Song Journal - In Your Presence

This was my first song in Vancouver. A few weeks after my arrival back in 2003, I went kayaking with some friends in Deep Cove, North Van. I was awestruck by the beauty. Deep Cove was a magnificent sight to behold. The mountains, the water, the clean air and the quietness was truly agreeable at all levels after a couple months of busy and loud New Delhi streets. At this point in my life, the term culture shock also had taken a new meaning - trying hard to adjust to new things and leave behind the old.

As I rowed my kayak deep into the water, there came this realization of how good and merciful God has been to me; a contrast of my ugliness against His beauty. Of how He accepts me despite my condition. So while balancing in the kayak, I started to scribble the words and music to this song.

Caught up in my own thoughts, I'd forgotten about my friends and our plan to meet back at a certain time. When I was nowhere to be found, they sent out a search team to come look for me.The rental-guy on the search team was evidently annoyed when he found me just sitting in my boat with a piece of paper and a pen when they'd been worried sick. Perhaps I "added some troubles to his bubbles" : )

I can "go on and on and on"...but I will not. Please sample the music in the next column. And thanks for stopping by. Drop me a line; let’s hang out over some chai and music.

in Your presence

got answers that don't quite satisfy the questions
got doubts that don't quieten with assertions
got unending troubles and they come in bubbles
and go on and on and on

but there's hope in Your presence
for a down and out vagabond
there's peace in Your presence for the troubled soul that listens
there's strength in Your presence for the weary whose knee weakens
and i come yes i come

whether i feel it or not Jesus You are my God
and Your mercies they fail me not
though the fig tree may not blossom
and there are no grapes on the vine
yet will i rejoice in You Lord

© 2003 lalpi guite

miss white

there you are knocking on my door
with all of your pretenses as before
makin' that angelic smile
you promised me heaven
to leave me halfway to hell
miss white you ain't gonna take me tonight
miss white you ain't gonna fool me tonight
miss white you ain't gonna take me tonight
there you are you look so colourful
but after all you ain't that wonderful
now that i've fallen you say i must die
you promised me heaven
to leave me high and dry
oh how you lied to me
your word that you don't keep
i ain't gonna trust you no more
now i know who you really are
i found myself a brand new lover
who loves me with an everlasting love
He promised me heaven
and will keep me out of hell

© 1993 lalpi guite

count on You

when i feel forsaken when i feel forgotten
i can still count on You
when i am abandoned and i am broken
i can still count on You
You don't break a bruised reed
or snuff out a smoldering wick
You don't repay my wrongs
but You clothe me in righteousness
Your mercy is like the ocean that goes
beyond my eyes can see
i worship You Your Majesty
You're all that i have when all else is gone
and i will count on You
You're all that i want above any other
so i will count on You
the past catches on me despair is all i see
Lord help me count on You
the road is dark and lonely
You're my one and only
please help me count on You

© 1998 lalpi guite

mirror mirror

i hear gunfire in my backyard
it makes me sick out of my heart
who's to blame and who's the hero
ain't it a shame one more down to zero
'give and take' but what do we make
of givin' pain and takin' lives
mirror mirror
hangin' on the wall
tell me who's the fairest of them all
when wrong is right and right is wrong
they say 'it's all up to where you're lookin' from'
too many talkers and no walkers
don't that make us just a bunch of jokers
'give and take' but what do we make
of givin' pain and takin' lives
i took a good look in the mirror
i can't decide if i like it anymore
lookin' down from up above
i wonder if You have had enough
though the sun comes kind of slow
please don't give up and don't let

© 2002 lalpi guite