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Don Poythress

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Behind every song is a story. A tale of love, 'a moment of pain, a chapter of faith. And behind every songwriter is yet another story. For Don Poythress (pronounced Portress), his story began in Meridian, Mississippi, where both faith and music were signposts for the journey ahead.

“Country music has always captivated me,” Don remembers. “But the first music I remember learning were worship songs that my mom taught me. In particular, ‘Jesus, There’s Something About That Name.’”

Don learned the art of songwriting by listening to country legends such as Johnny Cash and Glenn Campbell, and Christian artists like Dallas Holm and Dottie Rambo. Even as a child, Don saw his story taking shape.

“I knew when I was young that I was called to play and sing country music,” he says.

Yet the most profound moment in Don’s young musical education took place in his childhood piano class. It was here that Don’s instructor, a deeply spiritual woman, opened his eyes to more than music.

“I remember once as I was practicing,” he recalls, “She told me, ‘Now one day the Lord is going to use you in country music, and you’re going to be on the Grand Ole Opry. He’s going to use you to draw people, and you’re going to tell them about Christ.’ It was heavy stuff for a four-year-old.”

Those words of faith would prove prophetic. Today Don is one of Nashville’s premier songwriters. His songs have been recorded by both acclaimed country stars including Tim McGraw, Clint Black, and Travis Tritt, and Christian artists such as Jaci Velasquez, The Martins, and Brian Littrell.

Accordingly, Don’s accolades also cross genre lines. In 2006 The Martins’ recording of Don’s song “The Promise” received a Dove Award for Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year. Two years later he received an ASCAP award for Kellie Pickler’s chart-topping hit, “Things That Never Cross A Man’s Mind.” But regardless of the artist, Don always stays true to his spiritual heritage.

“Whether it’s country or Christian music,” Don notes, “I write in a way that reflects my faith.”

Yet for all the talented artists who had brought his songs to life, Don had yet to experience his music through a certain unique voice: his own. For his debut project Don longed to combine top-notch songwriting with his love for worship, a passion forged in his other role as a worship leader at Abundant Life Church in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.

The result is Wash Away, a release that blends modern acoustic worship with the fresh sounds of contemporary country. Recorded live at Christ Church in Nashville, and featuring guests such as Ricky Skaggs and Paul Baloche, Wash Away showcases Don’s gifts as both a songwriter and a worship leader. The collection features powerful songs that, while universal to every believer, highlight Don’s own journey of faith.

“Songs for this record weren’t just written in sessions,” Don shares. “They were written from my experiences during the past year, and come from a very personal place.”

It would be Don’s story, not songwriting sessions, which would ultimately shape Wash Away. And as with any story, we find here joy and pain, laughter and tears. Sometimes all at once. Consider the story behind “I Will Bless the Lord at All Times,” an intimate declaration of faith and trust.

“I was going through a really rough time,” Don says. “I showed up to a session to write a country song with another writer. I was telling him what I was going through and we started talking about it. And we spontaneously began writing. I think I cried the entire time we wrote that song. I look over the past year and I call that my life song for that period of time.”

Worship songs continued to flow in unexpected places. Don again met with two other country writers to collaborate. That session would also yield “The Faithful Love of Jesus,” a heartfelt reflection on their Savior.

“We had just finished writing a country song,” Don recalls. “And then we talked for a moment about the Lord. All of the sudden, He was there, and we just started worshipping. That song fell out.”

Other songs share insights Don has discovered in his spiritual walk. One such song sprung from Don’s realization that each day is a celebration of Christ’s sacrifice for us.

“I love ‘Brand New Day,’” he enthuses. “I love the proclamation that every day is resurrection day. I believe that the Lord sees every day, every time we gather as a church, as resurrection day. We should be celebrating Easter every day because of how much He loves us.”

