advent journal: songs to sing together
The protests have been in my mind all day. Here are a few of the songs that have been the soundtrack in my mind. As we walk this Advent road, these are good tunes for the journey.
The first is a John Fogerty song covered by Mavis Staples and Jeff Tweedy called “Wrote a Song for Everyone.”
Wrote a song for everyone
Wrote a song for truth
Wrote a song for everyone
When I couldn't even talk to you
Got myself arrested, wound me up in jail
Richmond 'bout to blow up, communication failed
If you see the answer, now's the time to say
All I want, all I want is to get you down to pray
Wrote a song for everyone
Wrote a song for truth
Wrote a song for everyone
When I couldn't even talk to you
Saw the people standind thousand years in chains
Somebody said it's different now, look, it's just the same
Pharoahs spin the message, round and round the truth
They could have saved a million people, how can I tell you?
Wrote a song for everyone
Wrote a song for truth
Wrote a song for everyone
When I couldn't even talk to you
Jackson Browne has been a part of the soundtrack of my life since high school. His latest recording holds this gem, “Standing in the Breach,” among others.
So many live in poverty while others live like Kings.
Though some may find peace and acceptance in all that living brings.
I will never understand, how ever they've prepared,
How one life is struck down and another life is spared.
Though the earth may tremble and cast our work aside,
Though their efforts resembled the fluctuations of time.
We rise and fall with the trust and belief and love redeems our seed.
And our backs and the hearts together, standing in the breech.
You don't know why,
It's such a far cry, in what this world could be.
You don't know why,
But you still try for the world you wish to see.
You don't know how, it will happen now after all that's come undone.
But you know the change that the world needs now, is there in everyone.
The unpaid debts of history, the open wounds of time,
The laws of Human Nature always tugging from behind.
I want to think that the earth can heal and the people might still learn,
How to meet this world's true challenges and if it costs their own can turn.
Though the earth may tremble and the ocean's pitching arrives,
We are all assembled.And we will lift our eyes
To the tasks that we know lie before us and the power of our press besieged,
And lift our souls into the Heavens, standing in the breach.
You don't know why,
It's such a far cry from what this world can be.
You don't know why,
But you still try for the world you wish to see.
You don't know how,
It will happen now.
For all that's come undone.
But you know the changes the world needs now is there in everyone.
Sarah Jarosz covered Bob Dylan’s “Ring Them Bells” and their effort will close out our song session.
Ring them bells St. Peter
Where the four winds blow
Ring them bells with an iron hand
So the people will know
Oh it’s rush hour now
On the wheel and the plow
And the sun is going down
Upon the sacred cow
Ring them bells Sweet Martha
For the poor man’s son
Ring them bells so the world will know
That God is one
Oh the shepherd is asleep
Where the willows weep
And the mountains are filled
With lost sheep
Ring them bells for the blind and the deaf
Ring them bells for all of us who are left
Ring them bells for the chosen few
Who will judge the many when the game is through
Ring them bells, for the time that flies
For the child that cries
When innocence dies
Ring them bells St. Catherine
From the top of the room
Ring them from the fortress
For the lilies that bloom
Oh the lines are long
And the fighting is strong
And they’re breaking down the distance
Between right and wrong
May we keep marching and singing together.
Peace
Milton
