When at first I came into this land
In the highlands I did dwell
Where ancient winged masters taught
The depths of wisdom well
Emmanuel, he walked with me
And secrets he did share:
The order of the swirling stars
The laws of earth and air
The golden pipes of heaven
He entrusted in my care
And I sang of the mercy of
Emmanuel
In time I went a-wandering into the world of man
And though I knew the sacred songs
My separate dreams began
And when I thought the pipes were mine
My eyes grew blind as well
My soul from heights of heaven fell
Emmanuel
Slumbering, sleeping
Slipping through seasons of silent night:
The servant
The snake
The soldier
A storm
A poet
A mother
A child stillborn
A rock
A star
A drunk in a bar
How many more times dancing the skin dance
Sorting the systems of violence, romance?
Sobbing the sorrow
Walking the wheel
Hiding the horror
Fighting the feel
Pushing the wheel
Like a rock up a hill
Until, until, until…
I'm drawn so slowly step by step
Out of this darkened place
So unaccustomed to the light
So wary of its grace
Oh, how I long to hear the pipes
I held before I fell
And sing the ancient songs of love
Emmanuel
From out of dreams awakening
It seems ten thousand years
Since I beheld my true love's face
And cried these cleansing tears
The song's returning one by one
Out of my memory's well
How can I lay them at your feet
Emmanuel?
Can I lay them at your feet
Emmanuel?
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