John W. Peterson (1) (1921–2006)

My memories of hearing these songs coughed and mumbled are not good. But I do remember, somewhat.

(After grandpa died I unearthed the Catholic Missal from among his things, like an archaeologist unearthing the Book of the Dead. But I'd never been--I've never been--and if anybody kept it, it wasn't me.)

But now I read these songs as poetry--I don't read music, so that's what they are to me. And I like them. Some of the poems in here are damn good.

They could take places in a literature show more anthology, or whatever, and earn them...if you like that sort of thing.

In fact, I actually like this poetry better than the prose of the King James Bible, to say nothing of the wooden New King James, or some of the sermons I heard which were not so much plainsong, as dead-word.

And since I'm not a Christian anymore, I honestly don't give a damn about whatever deep theological heresies have been hidden in these utterances of mine, or stirred by the sayings written of the finger of man.

But anyway, there's nothing to say that this poetry is worth less Robinson Crusoe, or James Fenimore Cooper, or what have you.

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When he was a lad, John Peterson longed to give the world a song - a song with God's message. Today, John Peterson is the most well-known gospel song composer in the world. Now, for the first time, with vulnerability and honesty, he shares his life story in this inspiring autobiography. Revealing his innermost thoughts, his struggles with failure and feelings of inadequacy that gripped him for many years, Peterson relates all the stepping-stone experiences that shaped his lyric and paved the show more way for him to fulfill his deep longing to serve the Lord through music. show less

This music is set in comfortable keys, ranges from old historic folk melodies of many lands through spirituals and contemporary gospel songs to "composed folk." The tunes are simple and singable--in fact, songs which are essentially soloistic or choral in style have been avoided, however popular thy may be.

This book contains the Combined Volumes 1, 2, and 3 of the Melody-Aire Low Voice Series.