An Upside-down "i"

Recorded March 2014 with a 12-string guitar.

"Song of the Vine" by Josh Seligman

I awoke and the wind was cool on my skin
I drank the dimming starlight of morning’s morning
And felt the rumbling of some river beside
The restless dreams of a wanderer in a fight

He dreamed of a garden with tall, silver vines
Bathed in the deep waterways of bodies and minds
He slammed an axe on their backs and choked them away
And in the middle of his nap, a voice came
And I heard it say:

“Dear child,
Mercy and love fall down like the rain and the sun
Trees and vines, birds and time,
Stars, sands, valleys, hands, these are mine
Should I not show mercy on this land?
Have you not yet learned who I am?”

From beneath my shade in the earth, out crept a worm
Chopping and chewing my branches — O, how they burned!
My friend awoke to find me lying beside
He was weeping for a vine wilting in the light
And the voice came again:

“Dear child,
Mercy and love fall down like the rain and the sun
You weep like me for the gardens I have grown
Should I not show mercy on this land?
Have you not yet learned who I am?”

O, to drink the moonlight on my skin
To feel the lizards’ feet after a summer rain
When I am gone, will you find me in the end?
O, to hear your gentle voice again

“Dear child,
Mercy and love fall down like the rain and the sun
You are a bright star, guiding this one to know who I am
Do my love and mercy have an end?
I will hear you sing your song again.”


Song Of The Vine

Based on the Gerasene man whom Jesus healed of many demons.

"Now Your Love Satisfies Me" by Josh Seligman

In the morning, I used to fear
The strangers I had seen in my dreams
They'd pin me down and change my name
But now those voices never make a sound

In the morning, I used to hide
From the people who used to hide from me
I'd bruise my face to try to get away
But now I'm so glad to be around

In the morning now I sing

In the morning, I used to cry
That toil and trouble would follow all my days
I'd break my chains, they'd clamp again
But now they are nowhere to be found

In the morning, I used to climb
The hillside to jump into the sea
But then I found you, when you found me
And now I am sitting on the ground

'Cause now your love satisfies

And when you asked my name, I couldn't say
But when you come again, 
I'll find a better place where you can stay

In the morning, now I sing
To tell of all the good God's done for me
And if you hear me sing my song
And if you know the words, then sing along

In the morning now I sing
That now your love satisfies
'Cause now your love satisfies me

Now Your Love Satisfies Me

Based on when the disciples saw Jesus on the shore cooking breakfast.

"I Believe We'll See the Sky" by Josh Seligman

I believe we'll see the sky
I believe we'll see the sun
And I will leave this boat behind
And we'll jump in one by one

I believe we'll climb the hill
I believe we'll find the sea
And I will leave this boat lying still
And we'll jump in one by one
And run, and run

I believe we'll hear you call
I believe we'll smell a meal
And I will leave this boat and all
And we'll jump in one by one
And run, and run, and run

And run, and run, and run!

I Believe We'll See The Sky

Written at the Iona Abbey on the day I graduated from Earlham School of Religion

Richmond

Sí Bheag, Sí Mhor (composed by Turlough O'Carolan)

This song came from a writing exercise in Carrie Newcomer's "Writing Mindfully" songwriting class at Earlham School of Religion.  It's from the perspective of the vine in the story of Jonah.  If you don't know the story, read it!  But I will say that Jonah is mad at God for calling Jonah to preach against the wickedness of the city of Nineveh.  After quite an adventure at sea, Jonah finally preaches against the wickedness of Nineveh and gets even angrier with God when Nineveh mourns for its evil and God shows mercy on the city.  So Jonah climbs a hill to look out over the city, to see what will come of it, and God plants a vine for Jonah.  Featuring Ela Robertson on the cello.

Song of the Vine

A song I wrote a year ago.  With Jon Seligman on the keyboard.

Resting

"Song of the Vine" by Josh Seligman

I awoke and the wind was cool on my skin
I drank the dimming starlight of morning’s morning
And felt the rumbling of some river beside
The restless dreams of a wanderer in a fight

He dreamed of a garden with tall, silver vines
Bathed in the deep waterways of bodies and minds
He slammed an axe on their backs and choked them away
And in the middle of his nap, a voice came
And I heard it say:

“Dear child,
Mercy and love fall down like the rain and the sun
Trees and vines, birds and time, 
Stars, sands, valleys, hands, these are mine
Should I not show mercy on this land?
Have you not yet learned who I am?”

From beneath my shade in the earth, out crept a worm
Chopping and chewing my branches — O, how they burned!
My friend awoke to find me lying beside
He was weeping for a vine wilting in the light
And the voice came again:

“Dear child,
Mercy and love fall down like the rain and the sun
You weep like me for the gardens I have grown
Should I not show mercy on this land?
Have you not yet learned who I am?”

O, to drink the moonlight on my skin
To feel the lizards’ feet after a summer rain
When I am gone, will you find me in the end?
O, to hear your gentle voice again

“Dear child,
Mercy and love fall down like the rain and the sun
You are a bright star, guiding this one to know who I am
Do my love and mercy have an end?
I will hear you sing your song again.”
