He's alive - Dolly Parton
Written by Don Francisco, this Easter song was sung by Dolly Parton, backed by a 100-member choir, at the 23rd Annual CMA Awards in 1989.
The song, which tells the Resurrection from Peter's perspective, was the #1 song when CCM's first chart was published and it holds the record for the longest-running chart single in the history of Christian radio. This tune won Don Francisco the 1980 Dove Award for Song of the Year and Songwriter of the Year.
Notes:
- CMA = Country Music Association
- CCM = Contemporary Christian music
- Don Francisco (born February 28, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician, specializing in contemporary Christian music, using ballad styles.
- Dolly Parton (born Dolly Rebecca Parton January 19, 1946) is an American country music singer-songwriter, actress, author, and humanitarian. She is the most honored female country performer of all time, with 25 RIAA certified gold, platinum, and multi-platinum awards.
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Thank you very much, I feel very honored to get to sing this song, on the show tonight, and Mom would say "I hope you get a blessing out of it".
The gates and doors were barred
And all the windows fastened down
I spent the night in sleeplessness
And rose at every sound
Half in hopeless sorrow
And half in fear the day
Would find the soldiers breaking through
To drag us all away
And just before the sunrise
I heard somethin' at the wall
The gate began to rattle
And a voice began to call
So I hurried to the window
Looked down into the street
Expecting swords and torches
And the sound of soldiers' feet
But there was no one there but Mary
So I went down to let her in
John stood there beside me
As she told me where she'd been
She said, "They've moved Him in the night"
And none of us knows where
The Stone's been rolled away
And now His body isn't there
So we both ran toward the garden
And John ran on ahead
We found the stone and empty tomb
Just the way that Mary said
But the winding sheet they wrapped Him in
Was just an empty shell
And how or where they'd taken Him
Was more than I could tell
Oh, that something strange had happened there
Just what I did not know
John believed a miracle
But I just turned to go
Circumstance and speculation
Couldn't lift me very high
'Cause I'd seen them crucify Him
And I saw Him die
Back inside the house again
The guilt and anguish came
And everything I'd promised Him
Just added to my shame
When at last it came to choices
I denied I knew His name
And even if He was alive
It wouldn't be the same
Then suddenly the air was filled
With a strange and sweet perfume
Light that came from everywhere
Drove shadows from the room
And Jesus stood before me
With His arms held open wide
Then I fell down on my knees
And I just clung to Him and cried
Then He raised me to my feet
And as I looked into His eyes
The love was shining out from Him
Like sunlight from the skies
Guilt and my confusion
Disappeared in sweet release
And every fear I ever had
Just melted into peace
He's alive, oh He's alive
Oh He's alive and I'm forgiven
Heaven's gates are open wide
He's alive, He's alive
Oh He's alive and I'm forgiven
Heaven's gates are open wide
He's alive, He's alive
He's alive, He's alive
He's alive and I'm forgiven
Heaven's gates are open wide
He's alive, He's alive,
Oh He's alive, He's alive,
Oh He's alive, sweet Jesus
Thank you very much, I feel very honored to get to sing this song, on the show tonight, and Mom would say "I hope you get a blessing out of it".
The gates and doors were barred
And all the windows fastened down
I spent the night in sleeplessness
And rose at every sound
Half in hopeless sorrow
And half in fear the day
Would find the soldiers breaking through
To drag us all away
And just before the sunrise
I heard somethin' at the wall
The gate began to rattle
And a voice began to call
So I hurried to the window
Looked down into the street
Expecting swords and torches
And the sound of soldiers' feet
But there was no one there but Mary
So I went down to let her in
John stood there beside me
As she told me where she'd been
She said, "They've moved Him in the night"
And none of us knows where
The Stone's been rolled away
And now His body isn't there
So we both ran toward the garden
And John ran on ahead
We found the stone and empty tomb
Just the way that Mary said
But the winding sheet they wrapped Him in
Was just an empty shell
And how or where they'd taken Him
Was more than I could tell
Oh, that something strange had happened there
Just what I did not know
John believed a miracle
But I just turned to go
Circumstance and speculation
Couldn't lift me very high
'Cause I'd seen them crucify Him
And I saw Him die
Back inside the house again
The guilt and anguish came
And everything I'd promised Him
Just added to my shame
When at last it came to choices
I denied I knew His name
And even if He was alive
It wouldn't be the same
Then suddenly the air was filled
With a strange and sweet perfume
Light that came from everywhere
Drove shadows from the room
And Jesus stood before me
With His arms held open wide
Then I fell down on my knees
And I just clung to Him and cried
Then He raised me to my feet
And as I looked into His eyes
The love was shining out from Him
Like sunlight from the skies
Guilt and my confusion
Disappeared in sweet release
And every fear I ever had
Just melted into peace
He's alive, oh He's alive
Oh He's alive and I'm forgiven
Heaven's gates are open wide
He's alive, He's alive
Oh He's alive and I'm forgiven
Heaven's gates are open wide
He's alive, He's alive
He's alive, He's alive
He's alive and I'm forgiven
Heaven's gates are open wide
He's alive, He's alive,
Oh He's alive, He's alive,
Oh He's alive, sweet Jesus