During the run up to Advent in 2008, I wanted to write a song suitable for Christmas. I’d had a simple idea for a line during a service and so I recorded a quick sound bite capturing the lyric and a basic melody. At my next song writing session I began work on it and decided I wanted to write something in 3/4 rather than straight 4/4.

I read quite a few of the scriptures that were familiar with Advent and took to the theme of “God with us”. This formed the chorus quite quickly and I then began to unpack it more through the verses. I worked hard and fast on this song to finish it in time to introduce it but I couldn’t get it to sit with me. The verses in its original form felt melodically and lyrically busy, but I didn’t want it to plod along like a waltz.

It wasn’t ready for Christmas. However the pressure of writing for that deadline meant that I had worked hard on it and had progressed well with it. I first introduced it a little after Christmas and discovered it was too complex as it had a key change in the chorus. I decided the key change had to go and that trying to do something different for the sake of it was too great a cost for a song that would potentially be strong and easy for a congregation to pick up.

The cutting process paid off and I ended up with a song that people got hold of quickly. The chorus worked and the verses unpacked the Triune God coming to dwell among His people. I discovered that like a dog, this song wasn’t just for Christmas, but for life!

Click here for the lyrics and chord sheet…

This song is planned to feature on Pete’s new recording in 2010.