A call to mission that reminds us that we are the body of Christ in the world.

SONG STORY

Jo wrote this song while living in Trinidad as a teenager. She writes: “This song was birthed out of a very fruitful time in my life musically and spiritually. I was the leader of the “Junior Choir” as we called it, and through the formation I’d been receiving at the annual Antilles School of Liturgy, I was beginning to develop confidence in my gifting as a liturgical musician and song-writer.”

In 1988 the Church of Trinidad and Tobago called a general assembly of all catholic parishes and organizations with the theme “Releasing the Church“. You Are My Hands was written while reflecting on the theme of Assembly 88 – a reflection on our call to be the body of Christ in the world.  After the Diocesan Assembly, in September of 1988, Jo returned to England to study…

Four years later, with a degree in Biochemistry neatly folded in her back pocket, Jo Boyce began working at Soli House Youth Retreat Centre and produced the cassette album Earth Calling Heaven (no longer available) which featured the first recording of You Are My Hands.

LYRICS

Where is my life? My people are dying
This is not what I meant the world to be
Where is my love? My children are crying
So many hearts full of pain and misery
But I set you free so you would be a living sign
For all to see that I live, that I live.

I have no hands but yours, I live my life through you
The written word must be alive in you
I have no hands but yours, I’ve given all to you
You are my hands I live my life through you.

Where is the light? There is so much darkness
This is not what I meant the world to be
Where is your faith? These times won’t be hopeless
If you truly give your life to me
I’d show you how to love for me, show you how to live for me
Then you’d see, then you’d really see.

Where is my flock, my sheep are straying
Who’ll bring my children back to me?
Where is the Truth? What do you believe in?
Do you love me, do you really love me?
Will you feed my sheep for me, will you feed my lambs?
And tell of my love, tell of my love.

Words & Music by Joanne Boyce
Copyright © 1996 CJM Music
CCLI & OneLicense No. 2247911
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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

WHERE TO FIND IT

• MP3 Audio [Free Download]
• Rejoice n Sing 4 CD Audio Collection
• “I Have No Hands But Yours” (Piano Instrumental) – Every Secret Longing (CD) 
• Available on iTunes
• Available on Spotify

PDF SHEET MUSIC

• PDF Chord Sheet [Free Download]

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…