Album Lyrics
Inspired by the poem"Sure on this Shining Night" by James Agee (1909-1955)
and Psalm 139
and Psalm 139
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Starmade shadows line the path
That pilgrims travel faithfully The journey seems a lonely task, The stars are far and few between. The heavens are as still as ice, The wind it sings ‘cross endless seas No moon directs the traveler’s night, No mind may pierce its mysteries But darkness is as light to you, The night shines like the day CHORUS Sure on this shining night I weep for wonder Stars were my only guide But they’re shadows to your love If I rise on wings of dawn, Or lay my head in Sheol deep When the years have quelled my song, You find me, greet me, comfort me O, wand’ring far alone I cry With wonder at my inmost being Creator, search me and test my heart Lead me on to everlasting. O, when I wake I’m still with you The night shines like the day. |
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We’re rowing up the mountainside
Just you and me, far as I can see We’re paddling o’er the great divide Between emptiness and liberty You listen and I listen, Tell me the story The river slakes the wilderness; The hawk he spins in moonlit skies The stars are points of ice, unlike The biding trust that fills your eyes You listen and I listen, Mmmm..tell me CHORUS As one we’re born, as one we die As the river breathes white clouds into the sky As two we love, as two we fly Swift through the gales that render this divide. The origin of life I’ve heard Is of fire and of stars But the stirrings of the soul they come In the quiet rowing hours She listens and he listens, Tell me. The diamond waves they shift and play; We’re deep within the riverbed A thousand fish as one fish move, And dawn rolls nearer, blushing red She listens, and he listens… Mmmm… BRIDGE We are lost in the sound of our voices telling stories We can’t see through the fog what is swimming past the oars And we go on, on in fear, though the rain it near destroys us And I’m praying to God to guide us through the forest Of our fears, of our doubts, of our miscommunications And I feel in my soul, it’s a lightening sensation And I know you are with me and the light will come upon us For the end of the world couldn’t quench the love that’s drawn us. |
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I thought I’d write to you a song to make you love me
A song to open your eyes But then I realized you don’t need me to love you It’s what I feared inside. I thought I’d sing with a voice could charm the angels Its echoes filling the skies But you alone are not to be deceived You know what’s wrong and what’s right CHORUS You soar on wings of peace You’re the breath of life itself I faint that I might be strong Falling into the arms that never leave me I won’t be helpless for long Any man will give in if she’s beautiful enough Thought I’d trap you as such And though I was ashamed when you said I was amiss Your truth’s a kiss on the lips. Thought I’d sing you a song to make you love me A dazzling work of art But then you reached out and made me to love you From the depths of my heart You’re who I live for, my strong and radiant king You’re holy through and through Don’t give me glory, or fame or anything If it should steal me from you Don’t give me power, except to say I love you Don’t give me riches, but let your will be done Don’t give me beauty if it leads my heart astray But give me an eternity so I will always say, I love you. |
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
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If I speak with tongues of men, sing with the breath of angels
But have not love, I am nothing If I have the gift of prophecies, fathoming all mysteries But have not love, I am nothing If I give all I possess to the poor and the oppressed But have not love, I am nothing Love is patient, love is kind; it does not envy, is not proud Love rejoices with the truth; always perseveres, always hopes and trusts CHORUS Love never fails; but where there’s prophecy it will cease Love never fails; but where there are tongues they’ll be stilled Love never fails; but where there’s knowledge it will pass away. Now we see a poor reflection as in a clouded mirror But soon we shall see face to face Now I only know in part soon I shall know fully Even as I’m fully known. |
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Faraway on an ancient summer’s day
A shepherd rose to greet the sun A flute he found, in the old burial ground And he took it to his lips at once, singing, La le la, la le la La le la, sha la la la, la la la le lai la There appeared, in a vision bright and clear The song in lovely human form No eye had seen, no ear had heard Such beauty as was him before. And he sang out, sha la la la… But the song was still, she shook, was silent When he asked her why she didn't dance He said, “follow me, to yonder stream,” And she carefully took the singer’s hands. And by that stream, which was frozen o’er She knelt beside his naked feet Seeing her there, he chose a minor key And the song began to sigh and weep Oh that river flowed freely again In sadness, the song became More beautiful than she ever had been. She fainted then, and the only restoration Was to drink those salty tears He held her close, though she was unaware And sang with a voice you’d hardly hear… Singing la le la… When she came to, the night had fallen The dark and ominous sky was quiet A song alone, she stumbled ‘round The gravestones which in the valley lieth. And in the shroud of mist which lay O’er her mind and over sleepless night She heard a voice, so faint, so bare, And she sang along to ease her fright Singing la le la… The eastern sun was a fiery sight She saw a rod and staff before her feet All that time, the shepherd was near Each stumbling rock a way to lead. She saw him standing over by his flock And for the very first time, she went to speak “Why,” she asked, looking in his eyes, “Did you ever choose to sing me?” He said, “I am, and you are, And I am a singer, And you are my song. And you are… singing la le la… |
