Share with others

03 February 2008

When the saints...

This weekend, a friend introduced me to a new disc, and I bought it that night. Lyrics that compel and a beautiful voice besides.
When the Saints sums up so much that cannot be easily put into words...
I want to be one of them.

Lord I have a heavy burden of all I've seen and know
It's more than I can handle
But your word is burning like a fire shut up in my bones
and I cannot let it go

And when I'm weary and overwrought
with so many battles left unfought

I think of Paul and Silas in the prison yard
I hear their song of freedom rising to the stars

And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them

Lord it's all that I can't carry and cannot leave behind
but your word has compelled me
when I think of all who've gone before me and lived the faithful life

And when I'm weary and overwrought
with so many battles left unfought

I think of Paul and Silas in the prison yard
I hear their song of freedom rising to the stars

I see the shepherd Moses in the Pharohs court
I hear his call of freedom for the people of the Lord

And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them
And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them

I see the long quiet walk along the Underground Railroad
I see the slave awakening to the value of her soul

I see the young missionary and the end of the spear
I see his family returning with no trace of fear

I see the long hard shadows of Calcutta nights
I see the sisters standing by the lepers side

I see the young girl huddled on the brothel floor
I see the man with a passion come and kicking down the door

I see the man of sorrows and his long troubled road
I see the world on his shoulders and my easy load

And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them

--When the Saints by Sara Groves

1 comment:

jess&mich said...

It's absolutely my favorite song on the album! I sense such a charge to rise up and fight! To stand up and speak up for those who are destitute and oppressed! And as I think and pray for those battling for the lost souls in remote lands, I think of you and all you are doing here in our city. You ARE one of them!! What a model you have been to the rest of us. Us younger women can learn so much from you! Will you show me how you do it?