1. |
In Clear Winter's Night
03:49
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“In Clear Winter’s Night”
Words by Karen Ballew, Music Traditional Irish: “Lough Erne’s Shore”
In clear winter’s night stars shine brightly
With crystal and silv’ry might
They break through the cold winter stillness
In waves of the purest light.
The trees, they resemble great statues,
In blueness and splendor wrapped
While moonlight and starlight glow ‘round them
The earth and the sky are met.
The stars in the night sky are mirrored
In lake waters calm and chill
I wish that I could swim among them
As wonders in time reveal;
Where luminous clouds of rare color
Form brilliant spheres ‘midst the cold
Where worlds gather ‘round as they circle
This new flaming orb of gold.
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2. |
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“Sing a Song in the Darkness”
Words and Music by Karen Ballew (Chorus words from Psalm 95:1 & Ephesians 5:14)
CHORUS
Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;
Let us shout aloud
To the Rock of our salvation.
Awake, O sleeper,
Rise up from the dead,
And Christ will give you light!
Sing a song in the darkness
Will you sing, will you sing, all with me,
On through the night?
Sing a song in the darkness
Lift it high, lift it high, to the sky
Soon it will fly.
PRE-CHORUS
Warm breezes blow, to and fro, carry our song!
Where it goes, no one knows,
But the song knows when it’s home.
CHORUS
Sing a song in the darkness
Though your soul be worn, heart be torn,
Still sing your song!
Sing a song in the darkness
As the old, old tree grows to reach
Life giving light.
PRE-CHORUS
CHORUS
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3. |
Rise with the Dawn
03:32
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“Rise with the Dawn”
Words and Music by Karen Ballew
Imagine each life, a tale in a book
Each one worthy the pages it took
To tell every trial, relish each joy
In lies a purpose, the words do employ
In lies a purpose, the words do employ.
They tell the struggles, turmoil within
Praise every triumph and battle we win.
When strength, it does fail us, and we fall below;
What pow’r is found in the depths of the soul,
What pow’r is found in the depths of the soul?
CHORUS:
What kind of story will my life become?
Will fear overtake me and will I succumb
To doubt and darkness and hopeless dismay,
Or will I rise with the dawn of the day,
Will I rise with the dawn of the day?
A still small voice beckons and prays
Saying, “You are never alone in this place.
Rise up! Rise up! Though you stumble and fall,
Great love surrounds those who follow the call.
Great pow’r sustains those who follow the call!”
The sun, it rises, shines o’er the land;
Glowing hilltops, sparkling sand.
Dew-drops glisten, the robin he sings:
“Live your story, the wonder it brings,
Live your story, the wonder it brings!”
CHORUS:
What kind of story will my life become?
Will fear overtake me and will I succumb
To doubt and darkness and hopeless dismay,
Or will I rise with the dawn of the day,
Will I rise with the dawn of the day?
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4. |
I Go Forth Today
04:21
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“I Go Forth Today”
Words and Music by Karen Ballew
I go forth today, the Creator of the Universe by my side.
The light of the Son dwells deep in me, its radiant beams to shine:
“Oh light my path, help me to see
The wonders of this life and Thy love.”
I go forth today in movement of rivers and roaring seas.
They carry me far beyond my thought to where I am meant to be:
“Stir my longings, Oh Lord, guide them on to Thee,
To the marvels of Thy love and Thy plans for me.”
I go forth today in beauty of forest and golden field;
Uplift my soul, remind me my spirit for to yield
“To glories unseen, to joys unknown,
True friendship and grace, God’s gifts to us.”
I go forth today, the Creator of the Universe by my side.
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5. |
Smiling Blue
03:54
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“Smiling Blue”
Words and Music by Karen Ballew
Joyful laughter fills the room
And I can’t help laughin’ too
Who can help it when they see that radiant smile?
As the sun lights up the sky
So the kindness in your eyes
Warms my heart, even when I’m feelin’ low.
CHORUS
Mi esperanza, mi corazón
You are my hope, light of my heart
Sonrientes ojos azules
You are my eyes of smiling blue
You surprise me everyday
In your patient, caring way
That inspires the better part of me.
