I can clearly envisage the scene now. It was Christmas Day. The mid 1970’s. The Christmas Tree, that stood in the same place every year in our front room, was surrounded by a modest pile of presents. All were wrapped in different types of gold and silver wrapping paper, all except one. This gift stood off to the side, and when you saw the size and the shape it was no surprise that it wasn’t wrapped. I felt a huge buzz of excitement when my mum said to me, “Neil, that’s your present.”
As I hastily removed the lid of the box my first ever guitar came into view. It truly was a thing of beauty. A shimmering belly of laminated wood that glowed with orange and brown hues, with three nylon and three metal strings. As I pulled it from the box I began to imagine myself as the next Simon & Garfunkel or Peter Sarstedt or even joining the Fisherfolk Gospel Music Group. It took me a while to get the hang of tuning it, and it wasn’t long before the fingertips of my left hand began aching – along with the ears of my family!
One of the first music books I ever set my eyes on was Sounds of Living Water! That and Youth Praise became the bedrock of my rock/folk/gospel setlist. There was many a tune that I belted out in my bedroom that was the perfect antidote to the very traditional Congregational Praise hymn sandwich offered by Clarendon Park. Although, to be fair, Elfed Williams on the magnificent organ there was always willing to bring new music into his and the choirs repertoire.
One such hymn was Thank you Lord for this fine day by Diana Davis. Back in the seventies I thought this song rocked. Perhaps it was not as good as Bohemian Rhapsody, but it was good. With Mr Williams on the organ and the CPCC Choir in their prime it was really good. Anyway, I still think it's pretty cool – even if this is the first time I’ve thought about it in a long while!
With 3 chords, a rollicking good tune and very simple words it’s a belter. In a week when people across the water celebrate Thanksgiving it perhaps it’s a timely reminder for us to give thanks too.
Thank you Lord for this fine day
Right where we are
Thank you Lord for loving us
Right where we are.
Thank you Lord for giving us peace
Right where we are.
Thank you Lord for setting us free
Right where we are.
Alleluia praise the Lord!
Neil Chappell
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