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Series Code: YCWS
Program Code: YCWS200006S
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00:19 Hello and welcome back to another edition
00:21 of You Can Write A Song. 00:24 I'm so excited to take on this particular program today 00:28 because there's going to be so much insight 00:30 that Mr. Lanny Wolfe is going to share with you again, 00:33 I'm your host, Ryan Day. 00:34 And we have the gospel great songwriter with us 00:38 Lanny Wolfe. 00:40 And, Lanny, I've to just, I have to say, Brother, 00:41 your music and your music ministry, 00:43 your songs have been such an inspiration 00:45 to me over the years. 00:46 In fact, I have to admit, 00:48 I'm one of those that oftentimes have found 00:49 one of those songs that was written by Lanny Wolfe, 00:51 didn't realize it and think, "I wonder who wrote this song." 00:54 Ended up googling it, looking it up and finding, 00:56 of course, it's a Lanny Wolfe song. 00:59 But today on You Can Write A Song, 01:01 you're going to be taking us through another element, 01:04 another major aspect of songwriting 01:07 that has greatly affected your songwriting over the years. 01:10 Give us a little insight on that? 01:11 Yeah, basically, I'm talking about inspiration. 01:14 Inspiration is where it all starts, 01:15 without inspiration nothing goes beyond that. 01:18 And so I'm really excited to share 01:20 with the viewers today, 01:22 inspiration that has spun into wonderful songs 01:27 that God has given me that have been a blessing over the years. 01:31 And folks like you have sung them so well. 01:33 Oh, well, thank you so much. 01:35 It's always a blessing to get to listen to you, 01:38 to glean from you all the wisdom you have to share. 01:40 Again, we encourage you to stick with us, 01:42 don't go anywhere. 01:44 We're going to come back in just a moment to get started 01:45 with Mr. and Brother Lanny Wolfe, 01:47 on how You Can Write A Song. 01:55 Today I'd like to talk to you about the inspiration triangle, 01:59 not Bermuda Triangle, the inspiration triangle. 02:02 Inspiration by definition is the process 02:05 of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something 02:09 especially creative. 02:11 The inspiration triangle has three points. 02:13 The first one is being at the right place, 02:17 at the right time, with the right frame of mind. 02:21 The occasion was a church dedication in Columbia, 02:24 Mississippi, the Lanny Wolfe Trio 02:26 was the featured singing group at this event. 02:28 The sanctuary was new, it was beautiful. 02:31 You could smell the fresh paint. 02:33 The politicians and church officials were all in place. 02:36 The pews were all full. 02:38 So as different speakers were taking their turn, 02:41 out of nowhere God dropped some lyrics into my spirit, 02:45 along with the melody. 02:46 I hurriedly scribbled the lyrics down 02:48 on a service program I was holding, 02:51 didn't have time to go to keyboard 02:52 elsewhere in the building, and work out a progression, 02:56 or even sing the tune out loud. 02:57 Even so, when the master ceremonies called on the trio, 03:01 I went to the pulpit 03:03 and started singing this new chorus, 03:05 teaching it to the other two members of the trio, 03:08 the musicians and the congregation 03:10 all at the same time. 03:12 Since that day, this song has been sung 03:14 around the world in praise and worship services, 03:17 church dedications, baby dedications, 03:20 weddings, funerals. 03:22 Take a listen. 03:23 Surely the presence 03:28 Of the Lord 03:31 Is in this place 03:34 I can feel His mighty power 03:39 And His grace 03:45 I can hear the brush of angels' wing 03:50 I see glory on each face 03:57 Surely the presence 04:01 Of the Lord 04:04 Is in this place Yes, 04:07 I was in the right place at the right time, 04:11 But also had to be in the right frame of mind 04:14 that was receptive to hearing God's voice. 04:18 I would not have routinely stopped at this gas station. 04:21 But I was very close to empty so on impulse, 04:24 decided to stop and fill up. 04:26 You couldn't pay at the pump, so I went inside. 04:29 As I handed my credit card to the clerk, 04:32 I couldn't help but see a worn looking page 04:35 from a tabloid paper with Selena's picture on it. 04:39 And the inscription, "Selena we remember." 04:43 The words we remember leaped off the picture into my spirit. 04:48 So I walked out of the store 04:51 and immediately started singing, 04:53 Lord, we remember you, 04:55 and the words just started pouring out. 04:58 By the time I had gotten home, 05:00 I had written the entire chorus of Lord we remember you. 05:06 Lord, we remember you. 05:08 We remember your suffering and shame. 