KEDRON II

Something else you can sing to the sad and stirring Sacred Harp tune KEDRON [1799]. Anybody with a Sacred Harp book -- and the woods are FULL of them -- could provide the music notation. The Sacred Harp tradition often repeats the last half of a tune as a kind of refrain, and since you have to sing through the tune twice for each verse here, it would only be the last two lines of each verse that would repeat --- as noted in italics. You have my permission to wheedle, cajole, and force choir directors far and wide to tackle it; I've had no luck here, so I would be delighted to hear of progress pretty much anywhere... especially for a recording. It is copyrighted, but I am not about to break cover to make a stand about it; just treat it [and so treat me] well.

HYMN: O LIVING WORD!

[24 April 97]

O living breath, O mighty wind,
That moved above the formless deep,
Raised up the bones of those who sinned,
And whispers hope to those that weep!
O living breath, come sweep us clean —
There is no whirlwind wild as you!
Blow free where our small hearts have been
And where you pass, we will prove true. [repeat]

O living water, Noah’s flood,
At Jordan let us drink our fill,
As once was promised, and made good,
To that brave woman at the well!
O living water from on high —
There is no fountain fair as you!
Fill deep what long lay bare and dry
And where you flow, we will prove true. [repeat]

O living fire, cleansing flame,
That burned the bush and left it whole,
Our hearts would bear your holy name —
Come touch our lips with glowing coal.
O living fire, consume us quite,
There is no tongue of flame like you!
Break forth, leap high to bring us light,
And where you burn, we will prove true. [repeat]

O living word, O broken heart
That was, and is, and is to be!
In you all mortal flesh takes part,
Our times share in eternity.
O living word that conquers sin,
There is no other word but you!
Let us be more than we have been —
Come, Lord, and make our life anew. [repeat]