A songwriter's room at evening: an upright piano with handwritten lyric sheets, a guitar leaning on it, a brass lamp, an armchair.

The Words Are the Soul of the Song

Why the words come first, why every song is free, and what it is all for.

What these songs are for

This site is built for one thing: to enhance faith. These songs are a resonance of my faith, and as I listen to the words, my mind settles on Christ.

The lyrics are the soul of the song. I can put these words to any beat, any song, any sound. I could read them while someone banged on a plastic trash can. The sound is just another dimension of the song’s underlying purpose.

Focusing on the beat, or on the voice singing the song, shoots way beyond the mark. People focus way out on the edges of what matters.

Every word is mine, written from my life and my faith in Jesus Christ. The vocals are produced with AI, and I will always tell you that plainly.

Everything here is given freely. I don’t sell these songs, and I don’t ask for anything back. Freely I have received, so freely I give.

Shane

The scriptures behind it

Plain words, not the edges

The danger was never the plain words. It was looking past them.

But behold, the Jews were a stiffnecked people; and they despised the words of plainness, and killed the prophets, and sought for things that they could not understand. Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall; for God hath taken away his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they cannot understand, because they desired it. And because they desired it God hath done it, that they may stumble.

Jacob 4:14

But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7

The song of the heart

The Lord names what He delights in, and it is not the instrument.

For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.

Doctrine and Covenants 25:12

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Ephesians 5:19

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Colossians 3:16

And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?

Alma 5:26

The Spirit carries it

The power was never in the tool. Moroni worried about his weakness in writing, and the Lord answered with grace.

And now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.

2 Nephi 33:1

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

1 Corinthians 2:4

And I said unto him: Lord, the Gentiles will mock at these things, because of our weakness in writing; for Lord thou hast made us mighty in word by faith, but thou hast not made us mighty in writing; for thou hast made all this people that they could speak much, because of the Holy Ghost which thou hast given them;

Ether 12:23

And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

Ether 12:27

Judge it by its fruit

Mormon gave the test for anything new: where does it lead you?

But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.

Moroni 7:13

For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.

Moroni 7:16

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Matthew 7:20

Not the work of our hands

Anything can become an idol, the newest tool or the music itself, when we trust it more than Him.

Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:

Isaiah 2:8

Freely given

Why every song, every word and every story here costs nothing.

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Matthew 10:8

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Isaiah 55:1

Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price.

2 Nephi 26:25

He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion.

2 Nephi 26:29

But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish.

2 Nephi 26:31

The only purpose

Everything here exists for this.

And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

2 Nephi 25:26