Hymns from Nineveh

Table of Contents

1. So Mournful the Elegy, So Comforting the Hymn

An old man said:
“live one day at a time
– who can add a day to his life by worrying?”

Though we’re young
we’ve seen what worry can do
so embrace these worried songs we sing to you

So mournful the elegy
and so comforting the hymn

– we ought to sing when we lie in our beds
in the quiet hour
we remember what he said
but we’re young
and we’ve seen what worry can do
so embrace these worried hearts we bring to you

So mournful the elegy
and so comforting the hymn

2. Selma

When Selma, the blind and the bold,
told the tale of the untold
we could grow old
and as she gets strangled you’re holding my hand
in prayer
that we’ll never end
oh no we’ll never end
as a snowflake endures on my tongue
in seconds before it is gone
we’ll be
dew before the sun

See! It’s unnecessary to be afraid
we will join the great parade
and we’ll sing
hallelujah to the King
in a different light we will see
who we were meant to be

Until then
we’re just like the sun and the moon
I’ll fade if you’re setting too soon!
Sun and moon! Be still!
Your breath – the most perfect of songs
on hills and in valleys
of longing
we can go
on and on

I’ll sing to your Maker and praise
your wonders and then He will raise
a banner of love
and though I know
that thousands of poets have sung
your beauty
then none of them, none
have seen
that you belong with me

3. Hymn For the Lover

I remember when you said
you were full of sparks in your head.
Your words were fireworks in me,
I saw my fire work in you.
I thought your skin was like a veil
concealing hope and fairy tales,
and your hands were like a map
from where many will find their way back
(at least I did…)

Through fire,
through water,
through death do us,
death do us part.
Through fire,
through water,
through death do us,
death do us part.

You showed me where the swans would nest,
you let the silence do the rest.
And in that room of pearly white
I saw your darkness and your light!
So when you get lost,
then I can find the architecture of your mind.
In quiet buildings you belong,
and I’ll be there to sing this song:

“Through fire,
through water,
through death do us, death do us part!
Through rainbows,
through rainfall,
through flood streams of tears!

Through failure,
through absence,
through presence of human time!
Through everything
with love
with love!

Through fire,
through water,
and through death do us,
death do us part!”

4. Cocoon

I spent the night in the forest,
you were with me when I cried,
when I cried:
“Oh where is the light?”
I spent all day in my mindscape,
you were with me
when I wept,
when I wept,
you watched me when I slept.

Skies have grown darker,
but stars have grown brighter,
and my room,
and my room
is a safe cocoon!

Streets have gone misty,
but peace is upon me when I sing,
when I sing:
“Holy is the King!”
and You won’t wash away if I fade,
and it’s OK to break in two,
break in two,
if I’m breaking into you!

5. Eveningsong

When I am weary
then I try to think of the words that you told me
when I said I was a boy
on a lonely dark fare
in the middle of nowhere
nowhere to turn to
and nowhere to hide
when I have nowhere to hide
then I think of the words that you told me
when I said I was a boy
not a man
who knows what he can
and what he cannot do
’cause I don’t even know who I am
when I don’t know who I am
then I think of the words that you told me
when I stepped out of the boat
tried to walk on the waves
but I sank
oh I sank
deeper into the grave of my thought

When I am deep in the grave of my thought
I try to think of the words that you told me
that day in my kitchen
it was flooded by my tears
but dried by your words:
“why are you weary?
I love you more!”

6. Rage.Silence.Love

The rage burned like a fire in Achilles
and when it burns in me
I beg you, please,
don’t be afraid
of my rage,
my love.

The silence muted Abraham, the true,
and when it mutes me, too,
I beg, I beg you
don’t be confused
by my silence,
my love.

Darkblue skies
can swallow a man
completely
so he does
what he doesn’t to do
but in rage
and in silence
you
complete me,
my love.

7. Sister Sorrowsong

Oh dear, I hear
the sound of your heart like a leaf on a tree
in the eye of the storm.

Oh dear, I hear
your deepest darkness labyrinth
blindfolded
nowhere to end

Sister Sorrowsong
Sister Sorrowsong
Sister Sorrowsong
We’re a legion
we’re a million
who love you,

Sister Sorrow!
We have seen your light!
We’re a legion
We’re a million
Who love you,

8. Daughter of Zion

So says the daughter of Zion,
the longing, the wounded, the tired;
So says the daughter of Zion
the sighing, the seeing, the shy:
One is in labour,
another woman’s womb is closed.
One is cured,
and one dies before growing old.

Oh! Come down while I sleep!
Come like a thief!
Steal this night from my eyes,
replace it with daylight!

One finds peace and quiet.
One lies sleepless, haunted.
One is loved for better,
one is ignored for worse.

Oh! Come down while I sleep
come like a thief
steal this night from my eyes,
replace it with daylight.

Oh! Be merciful!
Come while I sleep!
I don’t want to leave
– or be left behind…

9. Come All Ye!

Come all ye who are heavy burdened.
Come all ye who are in pain.
Come all ye who are heavy burdened.
Come all ye who are in pain.
– and you may sleep in my gardens,
you may stay in my house,
even forever and forever,
and on and on!

Come all ye who say “we cannot find our way”.
Come all ye who say “we’ve survived another day”.
Come all ye who are tired and weary.
Come all ye who run, trip and fall.
– and you may sleep in my gardens,
you may stay in my house,
even forever and forever,
and on and on!

10. Drink Deep From the Well

Have we lost our words
for this feeling?
Have we lost our wings
while flying?
Did we see the days
fade away like rain?
Did we see the sun
let down everyone?

Lover! Come here!
Let me whisper
a secret in your ear:
Oh, we could start here:
Drink deep from the well
and immerse our hearts in fire!
And sing new songs together
for our Lord.

Hymns from Nineveh