metalyrics
The lyrics of Metanarrative are nearing completion. (As of this writing, only Movement 6 and the finale remain.) When you're "in process," things are subject to change, but I'm quite satisfied that most of these lyrics are pretty much "set in stone." I have found, however, that when I add music, I tend to incorporate additional text in the "empty spots." So a number of movements and sub-movements for which I have roughed out the music have lyrics which weren't originally in the plans. (For example, the "why so strong and silent" echoes in Movement 2, and the italicized material in Simon's Lament [Movement 9.ii.3].)
The movements listed immediately below show the structure of Metanarrative. If you click on the name of the movement, you will be taken to the lyrics for that movement. (Since the Prologue will be an instrumental, there is no link for it at present.)
Prologue: in the beginning (instrumental overture)
- Trinity
- tohu-wabohu
- it was so
Movement 1: this is our home (1)
Movement 6: up from Ur / fire in your hand
Movement 19: Spiritus ecclesiae
Movement 1: this is our home (I)
© 2002, 2005 by Tim Gallant
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this is our home
this is our home
awaken to a dream
of celestial wonder
(this is our home, this is our home)
kneeling by four streams
with a face turned upward
(this is my home, this is my home)
arising from the dust
a living breathing spirit
(this is our home, this is our home)
just the two of us
in nakedness and fearless
(this is our home, this is our home)
this gracious sphere
(truth and beauty)
surrounding me
(truth and beauty)
embracing me
(truth and beauty)
resounding here
(truth and beauty)
every tear
every fear
everything that disappears
these are worlds unknown
this is our home
this is our home
Movement 2: open your eyes
© 2002, 2005 by Tim Gallant
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enter the serpent
crafty and wise
grasp the forbidden
open your eyes
who's guarding the garden
(why so strong and silent)
who's guarding the bride
(standing idly by)
protecting the woman
(it's a cruel science)
this rib from your side
(would you watch her die)
challenge the goodness
an evil surmise
grasp the forbidden
open your eyes
who's guarding the garden....
grasp the forbidden
open your eyes
(it's a wise man's tale)
oh, it opened our eyes
(but the science failed)
to life in sorrow
and death in tears
no tomorrow
we spend our years
away from home
(it's a wise man's tale)
away....
Movement 3: Kyrie eleison
© 2002, 2005 by Tim Gallant
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kyrie eleison
kyrie eleison
kyrie eleison
oh mercy, mercy
Movement 4: mercy awakens
© 2002, 2005 by Tim Gallant
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mercy awakens
searching the garden
cool of the day
mercy awakens
echoes of God with
something to say
seed for the woman
skin for a covering
for man much afraid
hope for a future
truth love and beauty
the promise is made
mercy awakened:
awaken me
Movement 5: aftermath
© 2002, 2005 by Tim Gallant
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two sons will sacrifice
one rejected, what's gone wrong?
one son kills, one son dies
and so soon the cycle's on
we're always falling back it seems
we're born into these years of wrath
living on these hopes and dreams
and living with the aftermath
when will it be over
how long must we pay
how long till the promise
finally finds its way
sometimes I think I've made it
but it always dogs my path
how long must we live
with the aftermath
two lines live side by side
Cain's daughters have those eyes
sons of God apostatize
and now soon the waters rise
and it feels like the aftermath
yes it seems just like the aftermath
just as soon we're on land
and the cycle starts again
world is new but how to ban
these defiling arts of men
and it feels like the aftermath....
we're always falling back it seems....
when will it be over....
Movement 6: up from Ur / fire in your hand
© 2005-2006 by Tim Gallant
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[soon as the rain stops falling down
seems the tower starts going up
always looking to make our own higher ground
instead of looking for an ark....]
idols in Ur
just like my fathers
child of curse
as all of the
others
a man without a future
a man without a home
a man among
the masses
residing in this tomb
and you
you stepped into my world
stepped
over the threshhold
of darkness around me
stripped off the graveclothes
the cycle that
bound me
and you said, follow me
to a country not your own
you said, follow
me
and I will show you home
so I went out
where was I going
who am I now
when will you show me
a mystery for a future
a stranger in the land
a fistful of uncertain
like fire in your hand
there's fire in your hand
there's fire in your hand
as you come down from heaven
fire in your hand
upon this land of Sodom
fire in your hand
and only one man
escapes alive
is this the way
of all the earth
nothing but death
is there no birth?
where is the promise
that you made
where is the promise
that I heard?
do you laugh at my words
laugh until there's tears?
you will laugh so much more
at this time next year
a father to the nations
I'll call you Abraham
through your generations
like fire in your hand
fire in your hand
the power of a promise
fire in your hand
walk and be blameless
take fire in
your hand
tie up the promise
give it back to the Giver
you don't understand
you go
up the mountain
and there's none to deliver
this is the end...
