1. |
A Quaker's Song
03:05
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A Quaker’s Song.
Are you there in the hand that offers pain or healing
Are you there in a hot dry wind over sand where once were farms?
In a tired mother’s eyes, a stare that hides all feeling,
Watching her child grow stronger or dying in her arms?
Let winds of trade blow down the walls,
And cool rains fall again,
Each little girl grow proud and tall
And small boys become men.
Are you there in the heart of the one who pulls a trigger?
With the generals who always lose no matter how they try?
Are you there inside the terrorist who shows no fear nor flicker
Of remorse as he explodes, causing innocents to die.
Lord, let the battlefields grow silent
And in our foes see you.
Let our armies all march home again,
Then let’s try - what love can do.
May my confusion become simple words
As I wait here in the quiet.
Lead me from my darkness Lord
And hold me - in your light.
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2. |
William's Dream
02:59
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WILLIAM’S DREAM.
CHORUS
Let’s try what love can do.
Then let’s try what love can do.
To that sylvan shore,
We’ll make our own law
Let's try what love can do.
V.1
William in his finery, his sword and buckle on.
Asks “Mr Fox, would the Lord think it good?”
Says George “You should wear that sword as long as you can.”
But one week was all that William could.
Only one week was the time that William could.
Let’s try what love can do,
When we anchor in the bay
We will start a brand new day.
Let’s try what love can do,
V.2
Says William to his father “You can disinherit me,
‘Your rank and your wealth I cannot use.
‘But I love you and I fear you’ll not come back from your wars.”
Says his father “To your conscience be you true.”
‘Always, to your conscience be you true.”
CHORUS
Let’s try what love can do,.
Don’t steal out o’er the stern,
But keep the helm held firm,
Let’s try what love can do,
V.3
To the land of Pennsylvania, from far and wide did many come,
To a government like none had seen before.
Every crime by jury judged, no small benefit begrudged.
A simple and an honest kind of law.
A simple and an honest kind of law.
CHORUS
Let’s try what love can do,
Under God we all are one,
Father, daughter, mother, son.
Let’s try what love can do.
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3. |
A Letter from Margaret
03:26
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Margaret sits and writes a letter to you, it is to you
From a jail cell, damp and cold, but her hand is calm and true, dear friend,
Her hand is calm and true.
You can be sure you’ll hear from her, you’ll hear from her again,
The battle fought is not with sword, no it is fought with pen.
Her chains do not matter, not matter in the least
Nor her mildewed cot of stone, but her word ring full of peace, dear friend
Her words ring full of peace.
You can be sure you’ll hear from her, you’ll hear from her again,
The battle fought is not with sword, no it is fought with pen.
Margaret’s voice is very clear, clear strong and steady,
Though her body’s weak, her spirits’ strong, she’s asking are we ready, friend
She’s asking are we ready.
For we can change the world, dear friend, and you’ll hear from us again.
For the battle fought is not with sword, no it is fought with pen.
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4. |
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Do you listen to your prophet, do you listen to your priest?
Do you think you’re going to heaven, or is hell a fiery feast?
Are you good or are you feeling bad, do you think you’re in a race?
Are you sure the best is still to come, has the door shut in your face?
Is it only now that matters, don’t you owe it to yourself
To take the most and best you can, aren’t you owed a little wealth?
Others have it, why not you, isn’t that just why we voted
For the suits who promised all those things. Don’t think of the exploited.
Chorus
We got to change the money, throw those tables to the ground,
If we want to stay around.
We got to change the money, if the temple’s gonna last.
Start again, forget about the past.
Growth is not just money, it’s the currency of greed
It’s gonna starve our children before they learn to read
The writing there on Wall St, the banners waved at St Paul’s feet,
The crazy smile on Guy Falks masks, the questions we’re afraid to ask,
Forget the Footsie, GDP, Dow Jones.The chance of yet more loans.
Chorus X 2 Second time,last two lines..
“It’s time to ring the bell, or go down those stony temple steps to hell.”
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5. |
The Reckoning
05:20
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6. |
Top Hats and Bonnets
03:14
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Chorus
Stovepipe hats and factory gates
Nice new house, fair labour rates,
Honest prices, honest deals,
Little Jimmy gets a hot drink an’ three square meals.
