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Songs that make me think : Would you cherish

13 Jan 2007 | Bible Study

I was thinking about this song during the week and managed to find the words on the internet but I was unable to find out who wrote it. I think Evie Tornquist sang it in the late 70’s/early 80’s. If anyone knows any more details, especially who wrote it, please let me know.

Would you cherish loving arms, if you’d never shed a tear?
Would you welcome going home, if you’d never been away?
Would you treasure guiding hands if you’d never been alone?
I don’t think so, I don’t think so, I really don’t think so.

Would you value having hope, if you’d never known despair?
Would you treasure being safe, if you’d never lost your way?
Would you cherish gentle words, if you’d never been afraid?
I don’t think so, I don’t think so, I really don’t think so.

(Note: The words to the third verse are in the comments)

43 Comments

  1. Susan
    Susan on June 24, 2007 at 11:43 am

    These are the words to the third verse (which I personally don’t think fit with the theme of the song which is why I didn’t include them in the post, nevertheless here they are):

    If we knew the love that the Lord has shown to man,
    If we really try to do what the Lord has planned for us
    Then we’d love each other more, we would find new happiness.
    Yes, I think so, yes, I think so, I really do think so.

    • KerriAnn
      KerriAnn on April 12, 2020 at 3:29 am

      I have been looking for this song for years too. I sang it in a musical review production when I was still in high school. it touched me so much that I never forgot the lyrics or melody but I didn’t remember who wrote it or the name of the show it was written for so I had not been able to find it. If anyone has a recorded version so I can hear it, sing along & share it, please let me know

  2. Susan
    Susan on March 11, 2008 at 11:38 am

    I have received information that this song was written by Grace Hawthorne and Burly Red and is in a book called, Low Voice Treasury, compiled by Tom Fettke and produced by Lillenas Music.

    I have been unable to confirm these details if anyone has the book and could check please let me know.

  3. pilgrim
    pilgrim on June 27, 2008 at 6:24 pm

    Dear Susan,

    Greetings!
    I”ve been looking for this song fro many many years. This was a song my wife sang (at that time still my girl friend) and recorded and sent it to me. My wife doesn’t remember all the words, neither do I . So we try to look for the lyrics. We are Christian, ministerial couples, we love music and writing a lot. We were in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane a few years ago, and we love Australia. Oh, before I forget, I am a great fan of the Seeker, Judith Durham is just wonferful. Finally, my wife is also called Susan. Peace!

  4. pilgrim
    pilgrim on June 27, 2008 at 6:27 pm

    Hi Susan,

    Do You have the music of “Would You?”
    Thanks

    Alan and Susan

  5. Susan
    Susan on June 28, 2008 at 2:49 am

    No sorry, I don’t have the music. All the information I have about this song is in this post. If I receive any further information I’ll post it here.

    I must say I have been greatly surprised by the amount of interest (hits & visits) I have received from this song.

  6. Susan
    Susan on August 15, 2008 at 9:13 am

    I received another email with further information about this song:

    “The song “Would you” was included in the musical cantata “Light Shine”. It was published in 1972 by Word Music Inc. The songs were by Grace Hawthorne and Buryl Red.”

  7. Lisa
    Lisa on October 25, 2008 at 6:03 pm

    I have always loved this song! When I was in high school our concert choir sang this song. My mum always loved it, and when she passed away, I had my friend from high school sing it at her funeral. There is another song that makes you think. I only know the first verse and the chorus. It’s called: “Life is Now”. It’s words are:
    “Life is now, with all it’s joys and sorrows. Life is now, so live it while you may.
    Here and now, who knows about tomorrow. Here and now don’t let it fade away.
    Everyone must have their share of sorrow. Everyone must have their share of pain.
    So live today, love life to fullest measure, for today will never come again.”
    There are more verses, but that is the jist of the song and it is definitely words to live by. Does anyone else know the rest of the words? I sang it in choir and it was a favorite.

  8. Lisa
    Lisa on October 25, 2008 at 6:28 pm

    I actually found the song on iTunes and purchased it. The man singing it is George Beverly Shea and the name of the album is “I’d rather have Jesus”. I’m so excited! Now if I can only find the music and lyrics to the song “Life is Now”…..

  9. Susan
    Susan on October 30, 2008 at 10:54 am

    Life is Now is not a song that I’m familiar with. I hope you find the music and lyrics.

    Thanks for dropping by.

  10. Larry Robarge
    Larry Robarge on December 19, 2009 at 5:19 am

    My wife and I had this song sung in our wedding in 1978. The words have been running through my mind this last week and I came across your post while trying to find the song on line.

    Larry

  11. Susan
    Susan on December 19, 2009 at 6:09 am

    Thanks Larry for dropping by.

    I'm amazed at the popularity of this song.

  12. Sandra
    Sandra on January 31, 2010 at 2:49 pm

    Would you cherish loving arms? I woke up singing this song this morning and started searching for the lyrics. Wow! I'm glad I found them–it brings back so many memories from my teenage years and singing all of Evie's songs. Thank you–just need to see the video of her version. She is such an inspiration!

  13. Susan
    Susan on February 10, 2010 at 3:02 am

    Thanks Sandra for dropping by.

  14. Anonymous
    Anonymous on October 26, 2010 at 10:52 pm

    Hi, I'm from Brazil, and just yesterday, I found this song in a very old tape I have.
    It is from Heritage Singers and I just love it.
    Thank you for post the letter here.
    God bless you.

