songs we love.

This is one of my favorite Christmas songs.  In essence, it tells part of the story of Christmas as found in the gospels, beginning with following the “star to a place unexpected” to see this “unlikeliest hero, wrapped in His mother’s shawl”.  The second verse is about “bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior” and even foreshadows the cross.  The then asks chorus asks questions like, “How many kings stepped down from their thrones?” and “How many gods have poured out their hearts to romance a world that is torn all apart?”  The bridge provides us with the simple answer to all these questions: “Only one did that for me”.

It’s really difficult to sing the bridge with a group of singers who have rehearsed it, let alone a congregation that might include folks who maybe don’t know the song at all.  So it’s important to think about how to go about dealing with this challenge.  Perhaps you don’t want to touch it at all, but I would encourage you to find something to do with it.  It is the answer to all those questions, after all.  As one possibility, I’ll just mention that when I’ve done this song with groups we’ve started off with the chorus a few times through so people get the hang of at least that part, then our order is verse 1, chorus, verse 2, chorus several more times and then instead of singing the bridge, we’ve just ended with one or two people merely singing the line “Only one did that for me” as a way to end the song, rather than an instrumental ending.  But definitely play with it and figure something out what will work in your situation.

If you can find downhere’s album How Many Kings: Songs for Christmas, be sure to check out the last track.  It’s a recording of How Many Kings, but it’s been completely re-imagined.  The melodies are just a touch different and the accompaniment is pretty simplified and relies much more on percussion than their original recording of How Many Kings.  I’ve found that this version has given me a completely new appreciation for the song.  The original is on the radio a lot and was getting pretty old for me, but this other one is just so different and refreshing and really allowed me to listen to it differently and gain more from their words.  It’s incredible and can provide some ideas for other ways the song can be played.

I think that How Many Kings is pretty accessible to any kind of group.  I’ve introduced it to a couple different groups that all had different sounds and levels of comfort and it worked really well in both situations.  I’ve also heard it led just with guitar.  The chord progression is the same all the way through the tune (I—vi—ii—V) which makes it a great piece for younger or less-experienced groups.  I think one thing that makes it really great is that it can be done in really simplified ways and still be a really effective and powerful song to hear and to sing or it can be jazzed up and still be incredibly meaningful.  Any kind of group can take it and make it their own.

The verses can be pretty difficult to teach and part of it, I think, is due to the fact that verse two has more syllables that need to be crammed into the melody, so some of the rests that are present in verse 1 are shorter or even non-existent.  Having strong vocal leaders is imperative.  It might also be helpful to have a melody instrument – perhaps a violin or oboe or even an electric guitar – plunk out the melody and help to bring that out so that it stands out more for people.  Just be careful not to cover up the words.  They are too beautiful.

Where to find it:

-          ccli.com (#5351880)

-          praisecharts.com

-          downhere.com/chords

Notable recordings:

-          downhere – How Many Kings: Songs for Christmas

-          downhere – Ending is Beginning

-          downhere – Bethleham Skyline

They’re all the same, just on different albums…

Hear it now:

Download on iTunes