Songs From The Heart was released by Triumphant Quartet in 2011 and is described by pianist Jeff Stice as one of their, “silly ideas.”  What he means by that statement is that this project is special in it’s origin because each member of Triumphant Quartet wrote two songs on the recording!  To me, this idea made that Cd very unique.  Many groups can boast of members who can write, but not all can say that every member can write!  This collection of songs will be treasured by fans forever.  Through this project you get a glimpse of the heart of these men who travel year in and year out singing the Gospel on stage every night.  To them it’s not a job – it’s a calling.  If you walk away with only one thing from this recording, walk away with that impressed upon your heart.  We get a better appreciation for these men when we see and hear the words resounding in their hearts about these subjects and themes they’ve written about.  These guys did such a great job with this project!  Not only with writing the lyrics, but also with the music.  They kept their sound and style consistent all the way through and really added a good amount of happy, up-beat songs to the genre of Southern Gospel Music that will be treasured forever.  Thanks guys, for all your hard work!

On this recording, you’ll hear vocals from…

Tenor – David Sutton
Lead – Clayton Inman
Baritone – Scott Inman
Bass – Eric Bennett

And instrumentalist:

Piano – Jeff Stice

1.  Be Of Good Cheer
Written by:  Eric Bennett
Feature:  Bass
Tempo:  Medium
Message:  In his song, Eric encourages everyone to “be of good cheer” no matter what you are facing in life.  Beginning with the chorus, you’ll listen and find out why you can be cheerful – it is for no other reason than Jesus Himself – the Way, Truth and Life is with you right now.  And with Him, like the last couple lines say, “What shall we dread, whom shall we fear, be of good cheer!”  The first verse encounters a boy in the Bible who was crippled from birth and couldn’t walk.  Others thought his life was of no value because his handicap kept him from doing things, but one day Jesus passed by and said, “Your sins are forgiven – rise up and walk…be of good cheer!”  The second verse brings the message to the listener personally: especially if you’re in a tough place in life, maybe you feel like quitting because you’re exhausted from the battle, and you can’t take another step or walk another mile – if that is so, there is good news!  Jesus is with you and will dry your tears when He lifts you up!
Other Comments:  Now this is a song that we need to hear everyday!

2.  Thank You Lord
Written by:  Clayton Inman
Feature:  Lead
Tempo:  Medium
Message:  Clayton’s song is penned in first person, as if he personally is telling a story: a story of many years of carrying a heavy load around.  No matter how hard he tried, he strayed off the path and ended up falling – until one day Jesus came and took this burden.  Now he’s happily on his way to heaven, where he will live with the Father and Son for eternity.  The chorus is a like a prayer, where the speaker thanks the Lord for the His sacrifice on the cross, and more specifically, how He willingly paid for our sin.  Because of His great sacrifice, we can have peace – which the songwriter also thanks God for…and most of all, he thanks the Lord for everything He has done.  The second verse continues giving thanks for the Lord’s presence in his life, and declares that  he’ll not meander away from Him, but urgently addresses the listener to let Jesus cleanse their sin (if they haven’t already done so, of course) – then they will be able to sing the words to the chorus too!
Other Comments:  This is a perfect song for Thanksgiving! – and expresses the sentiments of what all Believers feel towards their Savior ~ gratefulness.

3.  Praying For Me
Written by:  David Sutton
Feature:  Tenor
Tempo:  Slow
Message:  The first verse describes a person walking in an old room where others are praying.  As he listens, he hears them praying for him – yet, though he was unable to see who those faithful prayer warriors were, he felt the presence of God around him as a result.  The chorus is a simple “thank you” to all of those who prayed for him.  The prayers caused the Hand of the Lord to reach down and touch him with healing power – just as strong as it always has been.  The chorus closes with yet another thank you to the faithful.  The writer uses the second verse to encourage others in their trials.  If your tomorrow looks bleak and your faith is wavering, just trust in Christ!  In Him, nothing is impossible!  Then, referencing his own experience, he says that even if you can’t see who is praying for you – their prayers are reaching God’s throne all the same!
Other Comments:  I loved the strings on this one!