this is my son
this is my land
this is the end
this fire in my hand
is doing me in
and there on the altar
the promise is lying
gazing back with frightened eyes
and here is his father
his old eyes
are crying
to hold back this sacrifice
hold it back
hold it back
hold everything
oh...
hold it back
hold it back
you promised the fire of life
but this fire in my hand
is a knife
but you
you stepped
into my world
stepped into my nightmare
the nightmare that drowned me
a ram on Moriah
the promise rebounding
and you said,
spare your son
cause now is not the time
[now is not the time]
you said, spare your son
[this is not the son I require]
and I will give up
mine
this is the promise
that you made
this is the promise
that I heard
can't hold back this sacrifice
can't hold it back
can't hold it back
can't hold back this sacrifice
for the life of the world
there's fire in your hand
as you come down from heaven
for the life of the world
fire in your hand
can't hold back this sacrifice
Movement 7: flesh and blood
© 2005 by Tim Gallant
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displaying your strength to all eyes
to rescue your people
the firstborn of Pharaoh has died
we march out in freedom
I will sing to the LORD
for He has triumphed gloriously
the rider and horse
are thrown into the sea
but the Ancient of Days becomes old
and quickly we grumble
and dancing to calves made of gold
how nimbly we stumble
(now watch us tumble)
we are not Spirit
we are flesh and blood
we are not righteous
we are flesh and blood
so in love you give us
flesh and blood for our weakness
the flesh and the blood
the laver, the altar
the skin and the bone
the fire, the water
the flesh and the blood
the constant reminder
we are your servants
and no one is blinder
in this
promised land
no one
can stand
dust is dust
flesh is flesh
just where
is our rest
would you build me a house
a house made of stone
I'll build you a house
you'll sit on my throne
your sons will be my sons
the objects of love
but for all of this honour
you're just flesh and blood
you are not Spirit
you are just flesh and blood
is this the man of my own heart
the shepherd I've called
now you will know just how far
the righteous can fall
you're just flesh and blood
you are not Spirit
and down through the years
it's the story of tears
constantly told
your promise is near
so why are we here
in slavery sold
who will deliver me
from this body of death
let me enter your rest
we're nothing but
body and flesh
we're just flesh and blood
we're just flesh and blood....
is this the land that we seek
is this the place of our rest
isn't the earth for the meek
isn't the righteous one blessed
why all this wickedness
reigning triumphant
is this the righteousness
for which we hunger
the heavens of brass still resound
with lies we have spoken
like tablets of stone on the ground
the oaths we have broken
we are not Spirit....
how can these bones come alive
from where they have fallen
how can the promise arrive
when we are the problem
is this the land that we seek....
we are not Spirit....
Movement 8: Exile
© 2006 by Tim Gallant
[no
composition version]
by the waters of Babylon
how can we smile
how can we sing
[how can we live]
in this land of
exile?
rebuild the house
the house of the Lord
but most of us
still scattered abroad
in this
land of exile
in this land of exile
in this land exile
we are not home
Movement 9: sursum corda
© 2002, 2005 by Tim Gallant
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sursum corda
habemus ad Dominum
lift up your hearts
we lift them up to the Lord
we lift our hearts in
anticipation
we seek an answer
for years of waiting
(all of this waiting)
sursum corda
habemus ad Dominum
Messiah Suite
© 2002-2005 by Tim Gallant
Movement 10: the Word became flesh
the Word became flesh
the Word became blood
the Word became flesh
the Word who was God:
took on our weakness
bridged our divisions
touched our uncleanness
offered forgiveness
the kingdom is among you
God's own fingertips
the kingdom is among you
the Word is on your lips
the Word became flesh
strength became weak
the Word became flesh
the Word became speech:
speech to our silence
light to our darkness
peace to our violence
heart to the heartless
the Word became flesh
the Word became blood
to baptize this flesh
with the Spirit of God
the Word becomes flesh
the Word becomes blood
God joins to man
so man joins to God
back from a precipice
calling this house of war
building a house of peace
building a house of prayer
speech to our silence....
the Word became flesh
the Word became blood
the Word became flesh
the Word who was God
the Word became flesh
for this flesh and blood
blood
I smell blood....
Passion Mini-Suite
Movement 11: confrontation
what is this merchandise
this is a house of prayer
the voice resounds
whose are these flashing eyes
tables fly everywhere
a whip comes down
a hush overcomes the people
could this be the one
prophet priest and temple
all rolled into one....
who does he think he is
some kind of voice from God
or something more
speaking so negative
dividing our house of cards
we can't ignore
we can't ignore
can't ignore
this can't be the one
we can't ignore
can't ignore
we're gonna take him down....
