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1. |
Miriam & Moses
03:23
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Miriam & Moses
Inspired by the Song of Miriam and Moses in Exodus 15:1-9
Oh, la da da...
Oh, they laughed at me
They said they’d destroy me and the water rose high like a wall
But I’m here, I’m here,
I’m here, I’m here
Who is like you?
Who is like you in this world? I don’t know what you do
Take these words away, away
Away, away
Oh, la da da...
You lead, I hope, I follow,
Take me home, let me float
Let me float, I’ll float away
Oh, Sister, the water was high
It covered the heart of the sea
There they sank, those who chased us down
Nevermore our enemies
We will rise up,
We will rise up by the power of the arm that saves
We will live, we will live on the mountain
We will live and be redeemed
Oh, la da da…
Oh, they laughed at me
They said they’d destroy me and the water rose high like a wall
But I’m here, I’m here,
I’m here, I’m here
Who is like you?
Who is like you in this world? I don’t know what you do
Take these words away, away
Away, away
Oh, the water was high
The water was high, my love
Oh, take me, take me home
Home to the mountain, forever we’ll live
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2. |
Above It All
03:31
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Above It All
Written for Hope Meyer and Kevin Yeung, for their wedding
1 Corinthians 16:13-14, Colossians 3:12-14
I see a city, I see a city,
Everyone is all around,
All the lights, all the lights are on and everyone is out on the town
I see a hand holding a hand, and I,
I see a glow from the skies
CHORUS
Above it all there is love, there is love, there is love
Whoah, above it all
There is love, there is love, there is love
Cast your eyes up to the skies above
Do everything in love, in love, in love
Be courageous, stand firm now
Everyone is sending you in love
I see a field, I see a field with all your family, all your family,
In the air all the words you know are new
Stirring with the birds’ song in the trees
While the wind carries them along
CHORUS
You are, you are kind,
You are, you are faithful
You are, you are dearly loved
You are, you are humble
You are, you are patient
You are, you are clothed in love
Above it all, you are loved, you are loved, you are loved
Above it all, you are loved, you are loved, you are loved
Cast your eyes up, you are dearly loved
Do everything as one in love, in love, in love
Be courageous, you are stronger now
Everyone is sending you in love
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3. |
Raise a Banner
03:31
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Raise a Banner
Written for Paula Roberts, for her birthday
In response to Isaiah 11
A shoot will come up from a stump
And from his roots, a branch will blossom and bear fruit
And a ghost will rest on us all
A ghost will rest on us all
Judge not by what you see, or know by what you hear,
But wear your faith round your waist
And with righteousness favor the poor, with righteousness favor the poor
Whoah, raise a banner high, for the exiles
Raise a banner high, for the scattered ones
Raise a banner high over the water, wave over the water,
Break it up, break it down so we can cross over on the land
You, quiet and assured, standing as a banner, dependent on the wind to reclaim
All the exiles and everyone, everyone who needs a home
Whoah, raise a banner high for the exiles
Raise a banner high for the jealous ones
Raise a banner ‘cause I'm dependant, you're dependent,
It's time we’re all dependent on the one who can wave his hand
Wave his hand over the water, wave over the water,
Break it up, break it down so we can cross over on the land
I'm a wolf, you're a lamb, our friends are goats and leopards, a calf and a lion and a lamb, And a child will lead us all, a child will lead us all
Whoah, a cow and a baby bear, with the lion we'll all lie down
Whoah, a viper will babysit the baby and nobody will see any harm in the land
Whoah, raise a banner high, for the exiles
Raise a banner high, on my holy mountain
Raise a banner high over the water, wave over the water,
Break it up, break it down so we can cross over on the land
Over the water, wave over the water,
Break it up, break it down so we can cross over on the land
Cross over on the land, woo hoo, cross over on the land, woo hoo hoo
----
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4. |
Song of Ascent
03:19
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Track 4 from Spark & Echo's Video Album IN THE CLOCKTOWER
Watch Videos: https://vimeo.com/album/3080253/video/108684137
Available at gum.co/InTheClocktower
4. Song of Ascent
Written for Vicky Kunz
Psalm 121
I lift my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from?
Where does my help come from?
