Question:
You Were My Savior
I was alone, you were there.
Eb F GFEb Ab G F
I would weep, you always cared.
Eb F G Ab Bb C
You loved me so,
C Bb G F
You held me close,
G F G Eb
You were my Savior.
Eb F G AbGF
You held my hand, when I was scared.
Eb F G AbGF F Ab G F
You led me through, cuz no one dared.
Eb F G AbGF F Ab Bb C
You loved me so,
C Bb G F
You held me close,
G F G Eb
You were my Savior.
Eb F G AbBbC
Through the valley, I walked with you,
C C C C C Bb Ab G
Through the darkness, you followed through.
C C C C C Bb Ab G
As I surrendered, my all to you,
F G Ab Bb Eb F G F Eb
You loved me so,
F G Ab Bb
You held me close,
C Bb G F
You were my Savior.
Eb F G GFEb
You opened my eyes, when I was blind.
Eb F G Ab GFEb Eb Ab G F
You helped me believe, you’re amazingly kind.
Eb F G Ab AbGF F Ab Bb C
You loved me so,
C Bb G F
You held me close,
G F G Eb
You were my Savior.
Eb F G AbGF
You helped me receive, what I never had.
Eb F G Ab GFEb Eb Ab G F
You make me smile, whenever I’m sad.
Eb F G Ab AbGF F Ab Bb C
You loved me so,
C Bb G F
You held me close,
G F G Eb
You were my Savior.
Eb F G AbBbC
Almighty Redeemer, you saved my life.
C C DEb EbDC C F Eb D
You brought me through all this pain and strife.
C C DEb EbDC C F Eb D
You saved my soul, you rescued me whole,
C C DEb EbDC C F Eb D
You were my Savior.
C Bb Ab GFEb
You loved me so,
C Bb G F
You held me close,
G F G Eb
You were my,
EbF G GFEb
Oh, you were,
Ab G F
You are my,
EbF G AbBbCDbCBbAb
You are Savior.
C Bb Ab GFEb
Lyrics, and music by: Kate Kleindl
Answer:
Hi, Kate:
If i am guessing, this is more or less a classic piece, not sure of the timing, but i can guess. One thing i would watch are the tenses. In one line you wrote:
You made me smile, whenever I’m sad.
Here you mix a past imperfect tense with a present. No biggie, but by general rule, they should match.
Following the chords, i can tell which are the verses and which is the chorus, or refrain, but just for ease of reading, you should actually mark "chorus", or give some indicator. Again, no biggie, just a suggestion.
Ahh, the word "strife" . . . . i'm gonna stop here and do what i rarely do, get into a discussion about cliches. Your song is NOT cliched, don't get me wrong, but there is one potential line that might detract from your otherwise original lines:

Almighty Redeemer, you saved my life.
You brought me through all this pain and strife.

I am a big one for discounting cliches. I don't think cliches are a big issue, some are, in fact, very hard to avoid, but there is one rhyme that really speaks "contrivance" to me. That is putting the word "strife" after "life". I think it's because in normal conversation, "strife" is infrequently used. So when it appears, it sorta stands out. I'm no authority, it's just my own opinion, and in my own writing i use it . . . and each time i do i squirm. It tends to be quite predictable, and doesn't sound really like me. When i DO use it, it's because absolutely nothing else will work. In times past i have even dropped a verse entirely because of it. Ever have those certain words or phrases in your mind that just bug you? Strife is one for me. Maybe i should seek professional help here . . .
Here is a suggestion whenever you come across an unavoidable possible cliche: most cliches really reside in one line of two, like "love" and "above", "life" and "strife", and so on. The problem with supposed cliches is that the second line is weaker than the first, lending a feeling that the second line is there to allow the first line to exist . . . and nothing more. It becomes "cliche" due to years of overuse by other writers. It becomes predictable, and detracts from the originality of the verse, and even the whole song. It's not fair, but it's part of the human listening dynamic. The problem is the listener, usually, being almost innoculated by repetition.
So, if you find you are in a situation that you have what i call an Honest Cliche, where both lines really do convey exactly what you want . . . but you don't want the listener to tune out, try to reverse the line order. Put strife FIRST. Or whatever the supposedly cliche'd word is. This doesn't totally do away with the cliche entirely, but can lessen the potential "cliche effect". The rest of the song, provided it isn't also bedecked with predictability, will also minimise the "cliche effect". I don't get all overconsious about cliches, but it is something to consider. But please, don't get really obsessed about it like some writers seem to be. Just keep it in your arsenal of awareness.
BTW, most cliche's are generational. And, they change over the years. What was a cliche in 1920 is rarely one now, and those that are now won't be, probably, in about 20 years. Trust me. I'm an old geezer. And if we trust the Lord to speak thru His Spirit in a song, He's not evaluating cliche's.
There. I just told you everything in the world i know. There's nothing left. Empty. Except for a recipe for killer pancakes.
Back to your song:
Is this a guitar piece? I would like to hear it, and i promise i will be nice when i hear the word "strife".
-g.
Answer:
haha... ok... so i'm not cliche... i don't like being cliche.. EVERYONE writes cliche pieces, i like to be different, and actually i frequently use the word strife, i have my own lingo...
but i may consider switching the lines, it would somewhat throw it off a little, because the bridge is supposed to stand out, and grab attention with almighty redeemer, but i WILL consider it...
as for the beginning, the made me smile whenever....yadda yadda..
i fixed that once, perhaps i copied the wrong file onto here, i do that a lot.. but i'll fix that just for you!
as for the "guitar piece" question..it could go as guitar or piano, i'm actually still working on background music, but it's written in a odd key, so i am struggling with that, but it's still coming along.. it could go as a capella too... i have a melody and a harmony written.. so it could seriously work as whatever it is wanted to be played as!
but i must say, thank you for sharing with me, all that you know! i really appreciate it!
In Him,
KT
Answer:
I love it Kate! I want to hear it! If I could ever see you again I would like to hear it. I agree with the cliche thing. Another thing, and I'd have to actually hear the song before I could really say this, but I will anyway. You say this line a lot:
You loved me so,
F G Ab Bb
You held me close,
C Bb G F
You were my Savior.
Eb F G GFEb
Like a lot a lot.
But, hey, it'd be better if I heard it, I'm sure! You have a WONDERFUL way with words! Please keep it up!
Answer:
Originally Posted by joyforjesus215 I love it Kate! I want to hear it! If I could ever see you again I would like to hear it. I agree with the cliche thing. Another thing, and I'd have to actually hear the song before I could really say this, but I will anyway. You say this line a lot:
You loved me so,
F G Ab Bb
You held me close,
C Bb G F
You were my Savior.
Eb F G GFEb
Like a lot a lot.
But, hey, it'd be better if I heard it, I'm sure! You have a WONDERFUL way with words! Please keep it up!
I know.... but that's the point.. if i say it a lot, then it gets into people's heads, and that is the point of my song... that He was there, and that He helped me, He loved me and He comforted me... then near the end, it changes to present tense.... i dunno.. i just like it..
And thank you for your last comment! I love writing, I think we should get together over break!!