Movement 12: betrayal
in the secrets of the night
where plots are made
and plans are laid
every treason has a price
a traitor paid
for a man betrayed
is this you, my companion
the one I chose, the one I knew
friend untrue brings my passion
from one so close, could this be true
in the garden on the ground
a watch to keep
while others sleep
friends and foes, their weapons drawn
(it's the hour of darkness)
a quiet kiss
it ends like this
is this you, my companion...
could this be true
is this you...
Movement 13: Simon's lament
God this night is cold
but I can't face the dawn
I'm known as brash and bold
but that old me is gone
He said, you're Peter -
you are the rock...
but what's the meaning
if it's only talk?
can't say I wasn't warned
yet still I could have sworn. . . .
a man must think he's strong
a man can be so wrong
tell me Peter
what was that I heard
tell me Peter
what was that bird?
the man who'd go the farthest
[who'd never waver, never break]
it echoes in my ears
and everyone must hear -
I would even die
but I would not deny
first to falter
first to break
first to falter
first to fall
the man who'd go the farthest
now I go in the darkness
and I weep bitterly
Movement 14: court of kangaroos
in the secrets of the night
meets a court of kangaroos
cooking up a charge to write
passing judgment on the Truth
(tell me your secrets
your dirty little secrets)
and comes the light of day
a pagan defender
and a Jewish pretender
can't find a thing to say
but hear the mob's demand
you're no friend of Caesar
if you release him -
you cannot wash your hands
speaking nothing in defense
it's an uncontested fate
and as cruel death impends
like a sheep he stands and waits
so will you go silently
please don't you tell me
you'll go without a fight
please don't go silently
into this evil night
into this evil night...
Movement 15 via dolorosa
see the royal robe he wears
see the beating that he bears
see the thorns upon his head
see his body glisten red
(on the via dolorosa....)
see him stumble with that cross
is he humbled, broken, lost
see the spear run through his side
see the death that plots devise
(on the via dolorosa....)
is this you, blessed teacher
the one I loved, the one I knew
is this you, are these your features
flowing blood from open wounds
is it I, blessed master
the one you loved, the one you knew
was it my, my transgressions
that put you there, that murdered you
is it I, is it I, is this you
on the via dolorosa....
Movement 16: abandoned and unknown
all alone against the darkened sky
the Lord of life prepares to die
and we don't know him
he came to his own unrecognized
just like coming home, no welcome sign
why didn't we know him
my God, my God
we hear him cry
why have you forsaken me
this cup of wrath
these darkened skies
hell has overtaken me
is this you, blessed teacher
the one I loved, the one I knew
is this you, are these your features
flowing blood from open wounds
my God, my God....
Movement 17: agnus Dei
agnus Dei
qui tollis peccata mundi
miserere nobis
agnus Dei
qui tollis peccata mundi
miserere nobis
agnus Dei
qui tollis peccata mundi
dona nobis pacem
the lamb is slain
God has died
I cannot face
hope crucified
hope crucified
Movement 18: triumph of Israel's God
a stranger on the road
a face we didn't know
"why are you crying"
are you the only one
who doesn't know what's done
a messiah dying
why can't you see
so it must be
from days long ago
it's all been foretold
the prophets have spoken
their words are not broken
and the words that he spoke
and the bread that he broke
a history of Israel's blood
daylight dawned in my eyes
standing there undisguised
the triumph of Israel's God
is this you, my messiah
the one I loved, the one I knew
didn't they crucify you
yet here you stand created new
the triumph of Israel's God
the triumph of Israel's God
...has come at last
Movement 19: Spiritus ecclesiae
© 2005 by Tim Gallant
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Spirit of the new creation
pouring from Messiah's throne
all the voices of the nations
come to speak the voice of home
into one body
we've all been baptized
born of one Spirit
united to Christ
Spiritus ecclesiae
now that we've received you
Spiritus ecclesiae
grant that we not grieve you
born of the Spirit
but still flesh and blood
we are unfinished
we're still flesh and blood
but we are flesh of His flesh
we are bone of His bone
in the hope of righteousness
we are anchored to home
we are still looking
through this dark glass
grasping the future
in light of the past
but we have the witness
we're objects of love
we have the Spirit
the water and blood
Spirit of the new creation
Spirit of a better world
(our) royal seal and down payment
Spirit of a better world
Spirit of the newborn heavens
Spirit of the newborn earth
Spirit in your travailing
bring our redemption to birth
Spiritus ecclesiae
our anticipation
by this faith we look on high
eagerly we're waiting
Finale: this is our home (II) (incomplete)
© 2002, 2005, 2006 by Tim Gallant
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fire in Your hand
as You come down from heaven
fire in Your hand
setting this world to rights
new heavens, new earth
no sorrow, no curse
a world full of wonder
a sky full of sound
forever this is our home
this is our home
this is our home. . . .
Spirit will blow
bringing His life
to everything
cripples will dance
mute ones
will shout
and all will sing:
gloria!
gloria!
gloria in
excelsis Deo!
gloria!