How Can I Keep from Singing?

By Pamela Rose Williams

If you have known me long enough you know that one of my favorite Worship Leaders and singer/songwriters it Chris Tomlin. I like his voice but mostly I love how his songs are inspired by Scripture as well as by the great hymns of faith — which are also very Scriptural.

This song ‘How Can I Keep from Singing’ is one such song that is based upon a great hymn of faith with the same title. The words and the music to the hymn are now a matter of Public Domain so I thought I would share them with you as part of this video post for your worship today.

I especially love the bridge of this rendition because it tells us when we can sing:

I can sing in the troubled times
Sing when I win

I can sing when I lose my step
And fall down again

I can sing ’cause You pick me up

Sing ’cause You’re there

I can sing ’cause You hear me Lord
When I call to You in prayer

I can sing with my last breath

Sing for I know
That I’ll sing with the angels
And the saints around the throne

Looks like we should be singing all the time. Reminds me of this passage:

“… they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.  And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.  And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:  Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.  And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” (Acts 16:19-25)

Before you read any further you must start playing the video below and sing along for praise and worship. Then take a look at the original hymn and the words that inspired Christ Tomlin, Ed Cash and Matt Redman to write and sing this new song.

Here are the original lyrics that were penned by Robert Lowry and first published in 1868:

Verse 1

My life flows on in endless song
Above earth’s lamentation
I catch the sweet though far off hymn
That hails a new creation

Chorus 1

No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that rock I’m clinging
Since Love is Lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing

Verse 2

Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear that music ringing
It finds an echo in my soul
How can I keep from singing

Verse 3

What though the joys
And comforts die
The Lord my Saviour liveth
What though the darkness
Round me close
Songs in the night He giveth

Verse 4

The peace of Christ
Makes fresh my heart
A fountain ever springing
All things are mine since I am His
How can I keep from singing

Sometimes a new song is an old song. That’s okay by me as long as I can keep singing!