Rebecca Reynolds and I wrote this Advent song during one of our Hutchmoot 2013 sessions. It is part of a larger collection of new but old-sounding hymns we’ve collaborated on with Jeff Taylor. We’re scheduled to go back into the studio in mid-December, and we will finish the record in January and February with somewhere around 15 or 16 tracks. Credits: Jeff Taylor, piano, accordion; Ron Block, guitar, lead and harmony vocal; Luke Bulla, violins. Julie Lee, harmony vocals. Available here.
(Music by Ron Block, Moonlight Canyon Publishing, BMI/Words by Rebecca Reynolds, Wynken Owl, BMI)
Come, children of this long, discarded night Encumbered by the bonds of labor’s strain What burns against the pitch of heaven’s veil? To woo each mortal soul from Eden’s pain?
Come, trouble of the slow, forsaken years Bent low from friendless journey o’er the earth While hearts of men have worn to sod and stone, What brightness hearkens like the fires of home?
CHORUS: Oh, hear the shining thrill of grace resound! The ancient throng in wonder now declares That Love is born! That Love is born! All glory be to God on high, All peace, good will toward men in Him is found.
Come, children of each dark and distant land From stories of a kind and noble king These winds that stir thy thrumming heart’s desire Proclaim the hope that this glad even’ brings.
Come, impulse of thy tired, waning joy Come thirst, and want, and pining, bitter grief Lift up your eyes, behold what radiance stirs To remedy each sorrow sprung from earth.
CHORUS: Oh, hear the shining thrill of grace resound! The ancient throng in wonder now declares That Love is born! That Love is born! All glory be to God on high, All peace, good will toward men in Him is found.
All peace, good will toward men in Him is found.