Today’s post was written by Paul.
Today I’m sharing one of Pap’s earliest songs “The Bright Shining Light.” I don’t know when he wrote it, only that it was sometime before I came along.
I found a few rough versions of it on old reel to reel tapes, and he and his brother Ray recorded it once in the early 90’s. CDbaby just released my recording of it a few days ago.
As I mentioned in my last video, you can hear all the singles as I release them by going to the Paul Wade Wilson music channel on YouTube, though the audio quality won’t be as good as it will eventually be on the finished CD.
It’s kind of funny that I also found a YouTube channel, that I didn’t know existed, that’s under the name Paul Wilson, with no middle name. This channel has the entire “Shepherd of My Soul” album on it (which is also made up mostly of original songs that Pap wrote), but it also has albums by two other Paul Wilsons! đŸ™‚ I don’t know those gentlemen. If I remember correctly, one plays jazz and the other alternative rock. They both seem pretty polished and professional. I guess CDbaby somehow couldn’t tell us apart. Good thing that I added my middle name with the newer releases.
Anyway, this is one of Pap’s simpler songs in terms of the chords and lyrics, but I always found it poetic and thought-provoking. If you’ve ever been lost in the woods, even for just a few seconds, you may know the rising feeling of panic that can start.
If you’ve ever seen the movie The Edge with Anthony Hopkins, you know that it deals with this concept a little, with the protagonist explaining that most people lost in the wilderness die of shame; the shame and panic causes them to not think clearly and to give up. I think the analogy in Pap’s song works well. Without Christ as our light and landmark, what else can we do but wander in distress?
In this song, Pap follows a similar pattern as in “See the Salvation of the Lord,” where in the second half of the song, he connects the situation or plight directly to himself, rather than to the listener or some other person. In “See the Salvation,” it happens in the final chorus. In “The Bright Shining Light,” it happens at the start of the second verse.
In my last video, I mentioned that I was waiting on someone to create “cover art” for this song. I like how it turned out, you can see it at the top of this post. It seems to present the right mood for the song.
Please let me know in the comments what you think. I won’t be using this art for the CD because this won’t be the title track.
Thank you for watching, and I hope you have a great week!
Paul
Such a beautiful song!
Truth, Goodness and Beauty. That’s what these posts, ponderings and people mean to me. Thank you so much.
I love hearing songs filled with the hope of our Lord Jesus. Jesus is the only true light in the darkest of times. Paul has a wonderful voice and the song is well written. Thank you for sharing!
My wife, grandson, and me got to go to church today and we had a good service, We came home and I listened to this good song. Thanks Paul!!
What a wonderful voice you have, Paul. How super that you have these songs, and WHAT a Legacy.
My sister just recently passed away so this is a very comforting song. Love it! Have subscribed to your YouTube channel & can’t wait to listen to all the other songs.
Louise-I’m so sorry for the loss of your sister. I’m glad you enjoyed the song đŸ™‚
I enjoy all of your families channels and soak up your culture and entertainment. God has blessed your family with abundance.
Another channel I watch is the “Hillbilly Kitchen”. They are facing the sting of loss as the father Bret has gone home to our Father in Heaven. If possible, could your family send love and maybe a song or two to ease their burden?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBqpFllzrUU&ab_channel=TheHillbillyKitchen-DownHomeCountryCooking
Chris-thank you for letting me know about Bret’s passing. I really like her channel. I’ll be sure to send her a song and my condolences.
What a beautiful song. I loved it. Thanks Paul
I went many a night coon hunting with my Dad and down on the river fishing at night. The woods are a different place after the sun goes down. A little light makes a ‘room’ in the darkness where, as the bible says, one can walk “surely”. Odd how the darker it gets the more help there is in even dim lights. I think Pap knew about the woods at night and I know he knew about biblical darkness.
Great job on the song and a good reminder on Sunday morning.
What a wonderful song. I sure enjoyed it. What a great way to start my Sunday. Thank you Paul.
On some previous blog of Tippers, at the bottom where you see the words “you may also like” I noticed it had that song “The Bright Shining Light. I had never heard it before so I clicked on it and thought Pap did a wonderful job writing that song. You did a wonderful job singing it too and the picture fits it beautifully.
Lovely. It’s such a comforting song, and the world can always use hope.
There’s much truth in that song that your father wrote. Thanks for sharing it with us.
As usual, I find a very bright and happy spot in my soul that awakens each time I get to hear Paul’s singing and guitar playing! I think the picture in the darkness with the winding river and the little light gives a glimpse at our walk with the Lord. He is a lamp unto thy feet and a light unto thy path. Our walk is only lit as far as we need to see our next steps as we trust in the Lord. It’s not a walk lot by stadium lights and big street lights. God bless you all this fine Sunday of the Lord’s!!!
That’s lovely Paul! I can feel Pap’s spirit in it and your fits it perfectly!
I miss him too, he was such a sweet gentle spirit in this world!