The Repertoire
Below we list some of the songs you may hear if you come to an
Out Of Egypt concert. We're learning new
songs all the time and open to suggestions about what we could play.
- Apple Pie
- This is one of an increasing number of songs written by our Gary
that the band plays. Inspired by the parable of the Sower, it goes
further, suggesting what could happen if you reject the gospel.
- Are You Washed In The Blood
- There's no need to explain this title to a Christian The
inspiration for our interpretation of this song is Alan Jackson,
who takes it a whole lot faster than Willie Nelson and many others.
Indeed, we normally link it with "I'll Fly Away" just as he does.
- Crying Holy To The Lord
- This song, also known as "On The Rock Where Moses Stood", has
been recorded by many, from Bill Munroe, whose band "The Blue
Grass Boys" gave its name to a whole new style of music to Joanne
Cash and George Hamilton IV. Our version is closer to the latter
but doesn't use their lyrics!
- Egyptian Sand
- A song by our guitarist. Gary. Some say it was the inspiration
for our name, but what can be said is that it explores how you should
handle the frying pan when you thought you only had to escape the
fire.
- Give Me Strength
- This is one of two songs that we sing written by Eric Clapton, at
least that is what the credits say on his recording, in spite of his
autobiography saying it was "a song I first heard in London during
the early sixties". Whatever it's origins, it makes a perfect prayer.
- I Can't Even Walk
- Colbert and Joyce Croft wrote this song in the 1970s, so it's a
bit modern for our Greg. Written after prayer at a time of intense
despair it's a powerful song that tells how you always have a saviour
to whom you can turn.
- I Have Decided To Follow Jesus
- Reputedly based on the last words of Nokseng an Indian tribesman
executed by his tribal chief for refusing to reject his new faith even
after his children then his wife were put to death.
- I'll Fly Away
- A song of death and resurrection written in 1929 by Albert E.
Brumley which Wikipedia says "has been called the most recorded
gospel song". Certainly there are many versions out there.
- Let Your Light Shine On Me
- Also known as "Light From the Lighthouse" was first recorded in
1923. Greg introduced the song to the band as he was keen on the
version he'd heard by Blind Willie Johnson - but there's more to
that story!
- People Get Ready
- Rolling Stone magazine named the song "the 24th greatest song of
all time", which may be a bit over the top. There a various ways to
interpret this number by Curtis Mayfield. Some see the train
references simply as metaphor for freedom or escape. Curtis
recognised the influence of his church experiences and we see it
that way too.
- Presence Of The Lord
- This is the other Eric Clapton song we play. Eric claims it is
about finding the home he still owns, saying "It was a very personal
statement, not necessarily a religious one". That doesn't make
sense to us. You can make up your own mind.
- Take Your Shoes Off Moses
- This is our interpretation of the traditional spiritual about
the story of the burning bush in Exodus Chapter Three. We hope our
harmony singing does it justice.
- The Bible Way
- Written by our own Gary, it's a deceptively simple song that
we think you'll find yourself humming on the way home from our gig.
It tells where to turn to find the answer to life's problems.
- The Day Is Done
- Another song composed by our Gary! A rollicking number that might
be taken to be an Appalachian folk song with its reference to train
whistles, but its chorus calls us to baptism and the verses to await
judgement day and allow the blood of Christ to wash our sins away.
- Welcome Table
- Our inspiration for this song comes from the band "Southern
Gospel Revival". Originally a spiritual, in the 1960s the song was
adopted by the civil rights movement and given new words. Some of
the SGR's lyrics didn't seem right for us, so we've adapted their
words once more to make it fully spiritual again.