Song of the Week - Agnus Dei - Michael W. Smith

The last couple of days there has been a pretty good discussion going on over at The Worship Community Forums regarding this song, so it seemed a perfect time to add it to the Song of the Week list.

This now-classic worship anthem originally showed up on Smitty's 1990 album Go West, Young Man. (Sorry, but that album cover is Wham!alicious) But it went somewhat unnoticed at that point; it didn't show up on either of Smiths' 1993 anthologies, The Wonder Years or The First Decade.

Where it did show up was on Third Day's 2000 live album Offerings: A Worship Album. Infused with Third Day's gritty Southern-rock style, it got new life breathed into it. It reappeared in 2001 on Smitty's Worship, and in 2005 on Donnie McClurkin's Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs.

While the title, a Latin translation of the phrase "Lamb of God," is reminiscent of a classic liturgical invocation which has been in use since the late seventh century. This has no connection to the song, however, which is based on Revelation 5 (worthy is the Lamb) and 19 (for the Lord God Almighty reigns.) The lyrics are so simple:

Alleluia. Alleluia, for the Lord God Almighty reigns...
Holy, holy are you Lord God Almighty, worthy is the Lamb.

At Gospel Light, we generally do this song very simply, acoustic-led, in G. It's more Third Day than Michael W. Smith, but we don't rock it out.

This is recording of us doing it an an unplugged service - one guitar, one percussionist, and one singer. I like it.