Every hill and every mountain, I look over them all
Oh, look at all the stars in all the heavens and over all the earth
Oh I know, I know, I know the one who made it, who made it, who made it all
I’ll never let your foot slip, I’ll watch you I’ll never slumber
Oh I, I will never sleep
I’ll be the shade at your right hand when the sun is beating down,
Oh I’ll be the moon, I’ll be your moon
Oh, look at all the stars in all the heavens and over all the earth
Oh I know, I know, I know the one who made it, who made it, who made it all
I will watch over your coming and your going forever
I will watch over your coming and your going forever
Oo, I know what you’re going, I know what you’re going through
Oo, I’m holding, holding you
Your song of ascent is rising to my ears
I hear and I know
Like the water from the hills, your love is running down
I’ll keep you from all harm
Oh, look at all the stars in all the heavens and over all the earth
Oh I know, I know, I know the one who made it, who made it, who made it all
I will watch over your coming and your going forever
I will watch over your coming and your going forever
Oo, I know what you’re going, I know what you’re going through
Oo, I’m holding, holding you
I lift my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from?
Where does my help come from?
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5. |
Bitter Drink
04:36
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Bitter Drink
Written By Emily Clare Zempel
Numbers 15:11-31
If I did or if I didn’t, it would all be the same to you
You hold this jealousy, it’s filling up your hands
Oh, you take me to a place where I cannot stay
Oh, this bitter drink was never meant for me or you
If you asked me, if you asked me I’d tell you so
But all this doubt that consumes you is placed on me
Oh, I bear it all
So be it. So it goes.
On this dusty ground you let my hair fall down
The flower that you hold tastes like dust to me
Did you think my belly would grow without your love
Or emptiness would be all I could hold
If you asked me, if you asked me I’d tell you so
But all this doubt that consumes you is placed on me
Oh, I bear it all
If you asked me, if you asked me I’d tell you so
But all this doubt that consumes you is placed on me
Oh, I bear it all
I bear it all
I bear it all…
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6. |
Where Can I Go?
04:07
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Where Can I Go?
Based on Psalm 139
Feel the road, the ground beneath me
Cross the field and the fading sky
Through the trees, I hear your voice inside me
“Where, where will you go?” It cries, it cries
And the mountains come in view, and I’m
Faster now–break through this fence of you, I break this fence of you
Where, O where, where can I go?
Where can I flee?
I run so wide and long but still you follow
Where, O where, where can I go?
Where can I flee?
I chase the dark but still the sun is rising
I never said I’m perfect
But of course you always were
If you, if you knew I’d deceive you, how could you love me?
It’s just my flesh you always knew, you always knew
You made me who I am, but I can outrun you
I can outrun you
Where, O where, where can I go?
Where can I flee?
I run so wide and long but still you follow
Where, O where, where can I go?
Where can I flee?
I chase the dark but still the sun is rising over me and I–
I can find my way without you and your thoughts–
I have my own, I have my own thoughts, you should know
Alone in these hills I’ll be perfect
And the whole world will love you in my place
Let me go, I’m almost without you
I’ll tear your world away, I’ll make something new
O where, where can I go?
Where can I flee?
I feel you at my heel and still I’m here
O where, O where can I go?
O where can I be?
I chase the dark and now the sun is rising over me
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7. |
Stranger
03:48
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Stranger
Based on Psalm 69
Sink into the ground now
There is no foothold for me
I’m so out of my depth
The floods, the floods engulf me
And my eyes they fail me now
Lookin’ for the heart of you, and my throat
My throat is raw now, crying, crying out for you
Can it be you don’t recognize me anymore?
I’m a stranger in my house, yeah, I’m a stranger to you
And your insults salt my shame
It’s a wound that will never ever heal,
Well hey, you never liked change anyway
You don’t wanna hear me say
You don’t wanna hear me pray
‘Cause you’re, you’re just afraid you’ll lose me
I weep and I will fast
I know I must endure all of this pain
Hey, they say that pain, pain, it will never last
So dress me up in rags
I’m your paper doll now, just don’t,
Just don’t let me fall, don’t let me fall
You don’t wanna hear me say
You don’t wanna hear me pray
‘Cause you’re, you’re just afraid you’ll lose me
And I don’t wanna leave you there
I don’t wanna feel your stare
‘Cause I’m terrified to lose you
And oh, you seek freedom
You sought it your whole life
But oh, you taught me to seek it, too
All this freedom’s just pushing me further and further and further away
I lift my arms up now for some rescue party’s hand
For some rescue party’s man to lift me now
But I am only blamed for what I did not steal
Hey, I’d take the blame for you a million times just to know you’re real
Are you real?
