In June of ’01 the CGMC had a concert (I have it on video tape, but the sound quality just sucks.) with the Heartland Men’s Chorus. During the Heartland Men’s Chorus’s segment (which I liked much better than our own), they sang an absolutely beautiful song, which I was never able to find the lyrics for on the web. Turns out they modified a traditional prayer. Here’s the version I heard, as best I can reconstruct it (without listening to the tape)
Can you hear the prayer of the children on bended knee, in the shadow of an unknown room?
Empty eyes with no more tears to cry, turning heavenward toward the light.
Crying, “Who will help me to see the morning light of one more day?
But if I should die before I wake, I pray my soul to take?”
Can you feel the hearts of the children aching for home, for something of their very own?
Reaching hands with nothing to hold on to, but hope for a better day.
Crying, “Who will help me to feel the love again in my own land?
But if unknown roads lead away from home, give me loving arms, away from harm.”
Can you hear the voice of the children softly pleading for silence in their shattered world?
The original is much more Jesus-tastic. Everywhere you see “Who will” replace it with “Jesus”. Also, there’s a closing stanza
Angry guns preach a gospel full of hate, blood of the innocent on their hands.
Crying, “Jesus, help me to feel the sun again upon my face.
For when darkness clears I know you’re near, bringing peace again.”
Dali cuje te sve djecje molitve?
Can you hear the prayer of the children?
http://www.woodyulmer.com/prayer.html — has flash page with a musically much better version, but fully jesus-tastic, lots of crying and american flag waving, and a political slant you can expect based on that. I still like it.
On the composer’s website, he recommends substituting “crying softly” for “crying jesus” “enabling people to subconsciously substitute ‘Jesus’, ‘Allah’, ‘Yahweh’, etc. This way his universal message of love can be felt without any barriers or limitations”. I think I still prefer “who will”, but a) it’s better than ‘Jesus’ and b) I’m a questions kind of guy.
I just want to comment that, while “Jesus-tastic” is a perfectly fine word, I believe that “Christacular” is preferred.
Lol this makes me laugh because last night’s South Park was all about writing Christian rock songs by taking pre-existing songs and replacing words like “baby” with “Jesus.” SO funny. Cartman had one song about the Body of Christ and it was all about how Christ had a firm hard sculpted body that was really hot…haha it was so funny…sorry, that was random…