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Part of this is the traditional song, Kum Ba Yah and the rest is a prayer I wrote to go along with it for a New Years service at a church I went to many years ago. The Kum Ba Yah is sung and the rest is recited.
KUM BA YAH (A PRAYER FOR A NEW BEGINNING)
Someones crying Lord kum ba yah
Someones crying Lord kum ba yah
Someones crying Lord kum ba yah
Oh Lord kum ba yah
Someones crying Lord somewhere
Someone is really millions somewhere is many places
They are crying tears of suffering and of empty stomachs
Tears of weakness and disappointment
Tears of strength and resistance
Someones crying Lord
Redeem the time
And bring us to a new beginning
Someones dying Lord kum ba yah
Someones dying Lord kum ba yah
Someones dying Lord kum ba yah
Oh Lord kum ba yah
Someones dying Lord
Some are dying of hunger and thirst
Some are dying because
Others are enjoying superfluous things
Some are dying because people go on exploiting one another
Some are dying because structures
And systems crush the poor and alienate the rich
Someones dying Lord
Because we are not willing
To make a choice, to be a witness, to act
Someones dying Lord
Redeem the times
And bring us to a new beginning
Someones shouting Lord kum ba yah
Someones shouting Lord kum ba yah
Someones shouting Lord kum ba yah
Oh Lord kum ba yah
Someones shouting loud and clear
Some have made a choice
Offering their very existence in love
To fight the death that surrounds us
To wrestle with the evils
Which we use to crucify each other
Someones shouting Lord
Redeem the times
And bring us to a new beginning
Someones praying Lord kum ba yah
Someones praying Lord kum ba yah
Someones praying Lord kum ba yah
Oh Lord kum ba yah
Someones praying Lord
We are praying in tears and anguish
In frustration and weakness
In confusion and longing
We are praying in strength and endurance
We are shouting and wrestling
As Jacob wrestled with the angel
He was touched, was marked, became a blessing
We are praying Lord
Spur our imagination and sharpen our will
Through Jesus Christ you have let us know
Where you want us to be
Help us to be there now
Be with us, touch us, mark us
Let us be a blessing
Let your power be present in our weakness
We are praying Lord
Redeem the times
And bring us to a new beginning
Someones singing Lord kum ba yah
Someones singing Lord kum ba yah
Someones singing Lord kum ba yah
Oh Lord kum ba yah
They are singing instead of crying
They are living instead of dying
They are shouting
And in love their words travel
To the ends of the earth
They are still praying
But this time a prayer
Of thanksgiving and praise
This time they are praying in
Peace and tranquility
Thank you Lord for giving us the ability
To cry to pray to shout and to sing
Thank you Lord for allowing us to live
And show the way for others
To walk in the light of your love
Come by here my Lord come by here
Come by here my Lord come by here
Come by here my Lord come by here
Oh Lord come by here
Amen |