05:11 Lord, we remember 05:12 You, You're dying will not be in vain. 05:15 We drink of the cup and partake of the bread, 05:17 remembering your body and the blood that You shed. 05:21 You said do this in remembrance of me, 05:23 and Lord, we remember You. 05:26 So after I had written the verses to the song, 05:29 I made a special trip back to the gas station. 05:32 And I asked if there would be any way 05:34 that I could have that picture of Selena that was on the wall, 05:37 because now it was very special to me. 05:41 Without hesitation, the clerk said, "Sure, 05:45 if you'll just bring us something 05:46 to put up in its place. 05:48 We only put it over there to cover up a hole in the wall." 05:52 Wow. 05:54 Remember, Lord we remember you is a constant reminder 05:57 to me that so many songs are written by being 06:00 at the right place at the right time 06:03 with the right frame of mind. 06:05 Even though I was at the right place, 06:07 and the right time, I could have been in a hurry, 06:11 gave my credit card hurriedly to the clerk 06:13 and never really looked at what God really wanted me 06:17 to see that day, and to get more than a tank 06:20 of gas from this filling station. 06:23 The second point of inspiration triangle 06:26 is what I call something old, something new. 06:29 I'm referring to great music from the past 06:32 that begs to have gospel lyrics put to it. 06:35 At age 23, with a very limited classical piano background, 06:40 I auditioned to be accepted 06:41 into San Jose State University's School of Music. 06:45 I'll never forget it. I was so nervous. 06:48 I was 23. 06:49 During my audition, that both of my legs 06:51 were shaking uncontrollably in my pants. 06:55 Even so by God's help, thank God, I was accepted. 06:59 One of the pieces in my piano repertoire 07:02 was composed by Beethoven in 1801. 07:05 It's the middle movement from his Path,tique Sonata, 07:08 Number 8, Opus 13. 07:13 I fell in love with this beautiful melody 07:15 while working on this music degree. 07:18 And then some 20 years later, 07:20 God prompted me to put the lyrics on paper 07:24 that would fit this classical masterpiece. 07:27 Because I was attempting to marry my lyrics 07:30 with such great music 07:31 from one of the greatest composers of all times. 07:35 I was very careful 07:36 to write very lofty noble religious phrases. 07:40 Praise the Lord 07:45 From whom all blessings flow 07:52 For He has washed 07:58 And made me white 08:03 as snow 08:06 I'm redeemed 08:12 From all my sin and shame 08:19 For now 08:22 and forever 08:27 Praise His holy name 08:33 And the Lanny Wolfe chorus, praise His holy name, 08:37 praise His holy name, 08:40 to God be the glory now and forever, 08:45 praise His holy name. 08:48 In the last several years, 08:50 I couldn't resist putting gospel lyrics 08:52 to one of the most well-known melodies in the world 08:55 from Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Ode to Joy. 08:58 I wrote two sets of lyrics to fit over this famous melody, 09:02 and added a Lanny Wolfe chorus in a vamp section. 09:05 Take a listen. 09:06 Holy, Holy, God Almighty 09:11 Spotless Lamb for sinners slain Worthy, 09:17 worthy, thou at worthy Lord 09:21 we praise Your Holy name 09:25 We adore You, bow before You 09:30 Let all of heaven and earth proclaim 09:34 You alone deserve the glory Lord, 09:40 we praise Your Holy name 09:47 I love that. 09:48 A final example of something old, 09:50 something new is the Lanny Wolfe song to Christ alone. 09:55 A few years back, 09:56 I heard an orchestra play a composition 09:58 I'd never heard before. 10:00 I immediately fell in love with the melody. 10:03 With some research, I found out that this tune came 10:05 from an old 17th century Scottish folk tune, 10:10 O Waly Waly. 10:11 I couldn't get the tune out of my head or heart 10:15 and God gave me gospel words. 10:22 For all the world 10:27 He was crucified 10:32 Yet for me alone 10:37 Christ would have died 10:42 No greater love 10:47 Has ever been known 10:52 I'll give my praise 10:57 To Christ alone 11:02 What a great medley, what a great melody 11:04 and I enjoyed so much putting words to it. 11:08 The third point of the inspiration triangle 11:10 is what I call, no pain, no gain. 11:14 One of the most cherished hymns of the church, it is well, 11:17 was written in 1873 from an inkwell of pain 11:20 at the moment Horatio Spafford was overcome with grief 11:24 when his ship from America to England 11:26 came to the same place where his four daughters, 11:30 who were sailing on a ship ahead of him drown. 