“The Servant Song”

The other day, I was talking to my friend Vivian, who is engaged to be married. She asked me if I would plan and play the music for the wedding ceremony, and I said yes, delighted. One of the songs she remembered wanting to include was “The Servant Song.”

The first time Vivian and I heard this song, we were at a taize service in a cathedral at night in Chicago. It was very beautiful. Vivian said then that it was the perfect wedding song.

Last night, just a day or two after this conversation with Vivian, I heard the song again, this time at the Maundy Thursday service at my church, Church of the Savior. As with many songs, the lyrics are simple poetry. The melody makes the song so lovely.

“The Servant Song”

Brother, sister let me serve you.
Let me be as Christ to you.
Pray that I might have the grace
To let you be my servant, too.

We are pilgrims on a journey.
We are brothers on the road.
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ-light for you
In the night time of your fear.
I will hold my hand out to you;
Speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping.
When you laugh, I’ll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow
Till we’ve seen this journey through.

When we sing to God in heaven,
We shall find such harmony
Born of all we’ve known together
Of Christ’s love and agony.

Brother, sister let me serve you.
Let me be as Christ to you.
Pray that I might have the grace
To let you be my servant, too.

Richard Gillard of New Zealand
1976-77

To listen the Richard Gillard sing his song with a guitar accompaniment, click here: The Servant Song (on YouTube)

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