You trust and you believe
In a love that can achieve
Greater things than we will ever know!
CHORUS
BRIDGE
Joyful your spirit sings,
Just as the bells ring,
Morning birds echo your song.
Pájaros cantan,
Suenan campanas
Con alegría, como tú.
CHORUS
You are my eyes of smiling blue.
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6. |
Seeking Worth
03:16
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“Seeking Worth”
Words and Music by Karen Ballew
Seeking worth in our deeds,
Seeking worth in who we please,
But deeds fall short, and the world is hard to please.
So we hang our heads, and we follow the road,
Striving on to find our worth,
With no thought to where we go.
One day we’ll find a darkened sky,
No closer to our worth
And farther from the light.
Worth is not held in title or degree
But flows in love that’s shown
And in grace that is received.
One day we’ll learn worth is not in what we earn,
But in how we live our lives
Through the good and hardest times.
May we face our fears and shed our tears
As we turn our eyes
From the ground to the sky.
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7. |
The Dragonfly
04:01
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“The Dragonfly”
Words and Music by Karen Ballew
One evening in July before the sun was setting
Bright blue and shining wings flew around the water clear
Dragonflies darting, diving, on bush and flow’r alighting
Drawing close and landing on fountain statues near.
To the fountains quickly I swam to see the shining wings
But soon these lovely things flew away and past my view
Circling, dancing, falling, their vibrant dance a calling
Flying to my father, waiting still in the water, kind and true.
BRIDGE
Are we still enough to wait for beauty,
Or do the good things pass us by?
Do we take the time to look at the sky?
A dragonfly may come, its beauty plain to see.
The last rays of the sun, they caught my wandering gaze
Orange, gold, and rosy hues cast a fair, enchanting light
Shimmering wings and blue came to rest and on me stayed
We watched together as the day turned into the night.
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8. |
Oh Blessed Light
03:52
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“Oh Blessed Light”
Music by Karen Ballew
Words by Ryan Thames with Isaiah 9:2 in Icelandic
Praise Thee Oh Blessed Light
Word of God for eternity
Fire that forged the worlds and heavens bright
What has been and ever shall be.
Through sacrifice the Word became flesh
Born to us in our time of need
Rekindled our hearts, made us fresh with hope
That we could all be freed!
BRIDGE: Isaiah 9:2
“Sú þjóð sem í myrkri gengur sér mikið ljós
Yfir þá sem búa í landi náttmyrkranna skin ljós.”
("The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.")
Now souls within the darkest night
Small sparks flickering in the cold
May yet be fanned and set alight
By shepherds of the flame of old.
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9. |
Flame of Truth
04:41
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“Flame of Truth”
Words and Music by Karen Ballew
See through the window, the skies turned to black
Pulsing starlight, the clouds cover now
Winds blow coldly, my heart falters so
Is there more to the story they know?
PRE-CHORUS
Hidden starlight singing
While the wind is pleading
Songs in darkness soaring
All the while imploring,
CHORUS
“Honor love and seek the One
Whose Word speaks into darkness.
Every breath in human frame
Can fan the Flame of Truth.”
Bending branches, whispering leaves
Hear the Word that moves the seas!
Warmth in coolness, light in dark
Can this Word ignite my heart?
PRE-CHORUS
CHORUS
(Instrumental Bridge)
Fan the flame from heart to heart
Come out from the hurt and dark
From nothing to something, we all do belong
Listen, love bears the soul’s sweetest song!
