Dan Whittemore Music

"Little Bitty Seeds"

Dan Whittemore ©1978 Lillenas Publishing Co

Of all the songs I've written this one is still the most asked about. The inspiration for this song came from Matthew 13 and was first entitled "The Sower Parable"  and published by Liillenas Publishing in a discipleship project,"Follow Me".  It was at a Youth Camp in Alaska (Solid Rock Bible Camp) that the motions for the song were born. I still lead worship in our church.  But I really love children's camp and our annual VBS, and yes, we still sing Little Bitty Seeds.

       G                                                D

The Word of God is like little bitty seeds, scattered all around,

            D                                                               G

The Word of God is like little bitty seeds, scattered all around,

G                                  G7

Some on the road, some in the weeds,

            C                                                   C#o

But everywhere you look you find little bitty seeds,

               G                              D                                                       G

The Word of God is like little bitty seeds, scattered all around,

        

The Word of God is like little bitty seeds

Scattered all around

The Word of God is like little bitty seeds

Scattered all around

Some on the road, Some in the weeds

But everywhere you look you find little bitty seeds

The word of God is like little Bitty Seeds

Scattered all around..

 

The seed that falls in the middle of the road

The birds steal it away

The seed that falls in the middle of the road

The birds steal it away

Now the road compares to any mans heart

Who rejects the Word from the very start

The seed that falls in the middle of the road

The birds steal it away

Now what about the seed that falls in the weeds?

It doen't produce much grain.

What about the seed that falls in the weeds?

It doesn't produce much grain.

You can hear the word but still live in strife

If the seed in the weeds choke out the life,

What about the seed that falls in the weeds?

It doesn't produce much grain.

 

Now I want the Word to grow in my heart

like seed on fertile ground.

I want the Word to grow in my heart

like seed on fertile ground.

Watered by the Spirit and touched by the sun

And living like I should until the harvest come,

Now I want the Word to grow in my heart

like seed on fertile ground.

 

  "My God I Exalt Your Name".

 Dan Whittemore ©1979 Praise Review 

 

 I love the mountains. My friend, Bill Birch, would take me on these long 50 mile backpack adventures through the Marble Mountains. Though it was tiring it wasn't long and I was hooked.  I really loved it. The beauty, the majesty and the absence of the daily rush were the perfect atmosphere for inspiration. 

Many of my songs were written on these adventures.  This song began on a hike to Wild Lake, looking down at my feet, thinking about Psalm 147, sucking on a starburst, to keep myself from thinking "why am I doing this?" And always, when the lake was finally in view, the praise, "this is amazing"......           

Who has count of all the stars and given them all names,?

Who has covered up the heavens

with clouds,  that bring earth rain?

And who on earth by His command

makes spring of icy winter snow?

Lord to you will I sing praises my God,

My God,  I exalt Your name.

 

And who makes the barren hillsides green

who gives the beast his food?

Who establishes our borders

with peace, when we live as we should?

And who can heal a broken heart and bind every wound?

Lord to You will I sing praises, my God I exalt Your name.

 

You don't delight in speed of horses.

You don't rely on the legs of men.

You're only pleased by those who fear You,

All who on Your love depend.

 

And who brings hope to those oppressed,

who casts the wicked down?

Who has shown with understanding

a mind without limits or bounds?

And who on earth is great as He or mightier in power?

O to You will I sing praises, my God I exalt Your Name,

My God I exalt Your Name.

 

 "TO YOU WILL I LIFT UP MY SOUL"

Dan Whittemore ©1980 Lillenas Publishing Co

On another backpack trip out of Kidder Creek Orchard Camp into the Marble mountains we were about 10 miles in the wilderness, off the main trial, camped out at Milne Lake (somebody help me with the spelling). It was so beautiful or we were so tired from the hike that we decided to stay there a few days.

