This Is Michael Franks

Deep in his heart a quiet fire was turning,
a flame that rose with every breath he knew.
Born from a spark that kept its ancient yearning,
a glow from distant ages shining through.

There was a time the waters flowed around him,
a gentle tide that carried him unseen.
From the davak came an ember softly rising,
a secret light that kept his spirit clean.

It grew into a fire ever clearer,
a truth that called him onward through the night,
a whisper like a voice that drew him nearer,
a flame within a flame of guiding light.

Zion, the flame that calls him higher.
Zion, the rising of his soul.
Zion, the never ending fire.
Zion, the name that makes him whole.

He walked the world with quiet steps of longing,
the hidden glow still burning in his chest.
No night could steal the path his heart was drawing,
no storm could take the fire from its rest.

A thousand roads that offered him direction,
a thousand voices pulling him aside,
yet all fell silent in the true reflection
of one flame rising like a tide.

Zion, the flame that calls him higher.
Zion, the rising of his soul.
Zion, the never ending fire.
Zion, the name that makes him whole.

In deepest night he felt the quiet wonder,
a distant oath he never could deny.
A guiding light that split the darkness under,
more steady than the stars above the sky.

The ember grew into a flood of fire,
a power born beyond the touch of fear.
It called his heart with ever growing desire,
a voice that drew him year by year.

He felt the sand beneath his steps awaken,
a path unfolding where no path had been.
And when the waves before him rose unshaken,
they opened wide and let the light walk in.

For forty years he wandered through revelation,
through desert winds and secrets of the divine,
each step a whisper of a hidden nation,
each dawn a sign that he was held by time.

And on the mountain crowned with ancient thunder,
he felt the earth fall silent at his hands.
The fire spoke in words that split the wonder,
a law of light that every soul withstands.

He carried down the tablets born of fire,
the covenant that shone through dust and stone,
a truth that called his spirit ever higher,
a guiding voice that claimed him as its own.

For when his soul grew weary on the journey,
and every distant road seemed cold and wide,
the ancient spark returned in quiet mercy,
the light of Zion burning at his side.

He saw a mountain shining with a fire,
a radiant call no mortal could ignore.
The flame within revealed his true desire,
a destiny that opened like a door.

Zion, the flame that calls him higher.
Zion, the rising of his soul.
Zion, the never ending fire.
Zion, the name that makes him whole.

Zion, eternal fire within him.
Zion, the truth his heart recalls.
Zion, the light that will not fail him.
Zion, forever when night falls.

davak

The hearth is burning bright,
A snowfall soft and light...
The world outside is calm and deep,
While all the world's asleep.

The last train home, the final flight has touched the ground
Through frosty streets, a joyful, hopeful sound
The door swings wide to hugs and cheeks all flushed and red
Unspoken things are better left unsaid (for now)
The scent of fir and gingerbread fills up the air
And for a moment, no one has a care

So let the silent snow lay all our troubles down
In this holy night, let love be all we've found
The world can rest beneath the starry, solemn sky
(Family and friends) are standing by my side
So ring the silver bells, let every choir sing
This is the (true joy) that Christmas brings

Gather 'round the hearth, the light, the evergreen
A living dream, a perfect, peaceful scene
Gather 'round.
(Oh, gather round)

We hang the aging ornaments with careful hands
A history told from boxes, across the lands
The cocoa steams, the carols start, a off-key sound
In mismatched socks, we're dancing 'round and 'round
The weight of years, the little slights, begin to melt
A forgiveness felt, a peace we've never felt

So let the silent snow lay all our troubles down!
In this holy night, let love be all we've found!
The world can rest beneath the starry, solemn sky
(Family and friends) are standing by my side!
So ring the silver bells, let every choir sing!
This is the (true joy) that Christmas brings!

"This time of year... it shines a light. 
On what we've done, and what we've left undone. 
On empty chairs, and mended hearts. 
Look at them now. 
Not through the old hurt, but through the new light. 
Let's make a promise, just for tonight... to let love speak. 
I'm sorry. And I forgive you."
Let love speak... (let it speak)
Let grace be unwrapped... (tonight).

 "Oohs" that mimic church bells. It feels like the snow rings the bells.

(Let it go!) Let the snow lay all our troubles down!
(Hear the angels!) Let this love be all we've found!
The world can rest! 
Beneath with family and friends here by my side!
So ring the bells! (Let every heart sing!)
This is the true joy... the true joy Christmas brings!

As echoes of the carols softly fade
In the gentle peace that Christmas made
(Warm and bright)
We hold it in our hearts so deep
A promise that we're meant to keep
(Goodwill, peace)
Love is here, (love is here)
Hope is here, (hope is here)
Christmas is here.
Hope is here

Tiger in the Rain

Michael Franks

Related tracks