A world where profit is not the king,
Let charity begin.
Verse 1
George Cadbury’s not a merry old soul
Jo Rowntree‘s pretty stern
And since I am not an Anglican
It’s pretty hard to learn
Mr Lloyd and Mr Barclay
Might lend me a penny or two
To buy a bag of Carr’s biscuits
And a pair of Clarke’s best shoes
Verse 2
I’ve got no need to worry though
‘Cos they give me a house and job
With a fine park to walk around
In me pocket, a couple of bob.
When they let us in the universities
We’ll study with the toffs
We’ll quickly learn a thing or two
Start talking a little bit posh.
Verse 3
Then we’ll all get politically involved
With peace and equality
And all those fellas in big tall hats
Will fade into history.
Those old Quakers have crossed the bar
But their legacy still lives on
Propping up the welfare state
With hands still firm and strong
Verse 4
So round the world you now will find
In work and society
They’re doing it right, the Quaker Way
What’s best for you and me.
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7. |
In Quiet
03:03
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Verse 1
Some folks shout about it
Lead you to their door
Some folks want to ring that bell
Can’t wait to hear the final score
Some folks lower modest eyes
“Oh no, it wasn’t me”
And all the while make very sure
It’s them that you can see
Chorus 1
In quiet we can hear
Silence brings no fear
Loud words disappear
In quiet, quiet, quiet
Verse 2
Others fuss and run around
With answers thick and fast
Before the problem’s even known
Before we’ve even asked.
They never think to pause awhile
To ask what’s wrong or right
Or even stop to think their thoughts
To hold them to the light
(BUT)
Chorus 2
Your worries become small
The walls are not so tall
We’re here within your call
.
Chorus 3 (twice)
Gentle peace will bind you
Confidence will find you
Troubles fall behind you
In quiet, quiet, quiet. (1st time)
if only you were quiet (2nd time)
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8. |
Lay It Down On The Table
04:30
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V.1
My story’s all over the place
I can’t see things clear, I need more head space
I need to step to the side and get out of this race
I think that must be why I am here.
Ch1
So I’ll lay it all right here on this table
And I’ll say it as true as I can
It seems I am just not that able
To be clear what I do, or who I am.
V2
When I was back in my youth
What you saw, heaven knows I was brash and uncouth
Rarely thinking or caring about kindness or truth
Oh God forgive me, or about you.
Ch2
So I’ll just lay this thing right on the table
And say it as true as I can
I’m afraid what I write on my label
Isn’t now, and, never was who I am.
V3
Sitting here round this table I know
If only I can explain how I feel here and now
And accept that with you I am able to grow.
You see Lord, I really am trying.
Ch 3
I’m laying my heart on this table
Telling it just like it is
I never cared much for the old family bible
That was then, this is now….so I guess I am listening
Ch 4
Just show me so I can see
And tell it just like it is
Do I have in my heart what it takes to start
The rest of my life as I want it to be.
Ch 5
So as we both sit here at this table
We must deal with just what we find
I guess I don’t need any label
I’ll just take your hand,(pause for a bar) you already have mine.
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9. |
Friends Ambulance
04:34
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1. Soldier
Machine guns, whistles, all stopped now.
Smoke curling all around.
The air is full of screaming.
Have all my mates gone down?
Why are my legs not moving?
What is happening to the sky?
O God, where are you Mammy?
Is this where I’m bound to die?
2. Girlfriend
What happened to the feather
that I gave you on that night?
When I said I couldn’t love you
with no courage for the fight.
When you turned from me forever,
tears welling in your eye.
How could I know then, dearest one,
you were going off to die?
3 Narrator
The very month war was declared
a young man wrote a letter,
Inviting those who would not fight
to serve in something better.
To rescue victims, sick and maimed.
To offer safe relief,
Without regard from where they come,
regardless of belief.
CHORUS
Come those who don’t believe in war,
Quakers, conchies, women, men
Climb aboard Friends Ambulance.
Save lives instead of taking them.
4.Soldier
I lay within that shell hole,
sky darkening to night,
a body landed down beside me.
