Philippians 1:21-24
U
Lyrics
[0:00–0:24 — FIRST PASS / TENSION IN THE CHEST] Philippians one, twenty-one through twenty-four. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. [Start almost bare: dry phone-mic tenor, faint room hiss, muted acoustic pulse, low bass note and one distant electric-guitar harmonic. No full drums. Let “to live is Christ” land calm and grounded. Keep “to die is gain” equally calm — no dramatic darkness. The tension is not fear versus despair; it is mission here versus longing there.] [0:25–1:05 — SECOND PASS / FAST-FLOW INTERNAL DEBATE] Philippians chapter one, verses twenty-one through twenty-four. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. [Bring in dusty boom-bap drums, warm bass guitar, fast muted acoustic strum loop, foot stomp, hand percussion and wide alt-rock guitar haze. Let the long thought move in fast-flow indie-folk cadence.] [LEAD] For to me to live is Christ. [ONE ROUGH OFF-MIC VOICE] Christ. [LEAD] And to die is gain. [Do not answer that line. Let it stand.] But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour. [ACOUSTIC MICROBURST: one quick fingerpicked flourish after “labour,” then back to the strum.] Yet what I shall choose— [MICRO-SILENCE] I wot not. [ONE LOW VOICE] I wot not. [Keep it tiny.] For I am in a strait betwixt two. [Let the bassline tighten underneath.] [1:06–1:39 — INTERLUDE / PULLED TWO DIRECTIONS] Ooh. Yeah. Having a desire to depart— [Let the acoustic keep moving, but thin the drums.] And to be with Christ. [ROUGH CREW — ONE WARM RESPONSE] With Christ. [PSYCHEDELIC MICROBURST: one reverse electric-guitar tail floats backward and upward, then snaps forward.] Which is far better. [ALT-ROCK MICROBURST: one brief wide overdriven guitar bloom after “better,” then disappear.] Nevertheless— [BEAT CUT] To abide in the flesh is more needful for you. [Let that line land humble and close.] [1:40–2:24 — THIRD PASS / HOMESICK BUT STILL CALLED] The epistle of Paul the apostle to the Philippians, chapter one, verses twenty-one through twenty-four. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. [Start with close lead and acoustic strum only. Add stomp, bass, boom-bap drums, then wide electric haze. Let the third pass feel more resolved — not because the longing disappeared, but because the purpose here remains.] [LEAD] For to me to live is Christ. [ONE ROUGH VOICE] To live is Christ. [LEAD] Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ— [SHORT SILENCE] Which is far better. [Let “far better” get one raw imperfect tenor rise.] Nevertheless to abide in the flesh— [DRUMS THIN] Is more needful for you. [ROUGH CREW — ONE SOFT RESPONSE] More needful. [Do not repeat.] [SECOND ACOUSTIC MICROBURST: one tiny warm acoustic harmonic after “for you,” then gone.] [OUTRO / STILL HERE, STILL LOOKING HOME] Ooh. Yeah. [No more scripture repetition. Let the fast acoustic pulse continue under dusty drums, warm bass, foot stomps and wide electric shimmer. One friend hums rough harmony. Another voice gives a low “yeah.”] [Gradually remove the drums.] [Leave acoustic, bass and one distant electric guitar.] [One reverse-guitar flash rises and disappears.] [Hard cut mid-strum.] [OVERALL VOCAL DIRECTION] [The architecture is LIVE IS CHRIST → DIE IS GAIN → FRUITFUL LABOUR → TORN BETWEEN TWO → DESIRE TO BE WITH CHRIST → STILL NEEDED HERE. The song must feel homesick without sounding hopeless. Male tenor stays dry, grainy, breathy and conversational with fast-flow indie-folk phrasing, quick imperfect runs and loose urban swagger. Acoustic guitar is a true rhythmic layer; boom bap remains the backbone. Let “HAVING A DESIRE TO DEPART / AND TO BE WITH CHRIST” carry the ache, but make “MORE NEEDFUL FOR YOU” the grounding return to purpose. Backup vocals sound like rough fellow travelers, not a choir. Psychedelic flashes should feel like briefly seeing home from far away. No glossy folk-pop, polished CCM, cinematic heaven wash or bluegrass dominance. Raw, torn, faithful, homesick, still called.]