PRE-CHORUS
CHORUS
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10. |
Atop the Hill
03:40
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“Atop the Hill”
Words and Music by Karen Ballew
Atop the hill lookin’ down through the trees
My heart sings joyfully
Sunlight gleams on the greenest leaves
I long to see you here
CHORUS
Sweet bird song
Rustling leaves
And the babbling brook below
Flashing lights glint here and there
Just at the close of day
Children laugh, the fireflies twirl,
I wish that you were here
CHORUS
BRIDGE
Dogwood, pine, and maple sway
Bluebird, finch, and sparrow say
Taste and see the beauty here
Let your heart be of good cheer
The moon it casts a silvery light
The crickets sing their tune
Far off lamps and twinkling stars
I know that you are here
CHORUS (2X)
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11. |
The Child of Glory
04:35
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“The Child of Glory”
Words Scottish traditional, Collected by Alexander Carmichael in Carmina Gadelica
With Bible passage Zephaniah 3:17 in English and Irish
Music by Karen Ballew
Verse 1:
The Child of glory,
The Child of Mary,
Born in the stable,
The King of all,
Who came to the wilderness
And in our stead suffered;
Happy they are counted
Who to Him are near.
Verse 2:
When He Himself saw
That we were in travail,
Heaven opened graciously
Over our head;
We beheld Christ,
The Spirit of truth,
The same drew us in
‘Neath the shield of His crown.
BRIDGE, Zephaniah 3:17---
Call: “The Lord your God is in your midst,
Response: Tá an Tiarna, do Dhia, i do lár
Call: a mighty one who will save;
Response: mar laoch caithréimeach;
Call: He will rejoice over you with gladness;
Response: Déanfaidh sé gairdeas go spleodrach mar gheall ort.
Call: He will quiet you by His love;
Response: Athnuafaidh sé thú le neart a ghrá;
Call: He will exult over you with loud singing,
Response: Tógfaidh sé gártha áthais ar do shon
Call: He will exult over you with loud singing!
Response: faoi mar a dhéantar ar lá an tsollúntais!”
Verse 3
Strengthen our hope,
Enliven our joyance,
Keep us valiant,
Faithful and near;
O light of our lantern,
Along with the angels,
Singing in glory
The anthem new.
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12. |
Sacred Heart
03:34
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“Sacred Heart”
Words and Music by Karen Ballew
Lord of the ages, in Thine own image were we created
With hearts to love, souls to discern, and minds to choose,
By Thy wondrous love were we filled with gifts of joy.
But soon, the great deceiver came,
That fallen angel with false promises,
We chose a lesser path of greed and destruction.
BRIDGE:
Separated from the Holy God we loved, joy turned to sadness.
Yet, most merciful God, Thou dids’t not forsake us,
But sent Thine only begotten Son, who is blameless,
To bear the burden, our burden of guilt and shame.
The poison of sin He took from us and suffered in our place,
By His righteousness withstood the judgement,
And through His sacrifice we are saved.
As Jesus rose up from the dead, may we also rise up in new life!
Through faith in Thee, Jesus bring us to our eternity
With Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
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13. |
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"The Miracle of the Deer’s Cry"
A poem by Karen Ballew
For Christ, they traveled;
For His Truth, they came
Into Tara, where king’s assassins waited.
Approaching the hill, danger was near.
Foreboding gloom lay thick in the air.
A single voice prayed at dawn,
Concerned the sun’s light would reveal them,
But Patrick sang both pure and strong,
And soon the others joined the song.
As king’s men appeared, the group sang on,
Hearts beating wild and eyes surprised;
The king and his men had passed them by!
“’Tis only a herd of wild deer,” they replied,
And thus is the miracle of “The Deer’s Cry”.
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14. |
The Deer's Cry
05:01
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"The Deer’s Cry"
An old Irish prayer attributed to Saint Patrick, 433 A.D.
I arise today through the strength of heaven
Light of sun, radiance of moon
Splendor of fire, speed of lightning
Swiftness of wind, depth of sea
Stability of earth, firmness of rock
I arise today through God's strength to pilot me
God's eye to look before me
God's wisdom to guide me
God's way to lie before me
God's shield to protect me
From all who shall wish me ill
Afar and a-near
Alone and in a multitude
Against every cruel, merciless power
That may oppose my body and soul
Christ with me, Christ before me
Christ behind me, Christ in me
Christ beneath me, Christ above me
Christ on my right, Christ on my left
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down
Christ when I arise, Christ to shield me
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me
I arise today.
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The Deer's Cry Nashville, Tennessee
A Nashville based band named after an old Irish prayer, we play and sing original music inspired by Irish, Bluegrass, Jazz, and other genres.
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