The lyrical genius of Mark Hall

J Dan Brown · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 1:20 pm Post subject: The lyrical genius of Mark Hall

Some of my favorite Mark Hall things: (forgive my pause and rush-words notes)

“East to West”
(Mark Hall/ Casting Crowns/ The Altar and the Door)

Vrs)
Here I am, Lord, and I’m drowning, in Your Sea of forgetfulness.
The chains of yesterday surround me and I yearn for peace and rest.
I don’t want to end up where You found me!
And it echoes in my mind, and keeps me awake at night!
Vrs)
I know You’ve cast my sin as far as, as the East is from the West.
And I stand before You now as, as though I’ve never sinned.
But today I feel like I’m just one mistake away, from You leaving me this way.
Jesus, can You show me just how…
Chs)
… Far the East is from the West.
‘Cause I can’t bear to see the man I’ve been, rising up in me again!
In the arms of Your mercy, I find rest!
You know just how far the East is from the West: From one scarred hand to the other.
Vrs)
I start the day, the war begins, endless reminding of my sin.
Time and time again Your truth is drowned out, by this storm I’m in.
But today I feel like I’m just one mistake away, from You leaving me this way.
Jesus, can You show me just how…
Chs)
… Far the East is from the West.
‘Cause I can’t bear to see the man I’ve been, rising up in me again!
In the arms of Your mercy, I find rest!
You know just how far the East is from the West: From one scarred hand to the other.
Break)
I know You’ve washed me white! Turn my darkness into light!
I need Your peace to get me through, to get me through this night.
I can’t live by what I feel… but by the truth Your work reveals.
And I’m not holding on to You, but You’re holding on to me, You’re holding on to me!
Chs 2)
Jesus, You know just how far the East is from the West.
I don’t have to see the man I’ve been, come rising up in me again.
In the arms of Your mercy, I find rest!
You know just how far the East is from the West: From one scarred hand to the other.

“Does Anybody Hear Her?”
(by Mark Hall / Casting Crowns/ Lifesong)

Verse)
She is runnin'... a-hundred miles an-hour... in-the wrong direction She is tryin'... but-the-canyon's ever wide'nin'... in-the-depths of her cold heart.
So-she sets-out on another misadventure just-to find...
She's-another two-years older and... she's three-more steps behind. (pause)
Chorus)
Does-anybody hear her? Can-anybody see?
Or-does-anybody even know she's going down today?
Under-the-shadow of our steeple... with-all-the-lost-and-people...
Searching-for-the-hope that's tucked away in you-and-me.
Does-anybody hear her? Can-anybody see?
Verse)
She is yearning... for shelter and affection... that-she never found at-home.
She is searching... for a hero to ride in... to-ride-in and save the day.
And in-walks her “Prince Charming”... And he-knows just what-to-say.
Momentary lapse of reason... and she-gives herself away
Chorus)

Break)
If judgement looms.. under every steeple...
If lofty glances.. from lofty people... can't see past her scarlet letter...
And we never even met her... (repeat- building the 2nd time)

Chorus, twice) (driven!) (He is runnin'... a hundred miles-an-hour.... in the wrong, etc.)

“Love Them Like Jesus”
(Mark Hall/ Casting Crowns)

1)
The love of her life is drifting away. They're losing the fight for another day.
The life that she's known is falling apart. A fatherless home, a child's broken heart.
You're holding her hand, you're straining for words. You trying to make - sense of it all.
She's desperate for hope, darkness clouding her view. She's looking to you.

Chorus 1)
Just love her like Jesus, carry her to Him. His yoke is easy, His burden is light.
You don't need the answers to all of life's questions.
Just know that He loves her and stay by her side .
Love her like Jesus, Love her like Jesus

2)
The gifts lie in wait, in a room painted blue. Little blessing from Heaven would be there soon.
Hope fades in the night, blue skies turn to gray. As the little one slips away.
You're holding their hand, you're straining for words. You trying to make sense of it all.
They're desperate for hope, darkness clouding their view. They're looking to you.

Chorus 2)
Just love them like Jesus, carry them to Him. His yoke is easy, His burden is light.
You don't need the answers to all of life's questions.
Just know that He loves them and stay by their side.
Love them like Jesus

Break)
The Lord of all creation holds our lives in His hands.
The God of all the nations holds our lives in his hands.
The Rock of our salvation holds our lives in his hands.
He cares for them just as He cares for you.

“The Word is Alive"
(Mark Hall/ Steven/ Curtis Chapman/ Casting Crowns/ The Altar and the Door)

Vrs)
Looking out from His throne … the Father of light and of men…
Chose to make Himself known… to show us the way back to Him.
Speaking wisdom and truth… into the hearts… of peasants and kings.
He began to unveil… the Word that would change the course of all things.
With eyes wide open… all would see…
Chorus)
The Word is alive… And it cuts like a sword through the darkness…
With a message of life to the hopeless… and afraid…
Breathing life… into all who believe!
The Word is alive… And the World and its glories will fade…
But His truth, it will not pass away… it remains…
Yesterday… and forever the same, the Word is alive!
Vrs)
Simple strokes on a page… Eternity’s secrets revealed…
Carried on from age to age… It speaks truth to us even still.
And as the rain falls from Heaven… feeds the Earth… before it returns!
Lord, let Your Word fall on us… And bring forth the fruit You deserve!
With eyes wide open… let us see…
Chorus)

“Somewhere in the Middle”
(Mark Hall/ Casting Crowns/ The Altar and the Door)

1)Somewhere between the hot and the cold.
Somewhere between the new and the old.
Somewhere between who I am and who I used to be.
Somewhere in the middle You’ll find me.

2) Somewhere between the wrong and the right.
Somewhere between the darkness and the light
Somewhere between who I was and who You’re making me.
Somewhere in the middle, you’ll find me.

Pre Chs)
Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender… without losing all control?

Chs)
Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense!
Deep-water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle!
With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is!
But, will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle?
Are we caught in the middle?

3) Somewhere between my heart and my hands.
Somewhere between my faith and my plans.
Somewhere between the safety of the boat and the crashing waves.
Somewhere between a whisper and a roar.
Somewhere between the altar and the door.
Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more.
Somewhere in the middle, You’ll find me.

Break)
Lord, I feel You in this place and I know You're by my side.
Loving me even on those days and nights… when I’m caught in the middle.

So blessed. for the honor of using this brother's music, Dan