Thy Word

Album: Straight Ahead (1984)
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Songfacts®:

  • This song was from American Christian singer-songwriter's 1984 album Straight Ahead, the first Christian set ever to chart on the Billboard pop chart.
  • Grant and Christian singer-songwriter Michael W Smith wrote this song. It is a worshipful hymn based on Psalm 119 v 105. The song was recorded at Caribou Ranch recording studio high in the Rocky Mountains.
  • Michael originally came up with the song's melody and some words for the chorus straight from David's Psalms about being a light into my path. Amy fell in love with his demo, but as Michael had no idea what the verses were supposed to say, he gave it to her and told her she could finish the tune. "So later that night she starts walking back to her cabin," Michael told us. "And you have to understand Caribou Ranch is an 8,000 acre ranch and it's very dark, and you're in the middle of nowhere. And she got lost. There's bears and all that sort of thing. You've got to really know where you're going. It's obviously a compound with all these cabins and stuff."

    "She finally saw a lamp and started walking towards that light, didn't realize that that was her cabin," he continued. "And she walked into that little cabin and sat down with a notebook and pen and wrote the verses to 'Thy Word.'"

Comments: 4

  • Patricia Bostick from Aberdeen, NcI am the original owner of that song and the melody. It was given to me when I lived in Fayetteville, NC. When I moved to Rockingham, NC I gave it to a songwriter at the Church I attended and ask if he could help get it recorded for the public to hear and I expressed that the melody could not be changed. I did not know the Words the Lord gave to me would be changed somewhat, however the song is beautiful and the name the Lord gave me for the song has remained. I just wanted the truth to be known. I sincerely hope this song has been a great blessing and inspiration for everyone. God Bless you all!
  • Lynda Vuurman from Hot Springs Village, ArkansasThank you. You have a beautiful voice. Many Blessings
  • Rebekah from Monroe , NcMike, in this case you are wrong. Although Amy does many of Michael Card's songs, including El Shaddai, "Thy Word" is correctly attributed in the article to Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant. You will see their names accompanying the song in hymbooks and other publications.
  • Mike from Norwalk, CtI could be wrong but I think Michael Card wrote this song.
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