4.  When It’s All Said And Done
Written by:  Scott Inman
Feature:  All four parts
Tempo:  Fast
Message:  The first verse revisits the time when a person knelt down at an altar and accepted Christ as their Savior, letting Him have full control of their life.  Since then, that same person looks for the coming of the Lord everyday – they are prepared and ready to go!  The chorus (and hook line) uses the phrase “When it’s all said and done, I’ll be leaving this world a-shoutin’.”  The rest of the refrain goes on to relate more things that will happen “when it’s all said and done.”  Such as: we’ll rise from the grave, the final leg in our race will be run and the last solo will be performed…these things we are sure of because He has promised to return!  The second verse points to the signs we see daily testifying to the Lord’s soon return, and summons us to “get our house in order” and be prepared for that homecoming day!  So let’s know for sure that we will leave with Him when He calls for His children!
Other Comments:  This song was originally cut on the Kingsmen’s project “Missing People.”  Triumphant does a fine job with it!

5.  Streets Of Gold
Written by:  Jeff Stice
Feature:  Tenor
Tempo:  Medium
Message:  This snappy tune contemplates the thrill of one day walking on those shiny streets of gold.  At one point in time, thinking about eternity was an “occasional thought,” we’re told in the first verse.  Yet, as the days pass by, this thought becomes more frequent until the next line exclaims, “Let me share with you, what I’m gonna do…now listen to what I say.”  The chorus completes the thought and talks about walking on streets of gold, hanging out with friends and chatting with prophets.  Just thinking about that kind of joy we’ll experience in heaven causes one to exclaim that, “I’m gonna walk on streets of gold hand in hand with my Lord someday!”  Thinking about that home and why Jesus gave His life so we could live is mind boggling says the second verse!  How can one explain or deny these things?  But one thing is for certain – soon and very soon, we’re home!
Other Comments:  Leave it Jeff to write a “quartet song!”  He did such a good job too!  I love the progression of the lyrics, first you just think about heaven a little bit, but then you get to a point in life that you can’t stop thinking about it frequently!

6.  When The Rapture Comes My Way
Written by:  Jeff Stice
Feature:  All four parts
Tempo:  Fast
Message:  The second song penned by Jeff Stice also centers itself on heaven, eternity and the Lord’s return.  The first verse begins by asking a question – do you remember John’s reaction to just a glimpse of heaven?  It filled his heart with unspeakable joy!  Just knowing how much joy it gave John, stirs a longing for that place in your heart as well.  And Gabriel too, blowing his trumpet to announce His return!  With anticipation – let the “rapture come my way!”  The hook leads us into the chorus says that we are ready for the chariots to make their final run, we’re ready for the milk and honey to flow, ready for the river of life, ready to see Jesus and be welcomed by Him.  We have sought after that day and are ready for the rapture to come!  The second verse talks about the rapture some more – it says that without a doubt there will be a day for all the saints who have worked so hard (and often through times of darkness) will worship at Jesus’ feet.  Though Christ
“went away” after His resurrection, He will return ~ when the rapture comes our way.
Other Comments:  Good, original, up-beat songs about heaven are rare to find now-a-days in SGM.  But here is one that is everything a quartet song should be!  I love the part where Clayton is singing about Gabriel’s trumpet and the track starts plays a trumpet performing a run – it’s perfect!

