Category: Music

Lord, have mercy

BACKSTORY
I wrote this song in January 2026 as part of the Resound Worship 12 Song Challenge. The brief: write a song on the theme of Repentance and Restoration.

In March 2026, during our Presbytery Meeting in Geneva, I had an impromptu opportunity to share the song at the start of the communion service while we waited for the organist to arrive (she was delayed due to traffic). Soon everyone was joining in. The familiar words of the kyrie (Lord, have mercy), simple lyrics and repetition helped.

LORD, HAVE MERCY

C 
Lord, have mercy,  
Em 
Christ, have mercy,
Fmaj7 
Lord, have mercy.  
C 
Put things right.
Em 
We, your creatures  
F 
need you,  
Em 
Jesus.
F 
Where there’s  
C 
darkness shine  
G7 
your 
 
 
C 
light.

 
words and music: © Irene Bom
 
notation
 

Mary’s Song

12 SONG CHALLENGE – DECEMBER SONGS

 

Background

I wrote this song as part of the 12 Song Challenge (2025/2026) of resoundworship.org

The assignment was to write a “December Song”. I opted to write a performance piece, focused on the salvation story from Mary’s perspective.

I incorporated a favourite chord progression (Dm, Dm maj7, Dm7, Dm6), elements from a favourite Christmas classic (The angel Gabriel from heaven came) and a book title (Jesus changes everything, Stanley Hauerwas).
 

MARY’S SONG

Capo 5

Verse 1

Dm 
Angel 
 
 
Dmmaj7 
Gabriel from  
Dm7 
heaven 
 
 
Dm6 
came
 
He  
Gm7 
came to me, he  
A7sus 
called me a lady
 
I’m  
Dm 
highly 
 
 
Dmmaj7 
honoured, 
 
 
Dm7 
yes I  
Dm6 
am,
 
to  
Gm7 
play my part in God’s  
A7sus 
plan  
A7 

 
Pre-chorus
 
There were  
Gm7 
troubles, yet  
A7sus 
so much joy,
 
at the  
Gm7 
coming of my baby  
A7sus 
boy  
A7 

 
Chorus
Dm 
Jesus 
 
 
Dmmaj7 
changed my  
Dm7 
life 
 
for
Dm6 
ever
Gm7 
Jesus changes  
A7sus 
everything  
A7 
 
He  
Dm 
changes 
 
 
Dmmaj7 
people’s 
 
 
Dm7 
lives for the  
Dm6 
better
 
He’s my  
A7sus 
Shepherd, he’s my  
A7 
King

 
Verse 2
Nothing is impossible for God
While still a virgin, I was a mother
I’ve not regrets that I said ‘yes’
All I can say is, ‘I am blessed’
 
Pre-chorus
Chorus
 
Verse 3
Glad I had Joseph by my side
He kept me going when I got frightened
God made a way to keep us safe
Supplying wisdom and grace
 
Pre-chorus
Chorus
 
Coda
He’s my darling, my Saviour, my Shepherd, my King.
 
words and music: © Irene Bom
 

Communion song – Psalm 23

SINGING THE PSALMS

SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY [Psalm 23]

 
Surely  
Am 
goodness and  
Dm 
mercy are  
E7 
offered at this  
Am 
table
Dm 
Goodness and mercy for  
E7 
all.
 
Surely  
Am 
goodness and  
Dm 
mercy are  
G7 
offered at this  
C 
table,
 
The  
Dm7 
table of  
E7 
Jesus, our  
Am 
Lord
 
Dm 
Come take part in this  
Am 
meal of mercy
Dm 
Taste and see that the  
Am 
Lord is good
Dm 
Bread and wine and  
Am 
sweet 
 
communion
Dm 
Eat and drink till your  
E7 
hearts are full

 
Repeat Chorus

Verse 2
Come remember Christ’s body broken
Lamb of God, fragrant sacrifice
By His blood our sins are covered
By His suff’ring He brought us life.

Repeat Chorus

 
words and music: © Irene Bom
 

Singing the psalms – Psalm 30

SINGING THE PSALMS

YOU HAVE TURNED MY SORROW [Psalm 30]

You have turned my sorrow into joyful dancing
I’m no longer sad or feeling upset.
I thank you from my heart and I will never stop
singing your praises, my Lord and my God.