11:33 Overcome with unspeakable sorrow, 11:36 Horatio bent over the ship's railing and wrote, 11:39 "When peace like a river attendeth my way, 11:43 when sorrows like sea billows roll, 11:45 whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, 11:49 it is well, it is well with my soul." 11:53 I would have to say that many songs God has given me 11:57 have also been born out of pain, 11:59 sorrow or discouragement. 12:02 I was preaching a sermon during a midweek service 12:05 at a Bible College in St. Louis, Missouri. 12:08 It was mandatory that the students attend 12:11 unless they had to work. 12:13 The chapel was right above the dining hall, 12:15 and the normal routine for Wednesday evening 12:17 was that the students would go downstairs 12:20 to the dining hall after the chapel service was over 12:24 for hamburgers and fries. 12:26 So at the end of my sermon, 12:29 I asked the students to come to the altar 12:31 and pray and recommit their lives. 12:34 So, they came, but they did a patty cake token prayer, 12:40 and quickly made their way to the dining hall. 12:44 I was so discouraged, I was crushed, 12:47 because I had preached my heart out, 12:49 and I felt the students didn't get 12:51 what I wanted them to get for my sermon. 12:54 So there in an empty chapel, I found myself on the floor, 13:00 under the nine foot grand piano. 13:02 It was there that I wrote the chorus, 13:05 To Whatever it Takes. 13:07 And whatever it takes 13:12 To draw closer to You, Lord 13:17 That's what I'll be willing 13:22 To do 13:26 And whatever it takes to be 13:32 More like You 13:36 That's what I'll be willing 13:41 To do 13:44 The right place at the right time, 13:47 and with the right frame of mind. 13:48 I now realize that had the students stayed 13:51 at the altar longer, making me feel 13:55 that they had gotten my sermon, 13:57 then the world would never have gotten my song. 14:00 So in hard times, or times of pain, 14:03 or sorrow, don't be quick to blame the devil. 14:06 It just might be that God is up to something in our lives 14:10 that can only be born out of our grief or pain. 14:14 On one of our tours as our team was setting up equipment 14:18 for an evening concert in Chesapeake, Virginia. 14:21 I realized that I wasn't feeling well. 14:23 I told the group 14:24 that we wouldn't plan on going out to eat after the concert 14:27 because I sure didn't feel up to it. 14:30 And I didn't really feel like singing 14:32 that evening or ministering. 14:33 But as the trio started singing, 14:37 I got so engrossed in ministering to the crowd 14:41 that I forgot about my physical condition. 14:43 And then at the end of the concert, 14:46 it dawned on me that God had actually touched me 14:49 during the concert, 14:51 and I was feeling great and hungry. 14:54 It was at that moment that God gave me the chorus to 14:58 A Brand New Touch. Listen. 15:00 Lord, You know I need a brand new touch 15:06 My strength from yesterday is gone 15:13 But if you'll give me Lord another touch 15:19 I'll have the strength to carry on 15:25 In retrospect, I realize that God didn't just give 15:29 this song to me, for me, 15:32 but also for the countless number of folks 15:35 who have testified as to how much this song 15:38 has meant to them, 15:39 and how it has helped them make it through one more day. 15:43 For much of my life, 15:44 I've had to deal with a physical condition 15:46 called cellulitis, which would from time to time 15:50 attack my ankles. 15:52 So in case you didn't know, 15:54 cellulitis is an infection of the deeper layers 15:57 of the skin. 15:58 And if it's not treated promptly, 16:00 it can spread through the body quickly, 16:02 and it can be life threatening. 16:04 So case in point on a 50 voice college crowd tour 16:08 some years back at a church in Cincinnati, Ohio, 16:12 due to a flare up of cellulitis in one of my ankles, 16:15 I was in extreme pain through the entire service. 16:18 As soon as the concert ended, 16:20 the pastor rushed me to the nearest emergency room, 16:23 where doctors admitted me as a patient, 16:26 and I was wheeled to a hospital room. 16:29 It was in that room 16:30 that a nurse was taking my blood 16:33 that I had what I call a moment of truth, 16:36 as I realized the vital importance 16:40 of this substance called blood. 16:43 Without blood carrying oxygen to all the tissues of the body, 16:47 none of the other components of the body can function. 16:51 I had a spiritual moment realizing 16:53 that the blood of Jesus Christ was not just like 16:57 the blood that the nurse was drawing from my arm. 17:01 His blood, it was precious blood. 