A voice, a ray of light.
As we lay there through the darkness,
though only just alive,
His will, determination
let me hope we would survive.
Funny how I remember now.
His name was Phillip I am sure
He filled that night with talk of peace.
A world with no more war.
Later, I recall rough ground.
By others I was borne.
Then lying in a canvas cot
Disbelief, another morn.
6. Narrator.
Quakers, conchies, women, men,
1300, more, answered the call.
Two million miles by ambulance.
Train, ships, hospitals.
And some they died upon the field
to save so many others.
Bravery, peace, hand in hand,
Our sisters and our brothers.
CHORUS
Come those who don’t believe in war,
Quakers, conchies, women, men.
Climb aboard Friends Ambulance.
Save lives instead of taking them.
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10. |
Who's Your Lady Friend
04:52
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CHORUS
Who’s your lady Friend?
Who’s your lady Friend?
Go on choose from any, for surely there are many
…. repeat.
Mrs Hooton said for the souls of men of me, inflict on me any sin.
Damaris wrote in a very fine book, the way out is the way in.
Dame Jocelyn, though no Nobel Prize, found the pulsating star
Anna Bidder’s Quaker View of Sex ensured we’d all go far.
CHORUS.
Mrs Miller and son grew a garden which showed torture for all to see.
Elizabeth Fry demonstrated why, though prisoners are not free,
We all have the right to find the light and in the end walk tall.
And Fogelklou proved it is true that love redeems us all.
CHORUS
These women and countless others tell, in thought and deed how we,
If we have a mind, don’t fall behind but live our testimonies.
And should we fail, lean on the rail that’s always by our side,
To keep us strong, to right the wrong and with our Lord abide.
CHORUS
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11. |
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Earth, Air, Fire And Water
Words and Music by Mike Nash
Life in this world can be frightening and violent
Like motorway traffic, ever faster in pace
I find it hard to take time to be silent
To focus on you and to seek out your face
Earth, air, fire and water
All your creation is singing your praise
Open my ears to the song of the elements
God my Redeemer, teach me to follow your ways
Dry branches fall and are gathered for burning
And flowers disappear, but the new seeds are sown
You plant your Spirit in hearts that are yearning
And nourish and tend them, till faith is full-grown
Earth, air, fire and water
All your creation is singing your praise
Open my ears to the song of the elements
God my Redeemer, teach me to follow your ways
© Mike Nash 2007
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12. |
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Everything seems so familiar
I’ve been here once before
But it’s bigger than I remember
I can’t say more
I had no idea I could run so fast
I could keep it up for years
It’s like true perpetual motion
And I’ve no more fears
Chorus
Farther up, farther in
Passing countryside more like the real thing
Golden sun on my face, and wind against my skin
Farther up, and farther in
Every day is an adventure
That’s better than the la
Now the holidays are beginning
The term is past
See I’m running up a waterfall
Seems crazy but it’s true
The impossible is easy
When I’m following you
Chorus
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13. |
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Jenny's musical interpretation of:-
"Our life is love, and peace, and tenderness; and bearing one with another, and forgiving one another, and not laying accusations against each other; but praying one for another, and helping one another up with a tender hand." Isaac Pennington, 1667.
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14. |
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WORDS BY ELEANOR FARJEON
Morning has brok-en, like the first morn-ing
Blackbird has spok-en, like the first bird
Praise for the sing-ing, praise for the morn-ing
Praise for them spring-ing fresh from the world
Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heav-en
Like the first dew fall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweet-ness of the wet gard-en
Sprung in complete-ness where his feet pass
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morn-ing
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with ela-tion, praise every morn-ing
God's recrea-tion of the new day
Morning has brok-en, like the first morn-ing
Blackbird has spok-en, like the first bird
Praise for the sing-ing, praise for the morn-ing
Praise for them spring-ing fresh from the world
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Eden Thomas
Eden Thomas is a folk singer/song writer and has, in his time, owned several boats on the sea, lakes, rivers and canals. He served in the merchant navy, been a university lecturer, and founded, operated then sold a hi tec IT company, before becoming a Quaker chaplain. Now, happily, he is completely retired and walks the dog.. ... more
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