Don’s story continues to give him cause to celebrate. A successful songwriter. Industry recognition. A dynamic record that bridges the gap between worship and contemporary country. And the Opry? Don finally played on that legendary stage, with his childhood piano teacher in attendance.

But even with all of the success, Don is committed to serving his Lord above all else. Perhaps no song more clearly shares Don’s heart than the title track, “Wash Away.”

“Strip me clean of ambition,
And need for man’s applause,
Empty every hope except,
That I might know you God”

An excerpt from Don’s life. Words that form the story of every believer.

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Wash Away

Wash Away

Artist(s): Don Poythress
Label: Integrity
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Playing with my good friend Billy Montana singing House of a Thousand Dreams and I will bless the Lord at all times

House of a Thousand Dreams and I will Bless the Lord at All Time

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Lyrics to songs

Here are the lyrics to the songs on the Wash Away CD


Expectation
Whether we come
With words of praise and thankfulness
Whether we come with hearts of hurt and heaviness
Jesus always as we enter this place

We come with expectation
Come with celebration
Come anticipating what You hold in store
We come with hearts wide open
Come with a holy hope in what You'll do
As we come through these doors
We come with expectation Lord

We want to be changed by the power of
Your Word and the spirit of truth
Lord don't let us leave the same make us more like You
Jesus always find us seeking Your face as

We come with worship
We come with praise and
We come believing You will meet us in this place

Call Upon Your Name (Sing of your love)
When my heart is heavy
When my soul is vexed with shame
When my mind is burdened
I will call upon Your name
When the road I walk is easy
When the sunshine rules the day
When I feel You close beside me
I will call upon Your name

I will dwell in Your tabernacle
I will hide beneath Your wings
On the rock that is higher than I
I will sing of Your love
Sing of Your love
Sing of Your love for me

In a world that's growing darker
Where it seems all hope is lost
I will find a light to cling to
In the shadow of Your cross
‘Cause Your love is never-ending
And this one truth remains
There's salvation for everyone
That calls upon Your name

I will sing of Your love
Sing of Your love
Sing of Your love

Brand New Day
The morning star has risen
Can't you hear creation crying out
Jesus
He has promised us forgiveness
Breaking forth and shining like the dawn
Jesus Jesus

Every sin has been erased
Mercy has descended
Darkness has been lifted
Hope has filled an empty grave
The cross has conquered death
And love has brought
A brand new day
A brand new day

The chains of guilt are falling
The curse of sin is broken by the name
Jesus
He has freed the one in prison
He has healed the broken and the lame
Jesus Jesus

A new day
A new day has come

Fill Me Up
Jesus I am thirsty I am learning
How to hunger for more of You
You are the water and You offer
Life that is making me new
Spirit come

Fill up my lungs with air
My voice with prayer
And my mouth with praise
Fill up my heart with song
For the journey is long
And I need Your strength
Jesus Your love is more than enough
Come and fill me fill me up

Jesus I need mercy I need cleansing
From the burden of so many sins
You are the water and I offer all of my life
Into Your hands
Spirit come

You are water to the desert
You are rain to the dust
You are healing to the broken
You are life won't You come

Wash Away
Wash away the darkness Lord
Wash away my pride
Permeate my heart and soul and spirit
With Your light
Wash away the darkness
Wash away my failures Lord
Make me clean again
I can't bear to stand before You
In these rags of sin
Wash away my failures

Wash away wash away wash away everything
Let Your cleansing love flow through
Wash away wash away wash away everything but You

Strip me of ambition
And need for man's applause
Empty every hope except
That I might know You God
I just want to know You God

Nothing but the blood of Jesus
Nothing but the blood
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
Nothing but the blood can

Before the Throne of God Above
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong a perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is love
Who ever lives and pleads for me

My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look to see Him there
Who made an end to all my sins

Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

I see Him there the risen Lamb
My perfect spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I AM
The King of glory and of grace