17:04 It was blood from a spotless Lamb 17:06 that purchased my redemption. 17:09 It was at this very moment in that hospital room 17:12 that God gave me this song, Precious Blood. 17:16 For His blood was not just blood 17:21 Of another spotless lamb 17:26 But His blood was precious blood 17:32 For it washed the sins of man 17:37 And His blood, it healed my body 17:43 And it set my spirit free 17:48 I'm so glad 17:51 His precious blood Still flows 17:55 From Calvary 18:01 And I realized that 18:03 if I had not had a cellulitis attack in Cincinnati 18:07 that evening, 18:08 this song would never have been born. 18:12 So, no pain, no gain. 18:15 It was another time and place, 18:17 this time at a hospital in Jackson, Mississippi, 18:21 for the same thorn in my flesh, cellulitis. 18:25 I was in the hospital for a week stay. 18:28 And I was very honestly feeling sorry for myself 18:31 until interns came in for the other patients 18:34 sharing my room. 18:37 And as they were wheeling him out, 18:39 I noticed that he had no feet. 18:44 Till then I'd felt sorry for myself 18:47 and was counting on leaving the hospital in a day or two 18:51 walking out on two good feet. 18:53 It was at that moment that I wrote this song. 18:57 In everything 19:03 Give Him thanks 19:07 Give Him thanks 19:11 In everything 19:17 Give Him thanks 19:24 In the good times 19:27 Praise His name 19:31 In the bad times do the same 19:38 In everything 19:41 Give the King of kings 19:45 All the thanks 19:51 The gain of this song 19:53 would never have been written without the pain 19:56 of a week's hospital stay. 19:58 Although we normally associate the word pain 20:01 with physical discomfort, it can also be emotional, 20:05 take various forms, including depression and rejection. 20:09 For example, I went to my publishing company 20:12 with enough songs for two second coming musicals. 20:15 They quickly dismissed my proposal, 20:18 saying churches wouldn't buy 20:19 a second coming musical project. 20:22 But most churches do Christmas musicals, 20:24 so let's do that. 20:26 At that point, the president of the company said, 20:29 "Lanny, why don't you write a song about Isaiah 9:6?" 20:34 Even though I went away from that meeting feeling 20:37 very discouraged that my idea had been so quickly shot down, 20:41 I went home, wrote a song based on Isaiah 9:6. 20:46 So my trio started singing the song 20:48 and we actually were very pleased 20:50 with how congregations were responding to it. 20:52 So I brought it back to a subsequent committee meeting. 20:57 The CEO who had assigned this song wasn't impressed. 21:02 His response was, 21:03 "Lanny, I don't think we should put it in the musical 21:07 and furthermore, Lanny, you can write a better song." 21:11 Talk about being shot down. 21:13 I felt very defeated. 21:15 Nonetheless, I begged, 21:17 bartered, pleaded until he finally gave in. 21:21 Orchestrator Don Mars did a first arrangement 21:24 that the CEO didn't like either. 21:26 He told Don to tear it up and start over. 21:29 At that point, I suggested we do a choral arrangement 21:31 that would feature a duet. 21:33 So Don did. 21:34 His next arrangement finally got the CEO's approval. 21:38 When the song was mixed down, 21:40 the Benson Company was blown away by what they felt 21:44 and immediately sent out fortifies, 21:46 remember those, to radio stations, 21:49 the rest is history. 21:50 In February of '84, Sandi Patti and Larnelle Harris 21:54 got Grammys for their performance 21:56 of More than Wonderful. 21:58 In April of '84, the song got Gospel Music Association 22:03 song of the year and I received a double award 22:06 for Songwriter of the Year. 22:08 For He's more 22:13 Wonderful Than my mind 22:17 Can conceive He's more wonderful 22:22 Than my heart can believe 22:25 He goes beyond 22:28 My highest hopes 22:31 And fondest 22:33 dreams 22:38 He's everything He's everything 22:41 That my soul Ever longed for Everything 22:47 He's promised And so much more 22:50 More than amazing 22:54 More than marvelous 22:57 More than miraculous 23:01 Could ever be 23:03 He's more than wonderful 23:07 That's what Jesus 23:09 Is to me 23:17 Lessons to be learned, 23:19 not just in your songwriting, 23:21 but every aspect of your life. 23:23 Don't get discouraged when things don't go your way. 23:26 God may have a better way. 23:29 If I would have gotten my way, 23:31 and we would have done a second coming musical, 23:34 the song, More than Wonderful would never have been assigned 23:37 and consequently, never written. 