Inspired by Sue Monk Kidd's novel, "The Secret Life of Bees"
Latin text from a chant of the same title by Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179)
Latin text from a chant of the same title by Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179)
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I lay awake in bed last night
As a distant hum from another universe Came and shook my bedroom walls. One by one they filled the air Their own dear Queen had sent them there As the honeyed moonlight falls. The womb of sound enveloped me, A blaze of love and anguish freed By a hundred thousand wings. They lift my hair and brush my skin; My mind’s afraid but my heart within, It yearns to send them love. CHORUS Clarissima Mater, Stella Maris; pour upon me your noble light Lily of Eden and Queen of Heaven; in your healing embrace I find life Star of the Soul’s Sea, and Comb of Honey; by God’s spirit you are glorified Their hum ran through my heart my head Their hum ran through the whole wide earth Twas the oldest sound there was Oh if I rose and entered heaven I’d plant a million flowers there Let the honey trickle down But doubt it stings the most beautiful dreams I’ve yet to find immunity to its cruel uncertainties I’d hoped to catch them unaware and steal into their secret lair To become one of the bees. All around me, loving memories are taking wing I could touch the rim of heaven with wings like these. |
"And yet through all these trials and in spite of the lack of interior joy, there is in my soul
some central place, which all these waves of sorrow cannot reach" - Elisabeth Leseur
First three verses to the melody of "The Wind that Shakes the Barley", Irish traditional
some central place, which all these waves of sorrow cannot reach" - Elisabeth Leseur
First three verses to the melody of "The Wind that Shakes the Barley", Irish traditional
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On the dark night of my defeat
A lark soared through my dreams She led me o’er the ruined streets With the white moon on her wings. She led me to a rushing river Washed away my fear and woe, Its crystal waters cooled my fever With a plaintive song from long ago. Over my grave now a tall tree stands Breathing, flowering, giving shade Pilgrims come from a thousand lands To lay down arms and sorrows trade. There is in my soul a place Where waves of sorrow Cannot reach, cannot reach Will you meet me there? It’s beyond, and yet within me, The peace within me. I hear your call From a far country May your faith cover me. You’re the lark and I’m the night You herald in the morning light Though it’s dark within the grave Your spirit wings far, far away I chase the shape, the dream of you, You lead me to a world made new You lead me to a world, to you. |
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Lord may I find the way back home
Lord let me follow you, take me home Help me to find the way back home Lord lead me, and I will be one of your own I stepped through the gates of paradise Followed the voice that led me higher My shield and breastplate I laid aside And rose with a whirlwind of fire. Here, all are found, not a single soul is lost They rise and burn like stars in the awesome space You are their heartbeat, the pulse of all their joy As they play, sing and dance with infinite grace. Eternity, beauty, a heavenly feast I am captured and I’ve no desire to be released. God of earth, water, fire and air, of all creation You have gathered ‘neath your wing saints from every nation. This vision is fading into the night I wake with darkness at my side My soul has traveled far in dreams It tells me you’re still here with me. |
Words from "On the sweet comfort of grace" by German poet Catharina Regina von Greiffenberg (1633-1694)
Translated by Jane Hirshfield and Samuel Halevi
Translated by Jane Hirshfield and Samuel Halevi
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I look at gold and world and see
Children’s trinkets and sand Heaven’s joy carries me Far beyond myself. If only my breath were a wind, If only my breath were a wind. If only I, from endless night Could rise like the phoenix, bright As a fire, rekindled My one desire, So pure and simple. The sages and mystics have tasted love And joy beyond words of men They’re of my kind and of my blood But how can I speak with them? If only my breath were a whirling wind Through-sweetened with flames of love I’d set the world on fire for you Till it shone like the heav’ns above. If only I from endless night Could rise like the phoenix, bright As a fire, rekindled My one desire, pure and simple Is to perish, into this bliss Like the dawn into the morning mist. I look at gold and world and see The bride you’ve loved since time began The truth through the veil has set me free Here she is, Lord, take her hand. Tell Wisdom to open her ancient doors, Tell Mercy to pave the way, Tell Beauty to grace the room in store, For the bridegroom comes on wings of day. As I rise from endless night Rise to life like the phoenix bright See its fire rekindled My one desire, pure and simple Is to perish into this bliss Like the dawn into the morning mist. |