There are some songs that seem to have been launched with little or no effort or promotion. Such was the featured song for this story.
In an interview in 2002, Greg Day said to me, When I was 7 years old a visiting preacher at our church, just before the benediction, called me out of the audience and asked me to come to the front of the church. He said to me, Son, this may not mean anything to you now, but one day when you are older, God will give you songs that will change lives. I took that as most 7-year-old boys would take it. I forgot about it.
The brothers became Christians in their early 20s. Both had been hooked on drugs and alcohol. Following is an unusual story about a song they wrote.
Greg began, In 1986 my brother Chuck and I were visiting at our parents home in Adel, Georgia. On Sunday morning, we attended their church, which was beginning a series of evangelistic services. The Rev. Billy Swain, the guest speaker, announced that his sermon series would be called, The Midnight Cry. When Chuck heard the announcement, he took a business card from his wallet and wrote on it, midnight cry. He then said to me, There is something there. We then listened intently to the preachers sermon.
During the afternoon, after lunch with our parents, Chuck and I walked into their living room, and I sat down at the piano. Chuck said, You know, we could probably write a song about that sermon - about the midnight cry. I began to play a few chords on the piano. All of a sudden I said, I hear the sound of a mighty rushing wind, and Chuck answered, And its closer now than its ever been. Then immediately I added, I can almost hear the trumpet as Gabriel sounds the call. Chuck came right back with, At the midnight cry, well be going home. It was line upon line. I would write a line, and he would write a line. That is exactly how Midnight Cry was written - in about 30 minutes, total.
That night, at the church service, Chuck and I sang the song for the first time. We hadnt been singing together, so it was a little rough, but the crowd seemed to be very moved with the presentation of it.
Several months later, the song was sent to a Gadsden, Alabama touring group, Gold City. They recorded Midnight Cry with Ivan Parker singing the solo part. The song immediately began to sweep the Christian music world. Since then, it has been recorded thousands of times and sung around the world in many languages. It was used in the Left Behind movie and video.
After the success of the song, and the writing of hundreds more, Greg now remembers what the pastor told him when he was only 7 years old.
And at midnight there was a cry made... watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. -Matthew 25:13
MIDNIGHT CRY
(Greg Day and Chuck Day)
I hear the sound of a mighty rushing wind
And it's closer now than its ever been
I can almost hear the trumpet
As Gabriel sounds the call
At the midnight cry we'll be going home
When Jesus steps out
On a cloud to call His children
The dead in Christ shall rise
To meet him in the air
And then those that remain
Shall be quickly changed
At the midnight cry
Well be going home
I look around me, I see prophecies fulfilled
And signs of the times their appearing everywhere
I can almost hear the Father
As He says Son, go get your children.
At the midnight cry
The bride of Christ shall rise (we will arise)
When Jesus steps out
On a cloud to call His children
The dead in Christ shall rise
To meet him in the air
And then those that remain
Shall be quickly changed
At the midnight cry
When Jesus comes again
And then those that remain will be quickly changed
At the midnight cry (at the midnight cry)
When Jesus comes again
At the midnight cry (at the midnight cry)
When Jesus comes again
Comes again!
(Performed by The First Dallas Choir and Orchestra)
