for you made me sing.

Let's get together to fight this Holy Armageddon (One love) So when the Man comes there will be no, no doom (One song) Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner There ain't no hiding place from the Father of Creation

Sing along, sing along.

Say I'm in no competition But I made my decision, Lord, in my simple way.

Comin', comin', comin', comin'.

I love to pray.

Sayin', "One love, one heart Let's get together and feel all right."

I'm pleading to mankind (One love) Oh, Lord (One heart) Whoa.

"Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right."

Sayin', Let's get together and feel all right.

"Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right."

Let's get together and feel all right.

Chorus

5

TRY GOD’S LOVE Third World Sung as Try Jah’s Love

Then He said, "Be not afraid Those who believe I will save"

A lonely soul, was I without direction I didn't know which way that I had to go I sought the clues, to life's unanswered questions My mind's heart had to know

And if you're thirsty, I will quench you - with my love And if you're hungry, I will feed you - with my word And all I ask of you is that you love, as I do..

I heard you call While wandering through the darkness I'd walk a million miles to find that endless voice That speaks to me when I am in temptation Echoing my choice..

And if you lose your way, I'll lead you - to my love From a sinful life I'll cleanse you - in my love For creation bears a witness, of my love..

Then He said, "Seek ye shall find I've been with you through all time" And if you're thirsty, I will quench you - with my love And if you're hungry, I will feed you - with my word And all I ask of you is that you love, as I do..

I know that You should know it's time for the world to (try God’s love) The only love that can bring peace is (try God’s love) So won't you try, try, try, try, try Try God’s love.. looove!

And if you lose your way, I'll lead you - to my love From a sinful life I'll cleanse you - in my love For creation bears a witness, of my love..

I know that Without it there'd be no tomorrow (try God’s love) Who lifts broken hearts up from sorrow (try God’s love) So won't you try, try, try, try, try Try God’s love.. looove!

You know that You should know it's time for the world to (try God’s love) The only love that can bring peace is (try God’s love) So won't you try, try, try, try, try Try God’s love.. looove!

I wonder When will the world wake up and start to (try God’s love) People have to make up their mind to (try God’s love) So won't you try, try, try, try, try Try God’s love.. love!

A timeless thought, a touch of close encounter Your love embraced me and took over my life And now I'm new, your strength has made me Change my ways from wrong to right Please Father please, this world we live has faltered Deliver us from all this evil and pain God bless the heart, that loves unto his brother Praising out Your name..

6

GIVE THANKS AND PRAISES

By Bob Marley

BOOK RULES

By The Heptones

Give thanks and praises to the Most-I Give thanks and praises so high He will not deceive us my brethren He will only lead us again Oh, take that veil from off of your eyes Look into the future and realize

Isn't it strange how princesses and kings In clown-ragged capers in sawdust rings Just while common people like you and me We'll be builders for eternity Each is given a bag of tools A shapeless mass.. and the book of rules

Noah had three sons, Ham, Shem and Japhet (Ham, Shem and Japhet) And in through them we get the prophets.

Glory to God, the Messiah is come (through all these ages) Glory to God, the Messiah has come (through all these stages) When my soul was hurtin' deep within And I'm worrying to be free, desperately, yeah So guide and protect all of us, O’ I Am Through all these ages Guide and protect all of us, O’ I Am Through all these stages

Each must make his life as flowing in Tumbling block on a stepping stone Just while common people like you and me We'll be builders for eternity Each is given a bag of tools A shapeless mass.. and the book of rules Pow wa pow pow, pow wa pa pa pow pow Wa pa pa pow pow, wa pow pa pow pow pow Pow wa pow pow, pow wa pa pa pow pow Wa pa pa pow pow, wa pow pa pow pow pow I say, common people like you and me We'll be builders for eternity Each is given a bag of tools A shapeless mass.. and the book of rules

Jesus Christ is his Name (Jah!) Jesus Christ is his Name (Jah!).

If God didn't love I If God didn't love I If God didn't love I If God didn't love I Would I be around today?

Would I be around to say:

Look when the rain has fallen from the sky I know the sun will be only missing for a while I say, common people like you and me We'll be builders for eternity Each is given a bag of tools A shapeless mass.. and the book of rules

Give thanks and praises, give thanks and praises; Give thanks and praises, give thanks and praises; Give thanks and praises, give thanks and praises.

Pow wa pow pow, pow wa pa pa pow pow Wa pa pa pow pow, wa pow pa pow pow pow

7

Jah is my guide From the pestilence of darkness So whom shall I fear He is my guide from the vampires of hell So whom shall I be afraid Jah is my keeper

JAH IS MY KEEPER

By Peter Tosh Sung as God is My Keeper also (King of Kings, hallelujah) (Lord of Lords, hallelujah) (King of Kings, hallelujah) (Lord of Lords, hallelujah)

Jah is my health and my strength So whom shall I fear He is a shield upon my right and my left hand So whom shall I be afraid Jah is my keeper

In the beginning was the Word And the Word was with Jah And the Word was Jah In the beginning Jah created the heaven and the earth Then he created man of his own likeness and image Gave unto man wisdom, knowledge, overstanding

THE LORD’S PRAYER (Sarafina Style)

Jah is my life and my strength So whom shall I fear He is a shield upon my right and my left hand Jah is my keeper

Hallowed be thy name Our father, which art in, Which art in, which art in Heaven Give us this day our daily bread Thy will be done as it is done in Heaven Hallowed be thy name

Jah is my light and my salvation So whom shall I fear He is my guide throughout this Creation So whom shall I be afraid Jah is my keeper

Our father (Our father) which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy name Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven

Jah is my guide In my resting and my rising So whom shall I fear He is my guide when I step out and forward So whom shall I be afraid Jah is my keeper

Our father which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy name Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven Our father which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy name Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven

Jah is my guide When Philistines come down upon I So whom shall I fear He is my guide when my enemies come to devour I So whom shall I be afraid Jah is my keeper

For thine is thy kingdom The power and the glory For ever and ever amen For thine is thy kingdom The power and the glory Oooooh Aaaaaaay Aaaay Amen

Songs adapted by Allison Hall Member, Greater Portmore Baptist Church

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