I Lie Down and Sleep

April 20, 2023 By Stanton Lanier 18 Comments

The new song I Lie Down and Sleep just released today! Stream on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, YouTube, Amazon Music, and all music services, or click below to listen as you read the inspirational notes below…

When I was composing Solo Piano Sleep (released March 30, 2023) I was inspired to create a second version with other instruments accompanying the piano score. The song became I Lie Down and Sleep with piano, orchestral strings, solo cello, solo French horn, and alto choir. My heart’s desire was to really slow down the pace, to pause, to reflect, to pursue a moment of deep peace and rest, and even to help with sleeping. Brahms’ Lullaby is such a world renowned piece of classical music associated with sleeping, I decided to reference it very gently on the piano, in a small way near the beginning and ending. This lullaby has been sung by parents to so many babies, it is likely to be familiar to you as well. Perhaps it even takes you back to childhood, when sleep may have come easier for you. Or, maybe sleep has always come easy for you, even as an adult. A good night’s rest is definitely one of life’s blessings.

After the introductory section, the piano chorus melody is singing the words “I lie down and sleep” over and over, inspired by Psalm 3:5. The cello and French horn join in and sing this phrase as well, sometimes with the chorus melody notes, and sometimes with harmony. The orchestral strings and alto choir add harmony notes and chords throughout. Then a new melody evolves with plenty of space between the piano notes, with soothing rolling left hand chords inviting us into deeper rest. The cello and horn play melody and harmony over the piano, singing the phrase a few more times. This is followed by a third piano melody singing “I lie down and sleep” in a new way as we hear the cello sing the original chorus melody notes. All of these themes work together to offer listeners God’s peace and rest in a noisy and hurried world. And hopefully this sense of eternal peace from the Lord carries with us into each new day, as we trust Him to sustain us, protect us, and bless us in ways only He can.

How does I Lie Down and Sleep speak to you?

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. (Psalm 3:5)

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves. (Psalm 127:2)

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. (Proverbs 3:24)

Solo Piano Sleep

March 30, 2023 By Stanton Lanier 8 Comments

The new song Solo Piano Sleep just released today! Stream on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, YouTube, Amazon Music, and all music services, or click below to listen as you read the inspirational notes below…

As I composed Solo Piano Sleep my heart’s desire was to really slow down the pace, to pause, to reflect, to pursue a moment of deep peace and rest, and even to help with sleeping. Brahms’ Lullaby is such a world renowned piece of classical music associated with sleeping, I decided to reference it very gently, in a small way near the beginning and ending. This lullaby has been sung by parents to so many babies, it is likely to be familiar to you as well. Perhaps it even takes you back to childhood, when sleep may have come easier for you. Or, maybe sleep has always come easy for you, even as an adult. A good night’s rest is definitely one of life’s blessings.

The main piano melody is singing the words “I lie down and sleep” over and over, inspired by Psalm 3:5. Then a new melody evolves with plenty of space between the notes, and gentle rolling left hand chords, inviting us into deeper rest. This is followed by a third melody singing “I lie down and sleep” in a new way. All of these musical themes work together to offer listeners God’s peace and rest in a noisy and hurried world. And hopefully this sense of eternal peace from the Lord carries with us into each new day, as we trust Him to sustain us, protect us, and bless us in ways only He can.

How does Solo Piano Sleep sing over your life today?

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. (Psalm 3:5)

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves. (Psalm 127:2)

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. (Proverbs 3:24)

Working While I Sleep

May 7, 2014 By Stanton Lanier 4 Comments

Click the player above to stream Beloved (Lullaby) from Walk in the Light as your background reading music. If you enjoy, consider supporting through iTunes, Amazon, or stantonlanier.com (where sheet music is also available).

Do you sometimes wish your work could get done while you sleep?

If you are like me and answer “yes,” I have an idea for you. Before I share it, here are two practices that will help this idea take root. First, I try to practice “sunset remembrance.” When the sun goes down, I focus on being thankful for all that DID get done that day, versus all that DID NOT get done. Second, I try to practice “sunrise gratitude.” I give thanks to God for waking me up another day, for the gift of life, and I reflect on His many blessings. Then, I try to focus on abiding and surrender, while giving my best, since I cannot pull off each day’s productivity and accomplishments in my own strength alone. With these sunset and sunrise practices, I have a mindset of aiming for progress, instead of trying to be perfect.

Now, for the idea. The song Beloved (A Lullaby) was one of my earliest works, inspired in the year 2000. It came from two verses rich in meaning and life application, which point to an increase in the amount of work that gets done while you sleep. Psalm 127:1-2 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep (some versions say “provides for” His beloved, even while they sleep).

When I discovered this and began to take it to heart, it was incredible to think that God is at work on my behalf through the night, as I sleep. What a relief! I am reminded of this when amazing things happen at a future time, following prayers or seeds of action I have planted. Sometimes it takes only days, sometimes it can be years, and sometimes God is silent, but I rest in this powerful truth. What an encouragement that good works can actually happen for me while I sleep, whether they be physical, relational, emotional, spiritual, or financial.

What is one thing you can surrender and wait for in expectation as you go to sleep tonight?