Hymn of Promise
In our end is our beginning...
Natalie Sleeth / Rich Coffey (based on an hymn by Natalie Sleeth)
Hymn of promise shines so gracefully
Nature’s bounty for all to see
Drink the water of life all around
Cherish the moment when truth can be found...
In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
Soon the brown and barren hillsides will be sprouting greenery.
There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope for you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
Clues of kindness, hope and sorrow guide the goodness that can be
Let’s learn to live together, sing a song to show we care
Voices joined in chorus create a peace we all can share.
There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope for you and me.
Light comes to those who will see past the lies
Truth comes to those who just open their eyes
To the light, light of truth we are drawn
Let the darkness be gone
Bringing forth a new dawn…
In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity,
Live a life of goodness, karma will repay you in the end
When your day of death is on you, happiness will soon descend.
[ When you face the world around you, happiness will soon descend.] 1
There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope for you and me.
(on Fade Out)
Hymn of promise - Where truth can be found
Hymn of promise - Just look around
Hymn of promise - All that you see
Hymn of promise – For you and me
© 2017 Richard Coffey
Music, Lyrics, Vocals: Rich Coffey
Recorded at Mistura Productions
Comments:
This is another song that was birthed from the Methodist Hymnal! (See Utter Our Cry). Back in 1985, Natalie A. Sleeth, wrote this beautiful song about opposites (winter and spring, life and death, etc.) while pondering a T. S. Eliot phrase: “In my end is my beginning.” (from the Four Quartets poems).
Sure there’s childlike naiveté to much of the lyrics but when written in 2017 and sadly still in 2023—amid the seemingly never-ending climate of social polarization and partisan entrenchment—it’s kind of refreshing to revisit the innocence of the “Kum ba yah” outlook. I have reworked and added a consideable amount of the lyrics although the underlying theme is the same.
The Bridge was added to drive home the importance of seeing and seeking truth. Although spoon-feed, politically-driven news feeds seem to be the norm these days, it is imperative that free thinkers shift through the garbage and find the truth. Tragically, reality is becoming ever more elusive these days.. :-(
Music Details:
I changed the 3/4 meter to a 6/8 swing feel. The intro—colored with maj7ths—reinforces the positive attitude of the song and is repeated within the song and on the fade out. A smattering of bone here and there keeps it soulful…
In March of 2023, this arrangement was dug out of the achives, remixed and posted (it was removed from this site for a few years).
Live performance - May 19th, First United Methodist Church - Stamford CT