We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Life

from Life by Lightnin' Charlie

/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $2 USD  or more

     

  • Buy the Full Digital Album

about

The Greatest Story Ever Told.

This song was written by a guy named Shirl Milete and released in 1969. Elvis recorded it and released it on an album called “Love Letters from Elvis” in 1971. We started doing it in church a few years ago, and was surprised to find that even hard-core Elvis fans did not know the song. This was amazing to me since real Elvis fans pride themselves on knowing EVERYTHING Elvis recorded. But this one seemed to slip through the cracks somehow, even among the most rabid Elvis fans. Every time we’d do the song, we saw a lot of response to it, both during and after the performance, with folks wanting to know more about it. And since we’ve always included the message of the gospel on each of our albums—even the non-gospel ones—we wanted to close “LIFE” with a song about the Life-Giver. As a follower of Christ, I (like Elvis) delight in the lyrics that describe our world—and our plight—in three taut verses: Creation, The Fall, and The Cross.

The treatment we give it (much different than Elvis’ version) is lush and big and soaring with strings and full orchestra, and it never fails to thrill me when I hear it. Very proud of this one, and think it to be the perfect closer to our album. Soli Deo Gloria and Amen!

lyrics

Somewhere out in empty space
Long before the human race
Something stirred
A vast and timeless source began
Intelligence was born and then
There was the Word

Powers filled the universe
Matter formed and broke the curse
Of nothingness
Love became an ageless soul
Nature reached her highest goal
And breathed the breath of life

Everlasting life

Well creatures came from out of sight
Daylight came from in the night
And all was good
Life became a Master Plan
Love produced the perfect man
That understood

The image of the Maker’s Word
Worshiped Him with all he had
But then one day
From in the depths an evil seed
Grew and manufactured greed
That changed the way of life

Everlasting life

Oh the Loving Power looked and saw
Inside the heart of man a flaw
Began to grow
Well, the fires of hell began to burn
And so He sent His Chosen Son
To let us know

That Love had surely made us all
And hate would surely make us fall
So from the Cross
Yeah He showed the world that dreadful day
That love could be the only way
Or all is lost of life

Everlasting life
For life is love and love is life

credits

from Life, released April 20, 2024

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Lightnin' Charlie image

Lightnin' Charlie Johnson City, Tennessee

American Roots Musician, Recording Artist, Songwriter, Entertainer, and Author. IBC Award Winner, voted Favorite Musician, and Favorite Artist in the Mountain South, Lightnin' Charlie is equally at home in the blues, rock 'n' roll, country, folk, and gospel. A cheerful earful to legions of fans known as Lightnin' Bugs, LC calls his amazing amalgam of tunes "Good Music For Good People". ... more

contact / help

Contact Lightnin' Charlie

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

If you like Lightnin' Charlie, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featuring interviews with LA music scene pillar Kamasi Washington, and new London-based duo Mrcy.

listen now