“My Life Is in You” is the most popular and most published song by Michigan native Daniel Gardner (b. 1956). This enthusiastic declaration of praise and commitment is based on Philippians 1:21: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (KJV).
Gardner, one of four musical children, was the son of Leonard and Anna Rose Gardner, founders of Zion Christian Church in 1955, a non-denominational, independent congregation in Troy, Michigan. Leonard served as the pastor for forty-eight years, and Dan was the music director during much of that time. Daniel graduated from Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan (1988) with a music major. Since he was working full-time, his undergraduate study took ten years.
The song was composed in 1985 during a stressful time in the composer’s life when he was balancing full-time college, full-time worship leader responsibilities at Zion Christian Church, and raising two daughters with his wife. After finishing his homework for a composition class, he rushed to prepare the music for an evening service.
The song’s energy comes from Gardner’s use of driving syncopation throughout both sections of the song. The rhythm carries the first section, as the melody encompasses only the modest range of a fourth. He contrasts the second section, beginning with “I will praise you with all of my life,” starting in the lower vocal register, gradually rising to nearly an octave.
