I Will Not Take These Things For Granted

01 Feb I Will Not Take These Things For Granted

A tender and potent song of appreciation and love from Toad the Wet Sprocket’s hit 1991 album, Fear. I’ve arranged it here for three choral voices in collaboration with Toad’s front man Glen Phillips. This has been a long beloved song in my life journey and it is a privilege to share it here now, direct from the source.

Composer & Copyright

Original song © Toad the Wet Sprocket, arranged for Wholehearted Chorus with permission by Lisa G. Littlebird.

Recording

Recorded by Toad the Wet Sprocket lead singer Glen Phillips with Lisa G. Littlebird, shared with permission.

Lyrics

Verse 1: One part of me just wants to tell you everything
One part just needs the quiet
And if I’m lonely here, I’m lonely here
And on the telephone you offer reassurance

I will not take these things for granted
I will not take these things

Verse 2: How can I hold the part of me that only you can carry
It needs a strength I haven’t found
But if it’s frightening, I’ll bear the cold
And on the telephone you offer warm asylum

I’m listening – Music in the bedroom, laughter in the hall
Children in the park
Chorus: I will not take these things for granted x3
I will not take these things
(Anymore)

Verse 3: To crawl inside the wire and feel something near me
To feel this accepting
That it is lonely here, but not alone
And on the telephone you offer visions dancing

I’m listening – Music in the bedroom, laughter in the hall
Dive into the ocean, singing by the fire
Running through the forest, standing in the wind
The rolling canyons

Chorus

Middles: Whoa–
Lows: Ahh–
Sopranos: I will not take these things for granted…

Teaching Notes

My singers love this song. With the verses held by a soloist, the bulk of the song for the full group is just the chorus, which is quite simple to teach. The arrangement was easy to do… extrapolated in most places very easily from the original release. Complexities that add teaching time are the two sets of “I’m listening…” words, which take a little time to memorize, remembering the the first chorus is shorter than the others, and the ending. This song would be a challenge to do without the guitar, which has a fair amount of nuance and complexity. Email me for chords.

Key: This recording is in the key of A.