I Was There

SATB

“The kids loved the message. We really got to dig into the meaning, and the kids were just like ‘I really like the message.’ That was the overarching thing I heard from them.”

— Andrea Cruz, Caprock High School

Lyrics

You entered into my life unknown
None of the seeds you plant yet sown
Distance between us was oh so far
Yet here we are

I was there
When you walked into the room
Couldn’t see you and me
Ever forming the bond we grew
Then as time went by
And your spirit filled the air
Something changed, rearranged
In my heart because you were there

Finally together, now we were free
No need to question our history
Lifting each other up when we would fall
We were unstoppable

I was there
As our paths, they both aligned
Like our song, all along
Was a part of a grand design
Suddenly I could see
An answer to a prayer
All these years, it was here
Right in front of me, you were there

Now it is time to say goodbye
We’ve come so far, both you and I
Even if we both drift away
Everyday, everywhere
I’ll be there

I’ll be there
I’ll be with you ‘til the end
Carry me through memory
I will never leave you, my friend
Though we’re apart, take heart
For your showed me the way
I found stable ground
All thanks to our meeting
One simple greeting
Grateful for that fateful day when
I was there!

About the Music

I Was There is a celebration of the friendships we’d never have made if it weren’t for choir. It’s upbeat and mostly homophonic, sung a cappella with djembe and shaker keeping the momentum, and there are plenty of chances for expressive glissandos along the way. It’s written to be re-singable year after year, making a natural anthem for a program to return to as new members join and others move on.

Behind the Music

Back when my wife and I hosted a podcast, we had the pleasure of interviewing Andrea Cruz, director of the Caprock High School choir in Amarillo, Texas. Knowing I was a composer, Andrea later contacted me to see if I would be interested in composing an original piece for her choir. She told me she wanted something that could be used as a tradition in her choir, one that focused on unity, friendship, and memories. I went through multiple iterations of different melodies and ideas for the music, and eventually settled on the themes for I Was There. I decided to tell the story of someone reflecting on a friendship that came about because of their experience in choir — a friendship that probably never would have happened otherwise. As we all know, music has a habit of bringing people of different backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences together. That’s what this piece represents to me.

The online premiere of the ’26–’27 CFM Choral Catalog, which features ten never-before-released choral compositions by Christian Fortner. During this online event, Christian speaks about the primary uses for each piece in your choir program. Whether you direct a middle school, high school, or college-level choir, there is something here for you!