Rev John Davis, vicar of St Paul's in Walsall, tells how a soul classic touched his spirit.



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I really looked forward to my daily visits and his friends came round more often and enjoyed being with him.

Before his death a few weeks later he told me of how real Jesus had become and of his great love for him

You may have seen the funeral in the national press.

The son of a builder went to his funeral on the back of his father's lorry surrounded by the crash helmets of all his scooter club friends.

Mods and rockers followed the lorry in droves on their machines. The family had picked some special music to be played at the funeral of the lad who had never set foot in church.

The central piece of music following the address which accompanied Chris' story was stunning in its impact: "Your love is lifting me higher."


(YOUR LOVE HAS LIFTED ME) HIGHER AND HIGHER
Your love is liftin' me higher than I've ever been lifted before
Your love is liftin' me higher than I've ever been lifted before
So keep it up, quench my desire, and I'll be by your side forever more.

Now once, I was downhearted, disappointment was my closest friend
But you came, he soon departed and he never showed his face again.

I'm so glad I finally found you: you're that 'one in a million' man
When you wrap your lovin' arms around me, I can stand up and face the world again.

Your love keeps liftin' me higher than I've ever been lifted before.
Your love keeps liftin' me higher than I've ever been lifted before.
So keep it up, quench my desire and I'll be yours forever more.
(© copyright 1967, Warner Bros Music/EMI Music. Used with permission.)

REMEMBERING CARL SMITH

I met Carl Smith, co-composer of 'Higher And Higher', at Stax Records, Memphis, Tennessee in 1974. I wasn't a Christian then, just a journalist and black music fan, thrilled to be at the birthplace of all those great records (Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Isaac Hayes, et al).

I was fascinated by this diminutive, smiling man who wrote soul hits for Fontella Bass, Jackie Ross, Jackie Willson and the Emotions, first out of Chicago then Memphis.

'Rescue Me', 'We're Gonna Make It' and a gem he wrote for Al Green, 'Got To Find a New World' were just some of Carl's best. It was years later after Christ had utterly turned my life around - and after my taste in music had move towards lyrics beyond tales of lust and partying - that I heard in '87 Jackie Willson's old Northern Soul stomper transformed into an anthem to God by the Inspirational Choir. Some black church folk were shocked by the Inspirationals taking a 'pop' song to praise God with. But the lyrics seemed to fit so wonderfully.

After I'd met the Reverend John Davis I found myself reminiscing about Carl Smith. Carl is a Christian. He grew up steeped in black church. I reckon he knew exactly what he was writing when he penned those joyful, transcendent lyrics, which speak of a love with the power to lift us to the heavenlies. - Tony Cummings CR

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.