Early one morning two of us took a day hike. When we got to the top of the ridge we found ourselves separated by a steep canyon about 150 feet wide. I decided to climb down the face of the cliff and make my way over to where my friend was waiting. On my way down, the rock I was standing on gave way and I found myself hanging on a ridge. As I felt around for a foothold, one of those big, black and yellow bumble bees started flying around my face. That morning I had been reading Psalm 25 and while my life flashed before me hanging on that ridge, one of the verses came to mind. "To You, O Lord, I will lift up my soul, in You I trust, O my God."

Well, I didn't die and eventually made it over to my friend and back down to camp. I got my hiking guitar out and wrote this song.

 

To You, O Lord,

will I lift up my soul In You,

In You O my God, will I Trust,

Show me Your ways, Teach me your path

Guide me, let Your truth surround me,

For You are my God, You are my savior,

My hope is in You all my days,

Show me Your ways,

Teach me Your path,

In You will I lift up my soul.

 

"Walkin' Sinai"

Al Poirier ©1974 Lillenas Publishing Co.

 I love songs that make you think and make you laugh. When I sang "Walkin Sinai" That's what people did. They relate and they laugh. I didn't write this song, but this is how I found it.

I was singing at a YMCA camp in the Fresno mountains. One evening, after most of the campers were in bed, a few of us were sitting around a fire sharing songs and stories. One guy sang part of a song, as much as he could remember, he called it "Wilderness Blues". I heard the line "Take another lap around Mount Sinai, til' you learn your lesson" and couldn't stop thinking about it. I asked him where the song came from and he said "some guy in Chico wrote it, his name is Al Poirier". I was just about ready to record my first album and decided I wanted to use that song and so the adventure began.

I was determinded to find Al Poirier so I drove to Chico, prayed and asked around until I found him. God is good but Al wasn't home. He was a student at Chico state, I believe, and away on break. We did hook up eventually, completed the song and I recorded it. I sang "Walkin' Sinai" everywhere I went. Still today people who remember me say "Oh, you're the guy who wrote Walkin' Sinai", and I say, "no, but I can tell you how I found it".

Well, don't you know that in the days of old,

When the Israelites didn't do what they were told,

Because of their stubbornness, they failed the test.

When they wondered in their faith each time

By their whinin' and their cryin' for a sign,

Our Lord, simply told them this....

Go on and take another lap around Mount Sinai,

Till you learn your listen,

Till you stop your whinin' and you quit your rebellin'

Till you learn to stand in your day of testin'

By trustin' and obeyin' the Lord.

Well, have you been in the situation

When the Lord asked you to wait upon Him

but it seemed you could not remain still.

So you started plannin' what you're gonna do

cause you thought the Lord had forgotten you

and just then, You hear Him say.....

Go on and...........

Well, just the other day I heard the Lord say,

Son, you got to take another step of faith

And trust me to carry you through the storm.

But when the stom started gettin' rough

Well, I thought the Lord wasn't strong enough

So I started doin' things on my own

And He said, take another lap................

 

"Trumpet Song"

Dan Whittemore ©1977 Lillenas Publishing Co.

If you are a writer, a painter, designer, an inventor or creator of any inspired work, you know the time it takes sometimes just to come up with an idea to get started.  And then sometimes inspiration comes so fast and so complete, you don't know if you can write down your thoughts fast enough to capture it all.  That's how "Trumpet Song" came together. 

I was by myself driving my old Ford van, I don't even remember where,  thinking about the rapture, what it would be like leading people in worship, hearing the trumpet call of God and suddenly, in the twinkling of an eye, it happens..... we are singing in the presence of God.

I pulled off the road, got my guitar, pad and pencil out, and it all came together.... God is so good...

 

Lately when there's no one around,

it seems I hear this strange little sound,

it sounds like a distance trumpet softly blowing.

And everytime that trumpet  blows,

my heart jumps for joy,

because the loader it gets

the closer I am to going home

 

At first it really obsurd,

until I started reading the Word,

and the message that it spoke it spoke so clearly.

Now everytime that trumpet blows,

my heart jumps for joy,

because the louder it gets the closer

I am to going home

 

Going home to see my savior,

going home to claim my crown,

oh when the trump of God starts calling

you know I won't be standing 'round.