I will sing and dance, sing and dance,
      sing and dance to the Lord.
I will sing and dance, sing and dance,
      sing and dance to the Lord.

 
words and music: © Irene Bom
 

Singing the psalms – Psalm 150

SINGING THE PSALMS

O, PRAISE GOD [Psalm 150]

1 O, praise God – sound His name on the wind
With the sound of the cymbals, the bells and the brass
O, praise God
2 O, praise God – sound his name on your lips.
With the sound of a shout, or a sigh or a song
O, praise God
3 O, praise God – sound His name where you are.
With the sound of your sharing, your caring, your joy
O, praise God

 

Singing the psalms – Psalm 6

SINGING THE PSALMS / PSALMS FOR ALL AGES

MY EYES ARE SO SWOLLEN [Psalm 6]

 
My  
C 
eyes are so  
C7 
swollen from  
F 
crying.
 
My  
C 
pillow is  
C7 
wet with  
F 
tears.
C 
I am too fright
C7 
ened to face  
Fmaj7 
those who  
Am 
hate 
 
me,
 
      too  
Dm7 
tired to  
G7sus 
face the  
Dm7 
day.    
G7 
 
Lord,  
C 
save 
 
 
G7 
me; Lord,  
C 
save 
 
 
G7 
me.
C 
Save me from my  
C7 
enemies, 
 
 
F 
Lord.
C 
Save 
 
 
G7 
me, Lord,  
C 
save 
 
 
G7 
me, 
 
 
C 
please.

 

words and music: © Irene Bom

Recording from the Send us a friend album

 

Singing the psalms – Psalm 42

SINGING THE PSALMS

AS THE DEER [Psalm 42]

[Capo 5]

Am 
As the  
Em7 
deer longs for  
Am 
running 
 
 
Em7 
streams
 
      I  
Fmaj7 
long for  
Dm6 
you, 
 
my
E7sus 
God
E7 
Am 
As the  
Em7 
deer longs for  
Am 
running 
 
 
Em7 
streams
 
      I  
Fmaj7 
long 
 
 
Dm6 
for 
 
 
E7 
you, my  
Am 
God

 
Verse 2
Day and night I remind my soul
      the Lord is good and true
Day and night I remind my soul
      the Lord is good and true

Verse 3
With the morning I know He’ll come
      with love to quench my thirst
With the morning I know He’ll come
      with love to quench my thirst

Repeat verse 1

 
words and music: © Irene Bom
 

Singing the psalms – Psalm 20

SINGING THE PSALMS

MAY GOD ANSWER YOU [Psalm 20]

May God answer you in times of trouble
May the God of Jacob rescue you
The Lord support you from His sacred place
May the God of Jacob keep you safe
And may He grant you your heart’s desire
May God bless you and be your guide

 
words and music: © Irene Bom
 

Singing the psalms – Psalm 23

SINGING THE PSALMS / PSALMS FOR ALL AGES

THE LORD’S MY SHEPHERD [Psalm 23]

Bm 
    The Lord’s my shepherd
 
He takes  
Em7 
such good care of me
Bm 
    The Lord’s my shepherd
 
He takes  
Em7 
such good care of  
F#m7 
me     
F#7 
Bm 
I have all I  
Em7 
need
 
I have  
F#7 
all I  
Bm 
need

 
2. The Lord’s my shepherd
There’s no need to feel afraid
The Lord’s my shepherd
There’s no need to feel afraid
He will keep me safe (x2)

3. The Lord’s my shepherd
He’s a generous, loving host
The Lord’s my shepherd
He’s a generous, loving host
My cup overflows (x2)

4. The Lord’s my shepherd
In his house I feel at home
The Lord’s my shepherd
In his house I feel at home
His love makes me glow (x2)

 
words and music: © Irene Bom

Recording from the Send us a friend album

 

Singing the psalms – Psalm 117

SINGING THE PSALMS
ALL YOU NATIONS PRAISE THE LORD

I often draw on the psalms for inspiration when writing songs on a Christian theme. Here is one I wrote for a Resound 12 Song Challenge in July 2024, marking the 350th birthday of hymnwriter Isaac Watts.

The song is a version of Psalm 117, with an Isaac Watts twist – bringing Jesus and the whole Trinity into the mix.
 

 
[Capo 5]

 
E 
All you nations  
Amaj7 
praise the Lord
E 
Bring Him  
Bm 
praise
Amaj7 
Worship Jesus,  
Am7 
all you peoples
E 
Praise Him,  
Amaj7 
praise His  
E 
Name.

 

Bm7 
Great is the love the  
C#m7 
Father has for us
Bm7 
He gave His only  
E 
Son
F#m7 
Great is the love that  
Bm7 
keeps on giving
 
The  
F#m7 
Everlasting  
B7 
Three-in-One

 

All you nations …

 
words and music: © Irene Bom