I am an amateur songwriter and have been for most of my life. I started playing music when I was about ten and wrote my first song before I was twelve. I don’t claim to be a great songwriter but I absolutely love writing songs. I encourage you to read the lyrics and feel free to comment if you wish. The songs posted here are not a complete portfolio but some of the songs I don’t want to post here for various reasons. I hope you enjoy what is posted. If you can find a use for any of these songs in a live setting you are welcome to use them without written permission. Please also keep in mind that most of the recordings provided are “scratch tracks” and are awaiting their day in the studio. Maybe when I retire and actually have the money and time I need to get them recorded. Maybe I’ll make an album with an over 65 Gospel quartet.
In 2003 I started a small songwriting contest that has grown into one of the nations largest Christian songwriting contests. It runs each year from January to March and annually receives more than 200 entries. You can learn more about the contest at www.god-song.com.
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The Love of God
© 2005 Clint Clifton
Category: Hymn Adapted
Sacred desk in volume deep
Neither poet, pen or priest
Even skillful hands in softened clay
Cannot begin to say
You cannot write the love of God
It would drain the ocean dry
Nor could a scroll contain the whole
Though it stretched from sky to sky
Could we with ink the ocean fill
Were the sky of parchment made
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade
When my song is almost done
When my pen is all run dry
Chisels dulled and curtains drawn
I still have not begun
Bridge:
You cannot write a love that knows no end
You cannot paint a man on canvas who knew no sin
Every stroke and note and hammer swing reminds us… reminds us
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Betrayers Feet
© 2006 Clint Clifton
Category: Grace
How sightless of me
To let myself believe
That because I’m found I’m better
Than the ones that you still seek
To let self righteousness and me at all my best
Take grace from my memory
You touched a leper in the street
You gave a scarlet girl a drink
You dined with criminals and thieves
And on the night of his evil deed
You washed your betrayers feet
Not for blameless men
No, sinners were your friends
The least of these and those and me
And all adorned with sin
To let self righteousness and me at all my best
Take grace from my memory
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Broken Bread, Healing Wine
© 2006 Clint Clifton & Amanda Long
Category: Lord’s Supper
A dozen men were placed around
The table where our Lord was found
Kneeling there and washing feet
Serving them and saving me
Broken bread and healing wine
A dozen mortal one divine
Feast with them on bread of life
Drink with me… the blood of Christ
A dozen men out on a shore
Hanging on His every Word
By light of day and fire at night
Those men wrote the God-breathed words of Christ.
From south of there to north of here
The gospel spread more every year
Across the land and o’re the sea
Then one glorious day it spread to me
A dozen men by cross or sword
Were laid to rest without reward
Now they serve the groom they judge the tribes
They long for us the coming bride
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When She’s Around
© 2000 Clint Clifton
Category: Love
Jen and I stayed up late again
And we talked long into the night
We dreamed of our home in the city
And how she’d soon be my wife
We planned out the lives we would lead
To and from work every day
And I couldn’t help but think…
She’s got a way of making me feel
Like I’m worth something more than I am
She’s got a way of making me smile
When all I want is to frown
And I feel like a king when she’s around
I wouldn’t be so naive
To think things will work just as planned
But I know whatever seas rise
There’s a rock where both of us stand
She cares and she comforts me
She watches out for my needs
And I’ll love her the rest of my days
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What He Would Be
© 1998 Clint Clifton
Category: Christmas
I can almost see the look on that proud daddy’s face
As they handed him his new born baby boy
I’m sure he thought his child was special like any daddy would
But I wonder if he really understood.
Did he understand the hand that gripped his finger
Would be the hand that once carved out the sea
Did he understand this precious boy he held within his arms
Would soon give up his life for you and me
Did he understand what this precious boy would be?
Did he know the baby’s head that laid upon his chest
Would be the head that wore a crown of thorns
And I wonder as he watched this boy turn into a man
Oh, I wonder did he really understand?
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Still King
© 2007 Clint Clifton & Keilan Creech
Category: Christmas
I followed a star to a man
He didn’t own houses or land
He had not a court or a crown
But He was still King
I followed a star to a man
Who didn’t have rings on his hand
He wasn’t the lord of my land
But He was still King.
Star of wonder star of night
Lead us to your perfect light
Westward leading child in sight
Kings bow down before you tonight
Kings bow down before you tonight
I followed a star to a child
Lowly, meek and mild
Not bearing a garment or gown
He was still king
I followed a star to that King
Sought his majesty
And there by the light of a star
Shown the face of a King
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All God’s Promises
© 2007 Clint Clifton & Keilan Creech
Category: Scripture
Long ago in many ways God spoke to our fathers through the prophets
Every word that they foretold was a vow revealed from the Father
A flood will fall, the Son will raise these words made real before our eyes
All Gods promises are yes in Him, we say amen.
The Word made flesh and dwelling here,
We say amen, we say amen
Even now God’s promises are spoken through the torn and tattered veil.
In these days He speaks to us through His Son who is appointed Heir
A flood did fall, the Son did raise His glory seen before our eyes.
You amaze me….these songs are great. I have my favorites but they are all wonderful, Clint. “Broken Bread, Healing Wine” and “What He Would Be” made me cry. “When She’s Around” is such a loving praise song for your Jennifer……I adore that in you.
Cool Tunes Clint!!!!
I remember sitting at the gazebo playing that tune you recorded! It was like some kind of rock/southern rock thing!
good times!
Clint,
“Still King” needs to be on the Radio this Christmas. I think you should record it and then go take over 90.5 Radio just like Brendan Fraser, Adam Sandler, and Steve Buscemi did in AIRHEADS. Hopefully you won’t run into Chris Farley as the security Guard. Anyways, I think this song is awesome and you should keep writing because this world needs you passion for Jesus!
Thanks for opening yourself up and allowing us to listen in.
“broken bread, healin wine” is amazing!!
hey clint, what is that song that you taught ruthie about boys being stinky and that she should go to college, oh and fyi, thought you might think this was funny, there are so many new freshman this year at bcf that some of the guys were kicked to a new dorm, which is an old doctor’s office that is up the street from the campus, and some girls were kicked to the old presidents house which was made into a sorta dorm thing for them.
ne who, yeah…
I just threw up these were so awesome…. amatuer… NAH HOMIE… PROFESSH!!!
Wow! It’s been a long time since I heard “The Love of God Song” That was fun!
“Love of God” song,
I remember working one day with ms Carol in the office, and you and colby came in with your guitars and sang this for ms carol. cant remember why, but i remember that you did.
good times hangin out at the church.