23:39 So thanks, Bob McKenzie, 23:41 for turning down my second coming musical proposal. 23:44 Secondly, believe in what you do what God gives to you. 23:49 If I hadn't believed in the song 23:51 that got passed through my pain, 23:53 it could have been aborted by the same person 23:56 who had assigned it. 23:57 Even though I wrote what became Song of the Year, 24:01 had it never been given the chance 24:03 to be included in my second Christmas musical, 24:06 it would never have been heard on radio stations. 24:09 It would never have had a Sandi Larnelle duet 24:11 that propelled it to number one on the gospel radio charts, 24:15 and it would never have had the worldwide exposure 24:18 that it received. 24:19 Oh, and by the way, 24:22 I've written six more Christmas musicals past the one 24:25 that more than wonderful was in 24:27 and every single one of them ends with a second coming song. 24:33 That's God's plan. 24:34 To summarize, I would like to remind you 24:37 that inspiration for song ideas are everywhere. 24:40 You just never know 24:42 when something will cross your path 24:44 that could prompt a lightbulb moment. 24:46 Always make sure you're in God's right place 24:49 at the right time. 24:50 And always, most importantly, with the right frame of mind. 24:55 Your assignment is to write a song 24:57 incorporating something old with something new, 25:02 or a song born out of some pain in your journey 25:06 that you feel could be an inspiration 25:09 for others in their journeys. 25:11 So get your pencil and paper out, 25:13 get ready to start writing. 25:16 In response to Bob Mackenzie's remark, 25:19 "Lanny, you can write a better song," 25:22 that I certainly didn't want to hear 25:23 when he gave it to me. 25:25 Actually, 30 some years later, 25:28 Bob, I actually have written a better song. 25:32 It may not become Song of the Year 25:34 like More than Wonderful did, 25:36 but from a songwriter's standpoint, 25:38 I can honestly say that the new song 25:41 that God inspired me to write a couple years back, 25:46 Glorious Church is really a better song. 25:50 Now, you may have not heard it, 25:52 but you can check it out for yourself 25:54 on the new 3ABN project, Give Him Glory. 25:59 So remember, 26:00 it's never too late for God to give you something new, 26:03 and sometimes even better than what you already had. 26:08 So now it's your turn, 26:10 got the paper ready, got the pen in hand, 26:12 get ready to share with the world 26:14 some experience that may have been born out 26:16 of pain in your life that could be a blessing, 26:19 and shared with so many other folks around the world. 26:23 Get ready, go. 26:31 Wow, Lanny, thank you so much for all of that wisdom. 26:34 I've been sitting here as I did before taking notes, 26:37 writing down all of these amazing things 26:39 that you've been sharing with us, 26:40 you know, being in the right place 26:42 at the right time, in the right frame... 26:44 Right frame of mind. Right frame of mind. 26:46 And I have to say I struggle with that. 26:48 Because while I have good ideas from time to time, 26:50 I'm not as perceptive as maybe you are, some other people are. 26:54 And so I think it's something old, 26:56 something new, going back 26:57 and taking some of those old, inspirational tunes... 26:59 Great music. It's powerful stuff. 27:01 And, of course, no pain, no gain, 27:03 who would have thought that using the things 27:06 you're going through, the problems and the struggles, 27:08 and the times of discouragement and sorrow in your life 27:11 that God would birth or out of that would be born 27:14 one of the greatest songs ever written. 27:16 I just, I love your music, Brother. 27:17 I love the way your mind works. 27:20 You know, this is very similar 27:21 to the last program in the sense 27:23 that we're learning how we can glean ideas, 27:26 and how we too, you at home, 27:28 me sitting here again, I'm not a songwriter, 27:30 I'm a singer, but I feel like I'm empowered now 27:32 with the tools to be able to write a song. 27:34 And so I certainly appreciate all that you have given us 27:36 during these last few minutes together. 27:38 Thank you so much, Ryan. Amen. 27:40 And the challenge for everybody out there 27:41 is like making sure that wherever the right place 27:44 is and the right time 27:46 is that they are in a right frame of mind 27:48 because God may want to give them something. 27:51 That's right. Praise God. 27:52 Again, we thank you at home 27:54 for taking the time out of your day 27:55 to be with us today. 27:56 Until next time, 27:58 we hope to see you again right here 27:59 on You Can Write A Song. |
Revised 2021-12-30