7.  God Works All Things For Good
Written by:  Eric Bennett
Feature:  Bass
Tempo:  Slow
Message:  The first verse retells the personal account of Eric’s two great-nephews who passed away in the tornado in Alabama early last year.  The song begins with two boys at a neighbors house when the storm hit.  The street divided the safe side from the side that the wind destroyed, and the mother grieves the loss of her sons.  Though her precious memories will never be taken away, one can’t help but ask God, “Why?”  The chorus consoles us with a wonderful, encouraging message taken from Romans 8:28 – “God works all things for good, to those that love the Lord.”  Sometimes life doesn’t work out the way we think it ought to, but God still works all things together for good.  The second verse explains that when one is hurting, not even the answers we can find are guaranteed to always make sense.  But even in spite of all this, we just have to trust God, and He will reveal His plan to us when He sees fit, and we will have peace.  The chorus repeats, then Eric says, “Sometimes there’s no explanation to why bad things happen to good people.  We have to remember that God is still sovereign, He is holy, He is righteous, and He still has everything under control…and we have to trust.”
Other Comments:  What can you say about lyrics like these, other than they are truly from the heart.  This song is going to touch lives!  We read in Isaiah that God says His Word will never come back void, and this song is built off of Scripture ~ it’s made to bless!

8.  Almost Home
Written by:  Scott Inman
Feature:  All four parts
Tempo:  Fast
Message:  Beginning with the chorus, we hear these words about our eternal home – “I can’t wait my brother, we’re almost home, I can’t wait my sister, we’re almost home…”  With anticipation, we can’t wait to see our Savior face to face and thank Him for His work of salvation.  With conviction we hear the lyrics, “I know, I know we’re almost home!”  Verse one speaks of the city we are heading to, the one where night will be no more, strife will cease along with sickness – the one where the Great Carpenter is the builder.  (Ya know? – We wouldn’t be surprised to found out our mansion was situated right next to the crystal sea, would we?)  Going straight into the second verse, the first thing to do when we get to heaven is find our family and Savior…after a good long chat with both of them it just might hit us – no more death!  After another round of the chorus we hear the third verse, listening to angels sing, running up and down the streets of gold in a new body…I’m thinking there is still a lot about heaven we know nothing about!
Other Comments:  There is no better sound to the ear, than a good upbeat song that gets us excited about heaven.  This song does just that!  If you’ve never heard TQ do this number in concert, well, let’s just say that you’re missing something!

9.  Going Up To Heaven
Written by:  Clayton Inman
Feature:  All four parts
Tempo:  Medium/Fast
Message:  This song is also about the subject that so many songwriters get caught up in describing in their lyrics – going up to heaven.  In the first verse we have the scene set down here on this earth, one that thinks about that morning when we’ll sail through the sky to that wonderful place were there are no more burdens to bare.  After declaring heaven as our final destination, the lyrics ask if that is true for the listener also.  Then we hear the chorus sing about heaven and all its glories – it’s full of beauty, glory and a land of no more burdens.  When Jesus Christ calls us home, there’ll be no hesitation here!  In the second verse, the scene is set in heaven.  Up there, we’ll see our loved ones and friends walking on streets of gold and gathered around the crystal sea.  We’ll see Jesus – the One who redeemed us so we could live there with Him.
Other Comments:  I love new songs that sound old!

10.  Let’s All Stand For America
Written by:  David Sutton
Feature:  All four parts
Tempo:  Ballad
Message:  This stirring ballad takes us back to when God created the world – He made everything, the ocean, trees, birds etc.  Then He made man in His image!  The verse goes on to plead with our country because we have let His image slip out of our lives.  We wouldn’t have to worry about not having prayer in schools if families would pray together.  Our testimony of Christ’s love wouldn’t lack if we would be there for our neighbors when they need a helping hand – what we need to do is “stand on how the Scriptures read.”  The channel reminds us of what the Word says, that Christ is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords – if we’d just trust Him!  Suddenly, the chorus resounds, “Let’s all stand for America!”  Lets do it the old fashion way and put our faith in the Lord Jesus.  God still loves this country…so let’s get her back to what she was before.  I like the line that says, “Let’s all stand for the King of Kings, the only hope for our country.”
Other Comments:  What a way to end a project!  If that song doesn’t get you motivated nothing will!  I loved the way that David phrased the verses when talking about God’s creation, and when we let the Lord slip out of society and lives, we’re really letting His creation slip away too – because we are created in His image!

Let’s all stand for America
In our day
Put our faith and trust in God above
Like the old fashion way
America, God still loves you
Even though He turned away
We need to raise the banner high again
Bring America back to where she’s been
Stand up for America again!