I’ve been exploring some of the very modern worship songs as an old guy 😀. But now, I’ve decided to alternate between very modern hymns, old hymns, and in-between hymns, namely the worship songs from the 60s to the 90s that feature in hymnbooks such as Mission Praise. Today it’s the turn of the in-between hymns.
Today’s song is I Get So Excited, from 1978.
I only found a couple of instances of it on YouTube. But I don’t want it to be forgotten. We used to sing it at a fellowship I attended in London – Bermondsey Christian Fellowship (BCF)
Even in later years when I was a bit cynical about the “happy clappy” side of evangelicalism, I fondly remembered the song. When I was into punk as a teen, back in 1978, Elvis Costello recorded a Nick Lowe song called “What’s So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding”. It seemed an odd title in the new wave scene because it was so trendy to be nasty and cynical about everything. So, I say now, what’s so funny about getting so excited about being forgiven and being happy and clappy. I crush my attempts to be “hip and cool and playing by the rule” 😀.
I remember New Song back in 1983. It wasn’t any kind of a Christian song. It was more a rebellion about wanting to be hip and cool and breaking free of mental chains.
When I used to watch Songs of Praise on Sundays, you’d get the old hymns, which I liked. And now and then, you’d get a trendy “happy clappy” song. It’s all to easy to despise these. How can all these people be so happy. The reality is, they might be struggling with all sorts of challenges. But even so, surely it’s wonderful to have moments when we break away for a while and rejoice. And nowadays, I want to give all the encouragement in the world to those who want to rejoice in the Lord.
I don’t have other versions of todays hymn to point to, but here are some songs on a similar theme:
Hibernia Gospel 