If you’ve read previous blogs regarding song-cycles I’ve written, you’ll know that I have a great love for the narrational form. At times they provide such an obvious way to move a story forward, while providing an introspective that would be difficult to present in any other way. The narrations in this story are sung by individual angels.
Joan Ballantyne, a vocal teacher for many years in Dundas, ON was the soloist for this song, who was very encouraging in the ‘One Way’ project. She invited all of the children in ‘One Way’ to sing along with her own students for the town’s official tree lighting ceremony, which included the song ‘Peace on Earth’, which you’ll hear a few blogs from now. (How exciting that event turned out to be! It was even broadcast on Hamilton’s cable TV station.)
I know we would be quickly over loaded if we were to interrupt every happy occasion we experience with thoughts of those experiencing traumatic and troubling lives. This so obviously applies to Christmas times and holiday celebrations. At the same time it’s sometimes important for us to realize that all is not well in other lands or situations, and the love in our hearts needs to connect us to the compassion that we’re called to feel, and at times to act on.
In a Land of Long Ago – 1st narration
This is a story in a land of long ago
Taking place in the now of you and I
This is the telling of a child now just born
And of stable walls that echo with a cry
There is along the road an olive farm that’s filled
With children harvesting the precious crop
There, on a bus are tourists headed down their way
Who the children pray will have the nerve to stop
Can you believe in the dream that’s floating by
Like the colours in a rainbow near the sun?
Can you conceive of a time where you and I
Will resist, in fear, the urgency to run?
Now will the tourists stop and venture on the way
Down the lane where the children live?
And will they all believe enough to want to stay
Long enough to help the world forgive?
What does it matter? Many thousand miles away
Life goes on in such a different cheer
Who is to tell how are their lives and ours the same?
As their baby cries for help, how do we hear?
Can you believe in the dream that’s floating by
Like the colours in a rainbow near the sun?
Can you conceive of a time where you and I
Will resist, in fear, the urgency to run?
This is a story in a land of long ago
Taking place in the now that’s come to be
This is the telling of a child now just born
And of stable walls around the babe can see
There is along the way, as shepherds: you and I
Tending flocks in pastures greener than we know
While in a stable there is heard a lullaby
If we rise and follow, where are we to go?
Written by David A. Buckley (SOCAN) © 2006 all rights reserved