Ironic Advent Meditation #7: Song for the Second Sunday of Advent

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

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.