Bread of Life [Song]

This Communion song was to first song ever co-written by Jo Boyce and Mike Stanley and remains their best-known and best-loved song.  It is widely used in schools and parishes across the UK and beyond.

bread of life cjm music

LYRICS

Bread of life, truth eternal,
Broken now to set us free.
The risen Christ, his saving power,
Is here in Bread and Wine for me.

Lord, I know I am not worthy to receive you.
You speak the words and I am healed.
Here at your table, Love’s mystery:
One bread, one cup, one family.

Lord by your cross, you reconciled us to the Father.
We have only to believe.
Your sacrifice, our victory,
Now by your blood we are redeemed.

Lord, you gave your people manna in the desert,
Still you fulfil our every need.
Lord when we hunger, Lord, when we thirst,
We come to you and we receive

Words & Music by Joanne Boyce & Mike Stanley
Copyright © 1996 CJM MUSIC
CCLI & OneLicense No. 2098899
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Liturgical Use(s): Communion

There is also a beautiful instrumental version of this song on the album Every Secret Longing.

GUITAR TUTORIAL VIDEO 

In this video Jo Boyce shares a few of her secret guitar tips for playing the song.

WHERE TO FIND IT 

Updated version with string quartet is available on the following recordings:

PDF SHEET MUSIC

MORE ABOUT IT


What’s your story? Has this song has been part of your soundtrack of faith, or have you encountered it in a liturgy or at an event recently? Please leave a comment below…


6 thoughts on “Bread of Life [Song]

  1. Hi Jo, thanks so much for the guitar tutorial for this. I’d worked out some of what you do but this has filled in all the gaps. It’s an absolutely brilliant idea and I look forward to more in the future.
    Dec, Poole.

    1. Glad you found it useful Dec. There’ll definitely be more tutorials – let us know if there are any particular songs you’d be interested in. God bless

  2. Hi Jo, we have sung Bread of Life for our first communion Mass in Torquay every summer for as long as I remember, this year we would like to teach the children to sign the words. Have you already produced a signed version?

    1. Hi Helen… sorry for the delay in getting back to you. A signing video for Bread of Life has been on our project to-do list for quite some time. (It’s a LONG list) Don’t think we’ll getto it this summer, but we’ll let you know if we do. God bless…

  3. Hi! I am very interested in knowing what date the following video was recorded.

    Published on Mar 1, 2015

    I Am the Bread of Life with Jo Boyce & the CJM MUSIC Collective
    Recorded for BBC Songs of Praise at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Sutton Coldfield, England, UK http://www/cjmmusic.com
    My father recently passed away, aged 94. Although we live in Canada, Dad’s family had lived in Sutton Coldfield and I was in correspondence with family in that area, learning more about Boldmere and S.C..
    My sister sat at her piano, playing and singing “I will raise him up on the last day”, then wondering what the other lyrics might be. I “Googled” this on my cell phone and up popped a YouTube video of the choir singing this – in Sutton Coldfield!!! God is always present , but we are not always made aware of it. This was like a wink of His eye and a nudge to say, “See – I’m right here!”

    1. Hi Edward,
      Sorry to hear of the passing of your Father. At 94, though, I’m sure there is thanksgiving for a long life, hopefully well-lived.
      We recorded ‘I Am the Bread of Life’ with Jo Boyce & the CJM MUSIC Collective for BBC Songs of Praise back in November 2014. It’s been broadcast on Songs of Praise several times since then.
      God does have a wonderful way of reminding us that he’s with us in all the mess and muddle of life. Ever-present.
      Advent blessings to you.

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