‘Cause you don’t wanna hear me say
You don’t wanna hear me pray
‘Cause you’re, you’re just afraid you’ll lose me
And I don’t wanna leave you there
I don’t wanna feel your stare
‘Cause I’m, I’m terrified to lose you
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8. |
Whale
03:07
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I looked in the belly of the whale and, Sister, it’s not pretty
I’ve seen the factory, Baby it’s a sin
I climbed the blowhole; there you were standing right there next to Jesus saying,
“Come on, my friend, get me out of this holy mess.”
So we fell into a dingy, sailed away into the night,
And watched the whale vomit the rock bands in the moonlight
Somewhere between Beale Street and the basement of Belmont
I remembered that I love you
And I love Jesus, despite those tacky songs
Beale Street gave me back all of my rhythm and Stax gave me back my soul
I was afraid there wasn’t anymore left for you
Then I found myself at the Country Music Hall of Fame standing next to Johnny Cash singing,
“Love’s still burnin’, it’s you that just went out.”
So I fell into the ring and took off my Nudie Suit
To see a heart still burnin’ for you, my love, so sweet
Somewhere between Graceland and the earshot of a boy band
I remembered that I love you
And I love Jesus, despite those lies told on his name
Back in the dingy there’s trouble a-brewin’
The ocean’s stormy the whale’s spewin’
Tepid hearts and empire marauders
Pirates circling every side, it doesn’t look good, too young to die
Jesus, please, get me out of this holy mess
He says, “Well, I love you cynic, I love you lamb, oh, take my hand and understand
That death to me is more than magic ceasing.”
The ocean fills with vomit, life is lost and life redeemed
Truth and bloodshed sure are ugly, the Savior’s dead, the sun is muddy
We’re in an ocean, a dingy, all alone
Beale Street gave me back all of my rhythm and Stax gave me back my soul
I was afraid there wasn’t anymore left for you
Then I found myself at the Pearly Gates standing right there next to Jesus saying,
“Death of me is all you need to be free.”
So I fell into the glow and took off my skin and bones
To see a soul burnin’ for you my love so sweet!
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9. |
These Are My Sons
03:54
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These Are My Sons
Based on 1 Chronicles 3:1-9, 2 Samuel 3:2-5, 2 Samuel 5:1-16, 2 Samuel 13: 1-34, 2 Samuel 18:9, 2 Samuel 18:14-15, 1 Kings 1:5-27
I’m in the land of the matriarch, on the hill
I’m on a hill where my father and my mother lay down; they lay down
I’m alive, I’m alive, I’m alive
I got it all
I wonder why, I wonder, all the love is gathering ‘round me, it’s gathering round
I wonder why, I wonder why, Oh yeah
One more baby born, one more,
One more baby born, one more,
One more baby born,
I got it all, I got it all, I got it all
These are my sons and this is my daughter
I love them, I love them
They are my soul
They are my soul
I’m in the city of the capital, I’m the king
I am the king, I am the one who built up the wall, I built up the wall
I’m alive, I’m alive, I’m alive
I got it all
I wonder why, I wonder who am I that I have been brought this far
I got it all
I wonder why, I wonder why
Oh no
Look how my babies have grown
How my babies have turned
I thought they were wiser than I
So why all the lies?
The lies, the lies, the lies, the lies
One has carried a sword
One has shattered a heart
One has severed a nation
I had it all, I had it all, I had it all
These are my sons and this is my daughter
You loved her, you loved her
It wasn’t love
You took her soul
You hated and died
You punished with a coward’s hand
Only to rise up, rise up in a tree, your throne
And you, you say you’re a worthy man
But you’re a lost deceiver
You’re spoiled, your charms are lies
Oh, my sons
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10. |
There Is Room
04:25
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There is Room
Based on John 14:1-4
Also inspired by Grieg Op. 54 Nocturne and Chopin Prelude Op. 28 No. 1
Let not your heart be troubled anymore
Trust in me, trust in me
Though I may go, I’ll come back for you
Do you believe?
You believe in me
You know the way to where I am going
There is room
There’s a room there for you
Though I may go, I’ll come back for you
So you’ll be where I am
You will be where I am
Were it not so, I would have told you
Trust in me, trust in me
Though I may go, I’ll come back for you
Do you believe?
You believe in me
You’ll be where I am
You will be where I am
You will be where I am...
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Jonathon Roberts Beacon, New York
Jonathon MT Roberts is a composer and performer inspired by biblical text with a background in classical, jazz and, pop. He collaborates with his wife Emily Clare Zempel for the Spark & Echo band and write off the beaten path music and theatre. Founder of Spark and Echo Arts. ... more
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