  15. Susan
    Susan on October 27, 2010 at 1:16 am

    It's a very popular song, Thanks for dropping by.

  16. Anonymous
    Anonymous on December 8, 2010 at 12:42 am

    you can watch it in youtube "Heritage Singers – Would You" (reuelbayaborda@yahoo.com)

  17. Susan
    Susan on December 8, 2010 at 4:36 am

    Thanks for dropping by and telling me. I just played it and that is indeed the song.

  18. Andrew
    Andrew on February 3, 2011 at 10:42 pm

    I have the song, "Would You" on a LP album sung by Wayne Newton. I bought it back in '72. It's a beautiful song.

  19. Susan
    Susan on February 7, 2011 at 5:48 am

    It is indeed a beautiful song, thanks Andrew for dropping by.

  20. Laurie
    Laurie on April 12, 2011 at 8:27 pm

    Our church performed the musical "Light Shine" in the mid 1970's and I was the soloist chosen to sing this song. I had the music book with all the songs and the sheet music for all the songs, including "Would you Cherish" for a while, but somehow during the years of moving, I have lost it. I sure wish I could locate a copy of it. It brings back wonderful memories. I was so scared standing up by myself in front of all those people, but I loved singing that song!

  21. Susan
    Susan on April 13, 2011 at 7:01 am

    Yep, it is a special song. The music is now hard to find. Thanks Laurie for dropping by.

  22. ongpakmui
    ongpakmui on July 6, 2011 at 11:47 pm

    Dear Susan,
    I first heard this song way back in the 70's. But only in recent years, I managed to listen to it again on CD that was sung by a Taiwanese Christian group. It really touched my heart then when I was going through a bad patch. A couple of days ago, I put up the 1st verse on my facebook, my daughter loves it so much. The lyrics touches our heart. I guess that's the power of evergreen songs! Thanks to you for bringing it up (even way back in 2009)

  23. Susan
    Susan on July 14, 2011 at 5:50 am

    and thanks to you for dropping by.

  24. Anonymous
    Anonymous on October 5, 2011 at 4:51 pm

    I am so happy ti find the lyrics to this song….It was playing on the radio when my husband proposed to me 23 years ago.
    Thanks!!!
    B Lonsky

  25. Susan
    Susan on October 13, 2011 at 5:29 am

    You're welcome B.Lonsky

  26. Anonymous
    Anonymous on January 19, 2012 at 2:12 am

    This song was also featured in a songbook called "Sing and Celebrate" that was available in the early '70's.

    • Al Pat McDonald
      Al Pat McDonald on August 8, 2019 at 2:24 pm

      Thanks . After much internet searching your comment led me to my very own copy of Sing and Celebrate II, compiled and edited by Kurt Kaiser, Sonny Salisbury, Billy Ray Hearn, Charles F. Brown, and Robert C. Black. Copyright 1975 by Word Music! WOULD YOU from LIGHTSHINE is on page 75.

  27. Susan
    Susan on January 24, 2012 at 9:30 am

    Thanks for the information.

  28. Anonymous
    Anonymous on February 19, 2012 at 11:29 pm

    I have a copy of a Buryl Red Musical Lightshine with the song Would You in it. The songs in this musical were recorded on Word Album WST-8573

  29. Susan
    Susan on February 20, 2012 at 12:16 pm

    Thanks for this information.

  30. Betty B
    Betty B on August 1, 2012 at 5:36 am

    It is indeed written by REd/Hawthorne, from a youth musical entitled "Lightshine." Written in 1972.

  31. Susan
    Susan on August 1, 2012 at 7:55 am

    Thanks Betty

  32. Anonymous
    Anonymous on September 12, 2014 at 1:02 am

    Greetings, The Marist Singers of NSW use to sing 'Would you' as their signature song in the 1970's. The Marist Singers of Eastwood recorded it in their album 'I'm a Song Sing Me' in 1977with Paul Bateman singing one verse. Thanks, Anthony Golding – Lawson, NSW.

  33. Susan
    Susan on September 12, 2014 at 7:32 am

    Thanks Anthony for the information.

  35. Susan
    Susan on December 5, 2014 at 10:36 pm

    Wow, that's amazing. It was uploaded onto Youtube about three week ago. It is actually Lightshine 7 – Would You
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4spGFDDBxmQ

    The details are: Lightshine, A Youth Musical. Music by Buryl Red, Lyrics by Grace Hawthorne, as performed by The Buryl Red Singers, Arranged & Conducted by Buryl Red, Produced by Billy Ray Hearn.

    Thanks so much 'jmsdo'

  36. Pamela Roseboom
    Pamela Roseboom on January 11, 2015 at 5:05 am

    I've been looking for the lyrics to this song for a long time. I had the lyrics but they were incorrect, repeating a line twice and I wondered what the original line was. I was in a production of the musical "Lightshine" by Burly Red in 8th grade at Maranatha Christian Academy in Costa Mesa, California in 1975. I have always loved this song and I am grateful to you for posting the lyrics including the last verse which we sang, recorded and performed at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa.

  37. Susan
    Susan on January 12, 2015 at 11:00 am

    Thanks Pamela.

    Glad the song was a blessing to you, as it has been to me.

  38. Kitty Evans
    Kitty Evans on October 8, 2019 at 5:10 am

    Hi, I know this is probably a long shot but I am looking for the lyrics of the title song in Lightshine. I was in a youth choir in my teens and we took this musical from Florida to churches in Puerto Rico. We are having a reunion soon and I would like to add the lyrics to a song sheet for our worship service.