get started. get better.
"Thank You Jesus for the Blood" by Charity Gayle is powerful song that's great for an Easter set. This is also a great song for a choir or a "special" during a service. You can try it out in multiple keys with these free chord charts:
Charity Gayle is a name that keeps popping up in worship music. One of her most popular songs "Thank You Jesus for the Blood" is a very powerful song that speaks to the broken condition of people and then the resurrection power of the blood.
One of my favorite exercises when I'm evaluating a song is to follow the progression of the song in the context of a "song story." Instead of singing the song, just read it and see how the lyrics unfold in the form of a story. Here are the lyrics to the first verse:
I was a wretch
I remember who I was
I was lost, I was blind
I was running out of time
The verse starts off with the condition of man as defined in Romans 3:23 ("For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"). It also alludes to John 9:25 ("I was blind but now I see"). From there the verse expounds on the affect of sin:
Sin separated
The breach was far too wide
But from the far side of the chasm
You held me in your sight
The song shifts into God's pursuit of man, even in his sinful state. This pursuit begins with "seeing" of man, and then progresses into an action plan:
So You made a way
Across the great divide
Left behind Heaven's throne
To build it here inside
Finally, the verse ends at the pinnacle of love at the cross, and then circles back to the result of that love to man:
And there at the cross
You paid the debt I owed
Broke my chains, free my soul
For the first time I had hope
The song has taken us through the basic gospel story of redemption. Man is sinful and removed from God. God pursued man. God sent His son to the cross in the ultimate act of love. Through the cross, man is reconciled to God, freed, restored, and hopeful. Now the chorus begins as the response to the gospel.
Thank you Jesus for the blood applied
Thank you Jesus, it has washed me white
Thank you Jesus, You have saved my life
Brought me from the darkness into glorious light
The chorus shift from reflection of the gospel story to an active response in worship. It's a chorus of specific gratitude of the sacrifice made and the causal effect.
As the song jumps back into the next verse, it started to get much more specific about the gospel story celebrated at Easter:
You took my place
Laid inside my tomb of sin
You were buried for three days
But then You walked right out again
And now death has no sting
And life has no end
For I have been transformed
By the blood of the Lamb
Lyrically, this verse combines the Easter story with a personal application. This weaves together theology as well as personal transformation. From here, we're ready for another response in gratitude and worship with the chorus.
The bridge of a song serves to highlight something different within a song. It's kind of like a side road. It's related, but it has a different focus. In this case, the focus in on the blood itself, rather than the general gospel story:
There is nothing stronger
than the wonder working power of the blood
The blood
That calls us sons and daughters
We are ransomed by our Father
Through the blood
The blood
The bridge also serves as a way to build the dynamics of the song. You'll hear all of the instrumentation build into the climax of the song on the next chorus, with a big emphasis on each word, "Thank You Jesus" as it continues into a big "up" chorus.
Finally, the song lands into an optional chorus at the end, which acts as another response in worship.
You can find this song on Apple Music or Spotify.
Unlock the 3 secrets of quickly getting out of a rut and having more fun playing guitar.
Discover the one trick pros use to understand guitar theory without wasting time reading music.
"When I took guitar lessons from Guitarmann, I couldn't believe how quickly I was able to start actually playing songs. I had taken lessons in the past, but things never really "stuck", no matter how hard I practiced. I think the Guitarmann Method is best way for anyone who wants to learn guitar. You'll be playing real songs the right way in no time. I use what I learned nearly EVERY DAY as a worship leader, guitarist, and song writer for Vertical Worship"
Worship Leader & Song Writer for Vertical Worship
"Stephen is one of my good friends; someone who has been teaching me lessons on guitar for many years!"
Building 429: Grammy-nominated; Dove Award Winner
"I can say without a doubt that Stephen Mann will take you far beyond your expectations when it comes to learning the guitar. His teachings have brought me to the point where I now lead worship for several different youth events, and at my own church as well. I would not recommend anybody other than Stephen!"
Guitarmann Member
"I took a guitar to my first lesson knowing nothing about chords or technique. Literally within a few months, I not only knew a good number of popular chords, but also I knew techniques for figuring out nearly every chord I might come upon. Stephen's method of teaching guitar is amazingly easy to grasp quickly, yet at the same time challenging enough to help you achieve your personal goals."
Guitarmann Member
"some very helpful stuff for guitarists from Guitarmann!"
author: Worship Matters; Dir. Sovereign Grace Music
"I started lessons with Guitarmann and two years later began to use the guitar in leading our worship services. He has a keen awareness of contemporary worship and how guitar fits in."
Guitarmann Member
"I just wanted to thank you for your site. You are an awesome teacher, and I wish I had found your site years ago. I feel like your simple lessons have taken my playing and my "musical knowledge" to the next level. Now, I feel like I understand how chords are formed and how they work together."
Guitarmann Member
"This is by far the best online guitar learning method; I wasn't just mimicking but was understanding what's going on with guitar, and it has help me be able to play on my own within 2 weeks."
Guitarmann Member
"I have had 4 teachers over my many years of trying to learn and no one ever approached teaching the way you do. I feel comfortable and am able to understand what you are talking about in a way that it will stay with me and not just go in one ear and out the other. Already I have picked up tips and tricks that I never knew even though I had played guitar with teachers before.I appreciate the ease at how you are teaching me and I feel as though you are right here in my home with me encouraging and helping me to get it right this time. I also want to make mention that the simple way you are teaching me to strum. No one ever taught me that!"
Guitarmann Member
"Stephen, thanks for offering incredible lessons at an affordable price. I am just really happy right now and I had to write something. I have improved my playing and learned more in two months than I had in the past years of local lessons and playing on my own. You are a great teacher and exactly what I needed. I will continue with the lessons and hope to lead the praise songs for my Bible study group soon. Thanks again, this is the best investment I ever made toward learning to play guitar."
Guitarmann Member
"Great guitar players aren’t born - it takes hard work; I’m thankful that he’s put together resources for the rest of us to learn."
Singer Songwriter: Indelible Grace
"Stephen is great teacher for those who are beginners all the way to advanced guitar players. He played a big role in my guitar playing as I started in Middle School and his method helped me as I progressed in my playing and worship leading even through college."
Guitarmann Member
"I have been able to read music and play an instrument for 38 yrs. I self taught and have played guitar off and on for 35 years, most avidly over the last 8 years as a worship leader. This is the first time I've truly understood how the Chord Families actually are put together and work. Thank you for opening my eyes!"
Guitarmann Member
"First I want to say I am loving the online classes and learning so much. I have taken a few other online classes and by far your's is the BEST. I am starting the Electric Series this week. Just finished the Essentials Series!"
Guitarmann Member
"I took guitar lessons from Guitarmann for about 4 years, and since then i have been in two bands and also my church band. He is an amazing teacher! I love just being able to sit down anytime and play guitar for minutes or even hours."
Guitarmann Member
"I was intimidated about learning guitar because I thought only people with an obvious talent for music could pick it up. Stephen's method gave me confidence to stay with it and helped me get over my fear of getting started. It's very intuitive and got me playing quickly. I'm not trying to be a rock star. I just want to play songs for my children and help them develop a love for music early in life. My lessons with Stephen have been invaluable in helping me reach this goal."
Guitarmann Member
