LORD, MAKE LESS OF ME Written by Brian Ketchum [Instrumental Intro — brief, gentle fingerpicked acoustic guitar, solitary mandolin, reflective Appalachian gospel atmosphere] [Verse 1 — intimate mature male baritone, quiet confession, sparse guitar, natural conversational phrasing] I stayed behind to stack the chairs When everybody else went home. I told myself I served You, Lord, And didn’t need a soul to know. But when they thanked the other man, I felt that little sting of pride. I smiled and shook his hand that night, Then carried something else inside. [Pre-Chorus — soft dobro enters, slight emotional tension, vocal becomes more vulnerable] I thought that I was serving You With nothing I expected back. But somewhere in that quiet church, I learned how much I lacked. [Chorus — gentle acoustic lift, mandolin and fiddle enter, heartfelt prayerful male vocal, memorable melody, no belting] Lord, make less of me, Till there’s more of You to see. Take this heart that loves the praise And teach it how to bend. Let me cheer when others rise, Even when I’m left behind. Lord, make less of me, And make my heart like Thine. [Verse 2 — steady acoustic pulse, restrained banjo, voice more exposed and troubled] I prayed that You would bless a friend, Then watched his prayers come true. I told him how I praised Your name, And said I thanked You too. But driving home, I asked You why His blessings weren’t my own. I knew that You had answered prayer, But wished it had been mine. [Chorus — fuller acoustic bluegrass arrangement, warm dobro and fiddle, growing conviction without excessive volume] Lord, make less of me, Till there’s more of You to see. Take this heart that loves the praise And teach it how to bend. Let me cheer when others rise, Even when I’m left behind. Lord, make less of me, And make my heart like Thine. [Bridge — sudden instrumental drop, almost completely unaccompanied male vocal, painfully honest, slow deliberate phrasing] I wanted You to have the glory, Long as they remembered me. I never thought that pride could kneel Or hide behind a prayer. I called it giving You my life While keeping back my name. And even now, down on my knees, I want them to see I’ve changed. [Brief silence] [Turn — bare voice with only soft acoustic guitar, intimate and broken, gently sung] Jesus, that’s the part of me I cannot change alone. [Final Chorus — acoustic instruments return gradually, warm restrained harmonies, humble prayer of surrender, deeply emotional but not triumphant] Lord, make less of me, Till there’s more of You to see. Take this heart that loves the praise And teach it how to bend. Let me cheer when others rise, Even when I’m left behind. Lord, make less of me, And make my heart like Thine. [Outro — instruments fall away, voice and fingerpicked acoustic guitar alone, tender and reverent] And if nobody knows my name Or sees the good I’ve done, Let me be content, dear Lord, If they remember Your Son. [End — final guitar note rings naturally into silence]