I Will Bless the Lord at All Times
I will bless the Lord at all times
I will bless the Lord at all times
When I hunger when I thirst
When I'm last or when I'm first
I will bless the Lord at all times

I will bless the Lord at all times
I will bless the Lord at all times
When I'm weak and when I'm tired
When I'm tested by the fire
I will bless the Lord at all times

And His praise will continually be on my lips
And I'll cling to and trust in His sweet promises
That His goodness and mercy will follow me
All the days of my life

I will bless the Lord at all times
I will bless the Lord at all times
When I stumble when I fall
When I rise above it all
I will bless the Lord at all times

There's nothing down here and nothing above
That could ever separate me from His love
From His love
No not life not death not the past not the
Present or tomorrow

The Faithful Love of Jesus
There are arms that we can lean into
That always will receive us
A living well of endless truth
The faithful love of Jesus

I pray You'll know the love of God
The love that never leaves us
The height the depth the width the breadth
The faithful love of Jesus

Beneath our broken hearts and wounds
Where no one else can reach us
He finds a way to heal us through
The faithful love of Jesus

A light that moves a hand that heals
A voice that speaks a hope that’s real
The faithful love of Jesus

Lord of All
Lord of all
Of the stars and the galaxies
Filling this vast universe
Lord of all
Of the beauty and breathtaking wonders
You've made for this earth

So I join with the mountains
And valleys and seas
Bow down before You
Declare You to be

Lord of all Lord of all
Over nations and rulers forever You'll be
Lord of all Lord of all
Over Heaven and angels and eternity
It's only right You would be
Lord of all of me

Lord of all
Over all of my talents and treasures
And all of my time
Lord of all
Over all that I dream and desire for this life of mine
Over all of my words
And all of my deeds
For all of the days You've ordered for me

A Thousand Generations
Kingdoms rise kingdoms fall
They shine like stars then are no more
The tides of time wash away
Their memory from this earthly place
Even then You're still Lord to

A thousand generations
You have been the God who reigns
For ages before Eden and forever You remain
Showing love and mercy
To all who call upon Your name
To every race every tribe
Every nation to a thousand generations

There's never been a moment when
You weren't the great Almighty One
Forevermore You'll be praised by
Your daughters and Your sons
You call us Your chosen ones for
Every promise is sure
Your goodness endures to

Joseph
Joseph did you want to pack your tools
Head to some place where nobody whispered
There goes Mary's fool
Joseph did you look up and raise your hands crying
God You know I've always tried to be a righteous man
Joseph

Joseph did you lie awake confused thinking
'Bout that small town scandal and what
Love's supposed to do
Joseph
If you felt you'd been betrayed still you
Didn't walk by feelings you
Chose to walk by faith Joseph

You couldn't take her as your wife
But wouldn't let harm come to her
You looked beyond the shame
And stood between her and an angry world
And you made no accusations
So no one could raise a stone
Did you feel so hurt confused and all alone

Joseph did you wake up and want to scream
God are You really speaking through some
Angel in a dream
Joseph did it all just seem absurd that your wife
Might be the one to fulfill the prophet’s words
Joseph

You denied yourself for others obeyed when
Nothing made much sense
You were her strength and shelter on that
Road to Bethlehem and kneeling by the manger
Bathed in soft starlight did you know whose face you
Touched that holy night

Joseph I hope to sit with you one day hear you
Tell me all about the choices you were called to make
'Cause Joseph it was you and no one else
That God trusted to take care of Mary and Himself
Joseph

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New Country Releases

Hey everyone please check out Easton Corbin he is a great new artist who just released my song "A Little More Country Than That" as his first single. Please check him out at www.myspace.com/eastoncorbin

Also Hank Williams Jr just released one of my songs " Mighty Oak Trees". Go to http://www.hankjr.com/home/ and vote for my song. Check out Jake Owen's new record, he recorded a song of mine called, "Tell Me" you can listen to it on iTunes. Thank you again for all of your support!!!

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