Dedicated to Paul Flood
Released: 12/27/89
Paul is completely unafraid to tell you the truth of the matter. His vocal talent is remarkable as well; when auditioning for the San Jose State Choraliers, Paul was asked to sing a scale starting from A below middle C. He did, and when the person running the audition didn't say anything, Paul continued from where he'd stopped and sang another octave of A major. Meanwhile, the other tenors waiting outside the door were wondering just what sort of singer was in there...
There is a bit of historical reminiscence in "The Way Things Are." Portions of the accompaniment are written in a way which appears to require three hands. This is a remembrance of Sigismund Thalberg, a contemporary of Franz Liszt. Thalberg performed a number of pieces employing the "Three-Hand Trick," where the melody is playing by the thumbs while the fingers arpeggiate to either side of the theme. While this songs isn't Romantic-period music, the trick is still here, albeit in a different form than Thalberg might have anticipated. Incidentally, the accompaniment actually is playable!
Chorus: This is the way things are, how I'm compelled,
I'm not ashamed of my Lord Christ to tell
This is the way things are, and how they'll be
From this point forward to eternity.My faith has found a place in which to rest,
That place is God, the First, the Last, the Best,
Because of my Lord Christ whom I confess,
He is my perfect source of righteousness!
He condescended to the manger birth,
And visited an undeserving earth
that could not comprehend His matchless worth,
While angel chorus sang in heavenly mirth!He came to earth a newborn babe,
He lived and died a man,
And He is risen from the grave,
He's saved me from hell as no other can!Chorus He gave His life to pay the curse's price,
He bore the cross to quell our anguished cries,
So life for life He interposed and died
to make the Church His everliving bride!
He rose the victor from a borrowed grave
to prove His sacrifice's power to save,
And they who trust Him, those who Him believe,
from Him eternal life and gifts receive!He'll come to earth a glorious King,
and rule a thousand years,
His message we will ever sing,
His truth will ring long and loud in our ears!Chorus Amen!