Garth tells the background to the song:
“‘Let Nothing Disturb You’ was inspired by some words of Teresa of Avila, also known as St Teresa of Jesus (1515 – 1582). She was a Prioress and Carmelite nun, a central figure in a movement of spiritual and monastic renewal.
And she wrote these words as a poem, translated here:
All things are passing
God alone never changes
Patience gains all things
If you have God
You will want for nothing
God alone suffices
These words were taken by musicians at Taizé and turned into a short four line song – suitable for times of worship, and the song is repeated again and again. Taizé music is beautiful and very suitable for Lent. I heard the Taizé song from friend and guitarist Dave Perry who played it to a group of us one evening – Dave was the guitarist on my new album My Name Is Palestine, which includes this song.
I liked this chorus, and thought that for a song on an album it needed a bit more progression so I wrote three other verses and then a chorus section. The words are picking up on the original theme of Teresa and also Taizé, where again the song is normally sung in Spanish so I end the song with the Spanish words “Nada te turbé”.
My assistant Isobel makes video clips to go with some of my songs – as Isobel was thinking of the words, she also thought of the Bible verses in Matthew 6:25-31 and that influenced the sequence of birds and flowers in the song.
I had recently had an encounter with two Goldfinches!
As I came out of my house they came over to the wall right next to where I was, almost to encourage or greet me. And strangely, in the midst of this difficult and challenging time it was a moment of encounter – very brief but it left me encouraged.
It’s good if we can spot little moments of inspiration in these worrying times.
Looking at the words in Matthew 10:30 where it talks about the hairs of our heads being numbered, it reminded me of the chorus of a song I wrote many years ago called ‘Thirty-two Years’:
The hairs on your head are all numbered tonight
The Father still loves you and though things don’t seem right
You are not forgotten, don’t give up too soon
You think it’s the evening when in fact it’s still noon… it’s still noon”
Lyrics:
Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten
Everything passes,
But God Remains
God stays beside you
God your companion
Closer than breathing
God still remains
chorus:
God remains – God still remains
Light in the darkness
Voice of the voiceless
God still remains
God remains – God still remains
Bringer of justice
Friend to the outcast
God still remains – God remains
God of mercy
God of peace
God of love
And love still remains
God of hope
God of grace
God of love
And love still remains
chorus:
God remains – God still remains
Light in the darkness
Voice of the voiceless
God still remains
God remains – God still remains
Bringer of justice
Friend to the outcast
God still remains –God remains
Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten
Everything passes,
But God remains
Nada te turbe,
Nada te espante
Solo Dios basta
Music & words of Nada te turbe & verse1 Jacques Berthier © Ateliers et Presses de Taizé (A&PT), . Verses 2, 3, 4 & Chorus Garth Hewitt © 2019 GingerDog Records
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Garth Hewitt writes redemption songs
and then sings them without fear.
His voice comes through clearly,
challenging us by his witness to act for justice. His is a brave voice,
needed more than ever in a fearful world, and in a sometimes timid church.
Please God, it will help us
sing redemption songs of our own.
The Revd Lucy Winkett
Rector, St James’s Piccadilly
previous Chair of Trustees of Amos Trust