Hymn 5: “How Hurtful Was the Choice of Lot”

If every Friday a hymn is uploaded, and today is Friday, that must mean that its time to upload another hymn.

We’re on to Hymn #5, with the heading “Lot in Sodom” or, if we use the first line for the title, “How Hurtful Was the Choice of Lot”. As usual, the hymn can be played below here, or downloaded on the side.

The Hymn

The hymn, by John Newton tells the story of Lot and the destruction of Sodom. The verse Newton focuses on Genesis 13:10, which says, “And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord m destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)”

Newton again, while writing a hymn primarily focusing on God’s righteous wrath, highlights God’s great mercy on Lot and on us. The hymn also seems to provide a firm, but loving warning about worldliness.

Melody, Arrangement & Production

While probably not appropriate for a congregational setting, I thought that melody seemed to fit the subject matter. Likewise I feel that the arrangement fits with the melody and mood of the hymn as well.

As a bit of an aside, I’d like to note that when I write, I have a tendency to write with the full arrangement in view, or at least with a full arrangement built before the melody. When it comes to careful songwriting, this is a weakness of mine.

Digression over.

The arrangement begins with a pattern of TR-808 samples, a droning bass-pad and an organ, which carry through the entire song. Throughout most of the song, I also abuse a vocoder along with abusing reverb (on the electric guitar especially).

You might be able to tell who some of musical influences are here as well (other than Lindsey Buckingham). On that note, I did mull over adding a powerful gated snare part, but ultimately decided it didn’t fit the mood I was going for with the song.

Continue past the break for the hymn’s text.