Ben Camino's Ironic Advent Meditation 2019*
Song for the Second Sunday of Advent: for mandolin and prophet
I wrote this song a few years ago for a Sunday morning service. My friend Jennifer Woodruff Tait asked if I'd sing something for the Second Sunday of Advent. I don't think she knew I was going to read the gospel and then write something to be played on the mandolin and to be sung with gravel and spit in my voice. I did. So far nobody has been bugging me to publish the sheet music either.
Below you will find the lyrics, and IF IT WORKS, a link to a rough and, I hope, ready version of the song I recorded on my phone and promptly sent to Jennifer. Now all the Jennifers can hear it should they desire to do so.
"In those days, John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the wilderness of Judea" (gospel reading for 2nd Sunday of Advent, Lectionary A, 2013, 2016, 2019, aka the good Lectionary years)
The Ballad of John the Baptist
The Ballad of John the Baptist
John the Baptist knew one song
and he beat it like a drum
turn around oh turn around
wore camel skins, ate lovely bugs
and never touched the rum
turn around oh turn around
turn around my brother turn around and come
turn around you sinners turn and find the kingdom
Angel told old Zacharias
your wife will have a son
turn around oh turn around
Zacharias said ‘how can that be . . .
O Lord, what have I don . . . ?”
turn around oh turn around
But all nine months while Zacharias never said a
thing
The baby in Elizabeth’s womb was busy
prophesying.
turn around oh mother turn around and come
turn around and find the kingdom
Every mountain will be brought low
Every valley shall be raised
turn around oh turn around
Until we make a highway for our God
in this rough place
turn around oh turn around
Come down to the waters all you hypocrites and
liars
The one whose coming after me will baptize you
with fire.
John the Baptist knew one song
and he beat it like a drum
turn around oh turn around
Preaching in the wilderness
to hearts as hard as stone
turn around oh turn around
and find the kingdom
Waiting in his prison cell
to die there all alone
turn around oh turn around
John asked was this all some mistake
Or were you the one to come?
Click here to listen
* first published in a rather different form without the recording, Advent 2013.
* first published in a rather different form without the recording, Advent 2013.
Pretty please, with a lovely bug on top!
ReplyDeleteI would like for you to send me the recording. :)
ReplyDelete