1/7/08 Canticle of Turning

One of the things I really like about my church is the music. While the morning mass tends to run to a more sing-around-the-campfire genre with the use of the guitar, the evening mass is 99% college students, so the music is more upbeat. I like the early mass. I LOVE the evening mass. The music is so...powerful. That's the only word I can think of that describes it. I don't want to call it contemporary, because we do the old hymns too. But old or new, fast or slow, the music moves you. You just don't have a choice.

Anyway, there's a song that we sing at church that is one of my absolute favorites, and I thought I'd share it with you, since I just found it here on Ye Ol' Internet, and it is just so awesome.
I guarantee you that you'll be singing it all day, so I'll post the words for you, saving you the trouble of looking them up yourself, because believe me, you will.

It's called the Canticle of Turning, and it's by Rory Cooney. The music is an Irish folk song called Star of the County Down that will stay with you, but the words really lend power to this song. You can hear the song here and the words are below. And if you want to hear it in person, 200 voices strong, then drop in for the Sunday evening mass. It'll floor you.

(Click this here clickey button below for the song to play. Go ahead. Click on it.)





My soul cries out, with a joyful shout that the God of my heart is great,
and my spirit sings of the wondrous things that you bring to the ones who wait.
You fixed your sight on your servant's plight, and my weakness you did not spurn,
so from east to west shall my name be blest. Could the world be about to turn?
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn!
Though I am small, my God, my all, you work great things in me,
and your mercy will last from the depths of the past to the end of the age to be.
Your very name puts the proud to shame, and to those who would for you yearn,
you will show your might, put the strong to flight, for the world is about to turn.
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn!
From the halls of power to the fortress tower, not a stone will be left on stone.
Let the king beware for your justice tears every tyrant from his throne.
The hungry poor shall weep no more, for the food they can never earn;
there are tables spread, every mouth be fed, for the world is about to turn.
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn!
Though the nations rage from age to age, we remember who holds us fast:
God's mercy must deliver us from the conqueror's crushing grasp.
This saving word that our forebears heard is the promise which holds us bound,
'til the spear and rod will be crushed by God, who is turning the world around.
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn!
(Repeat)