So trumpets keep on blowin'

while my heart jumps for joy,

because the louder it gets the closer

I am to going home....

 

 

"Makes Manufacturer's Instruction Manual"

 Dan Whittemore Lillenas Publishing @1978

Everybody knows about instruction manuals, how valuable they are, especially after you try to put something together guessing.  I feel that's the way life is.  It is a struggle guessing.  So why guess?  God made us and He know's why we are made the way we are and how we function the best.  We just need to read the manual, the maker's manufacturer's instruction manual, the Bible....

When your car needs a tune up tell me
Where do you look,
In your National Geographic,
Or your Graham Kerr cook book?
No, you find the help you need
From whoever made your car.
Need the next time you're not runnin' right
Guess where the answers are.

In your Maker's Manufacturer's Instruction Manual,
Some folks call the good book,
But by most still called the Bible.
And everything from major overhalls
Down to the smallist need,
Your Maker's Manufacturer's
Instruction Manual's guaranteed.

Now I once knew an old man
Been around for many years.
He was poor and hard of hearin'
But still grinned from ear to ear.
And anyone who asked him
What it was that made him glad,
It said it was the routine checkups
From the bible that he had.

Now you might say that's good for you
But I consult the star,
My friend don't you know Jesus
Made and put them where they are.
I fact it is His power that holds
This universe on course,
The next time you got questions
Why not go consult the source. 

 

"Where are You Going" Ecclesiastes 2:21-23 

Dan Whittemore ©1974 LIllenas Publishing Company

What does a man get for all his hard work,

O, What in a life time's worth saving,

For a day is the same as it was ages ago

And all that was is assured of returning.

 

It's the same sun that sets every evening,

And the same moon that shined through ages past,

And the same water that flows to the sea,

O, tell me lowly man where are you going?

 

As for me I know the hand that provides what I need

Is the hand of God who is eternal,

And since nothing I gain on this earth will remain,

All my hope is in my God the creator.

 

It's the same sun that sets every evening,

And the same moon that shined through ages past,

And the same water that flows to the sea,

O, tell me lowly man where are you going?

Lowly man where are you going?

Lowly man where are you going?

"More Than A Song"

Dan Whitttemore ©1983 Lillenas Publishing Company

More than a song sung to praise You,

More than just words I learn to say,

If I'm to be an instrument worth using,

Breathe life in me, breathe life in me.

You know my thoughts before they're spoken,

You know the frailty of my ways,

Still if there be some hope revealed in my weakness,

Breathe life in me, breathe life in me.

 

Lord, without your life mine has no meaning,

Without your joy dark is my day,

And without you Lord my love is vain and empty,

Without you Lord hope slips away.

 

Lord breathe life in me first for Your name sake,

Breathe life in me that men might say,

"Truly  his God is full of compassion",

Breathe life in me, breathe life in me.

Breathe life in me, breathe life in me.

 

More than a song sung to praise you,

More that just words I learn to say,

If I'm to be an instrument worth using,

Breathe life in me, breathe life in me,

Breathe life in me I pray,

Breath life in me, I pray....

 

 

Like a Deer  Dan Whittemore  Psalm 42:1 

Lillenas Publishing Company 1978

 

Like a deer pants for the waters brook

My God that’s how I thirst for You.

You give al I desire in a single look

and who can satisfy the way you do.

 

For Your loving kindness in the day time

and Your song within me in the night,

gives me strength to turn away from darkness

and the courage to do what is right.

 

Though I try to walk a straight and narrow road

To often I slip or lose my way.

Then ashamed I turn and find You waiting Lord

You’re even faithful to me when I stray.

 

For Your loving kindness in the day time

and Your song within me in the night,

gives me strength to turn away from darkness

and the courage to do what is right.

 

My life is passing like the wind that blows,

My body withers like the grass.

If it were not for the love that touched my soul

It to it’s rightful doom would pass...

 

For Your loving kindness in the day time

and Your song within me in the night,

gives me strength to turn away from darkness

and the courage to do what is right.