‘THE COMMON GOOD’- CD
LYRICS
Because the ‘The Common Good’ music book is now out of print, the lyrics
are included here and may be downloaded by those who have purchased a
‘The Common Good’ CD. Copyright remains with Peter Kearney.
THE SONG BEHIND THE SONGS
Words & Music by Peter Kearney
Can you hear the song I’m singing?
It’s the song behind the songs
I learned it from a fiery mother, a patient man
From the chorus of the ages
A struggle linking hearts and hands
I learned the song, the endless song
Behind the songs.
A song that’s sung in every weather
One that casts out every fear
A song that brings the taste of freedom, the taste of tears
A song that gathers like a river till it surges to the sea
Hear the song, the endless song
Behind the songs.
Songs sing out the yearning of our race
The river song, the endless song behind the songs.
Many are the faithful singers
Varied are the voices raised
Singing out their songs of justice and hymns of praise
In the poor streets of Soweto, even laden down with chains
The sing the song the endless song
Behind the songs.
Songs sing out the yearning of our race
The river song, the endless song behind the songs.
(continued over)
Can you hear the voices ringing
Hear the song behind the songs
Caught between the clapstick rhythms it echoes on;
In the tunes of Victor Jara, in the dream of yet to be
Hear the song, the endless song behind the song
Songs sing out the yearning of our race
The planet song, the endless song behind the songs.
Songs sing out the yearning of our race
The future song, the endless song behind the songs.
THE COMMON GOOD
Words & Music- Peter Kearney
OPENING CHANT
For the good of all of the people
Especially the battlers
Not just the ones with power and wealth
But for the common good.
1. We believe that each person is a seed of the Godhead
Every life is sacred, a bright flower to be.
One Earth for all, there's plenty for sharing
One livelihood for the common good.
CHORUS
If we look at the world now in the light of the Gospel
Through the eyes of Jesus, on the side of the poor
What do we see? A Cross and a Rainbow,
Blood on the wood for the common good.
For the good of all of the people, especially the battlers
Not just the ones with power and wealth
But for the common good.
2. The purpose of Government is the good of the people.
We are the measure, not profit and loss;
Better than gold, the prize of the Kingdom:
One life that stood for the common good. Chorus
3. The God of compassion is calling us over
The borders of hatred, oppression and fear;
This world is one- let's peace it together;
We can and should (we can and should)
For the common good. Chorus
MERCY IS ONE OF GOD'S NAMES
Words & Music- Peter Kearney
1. Mercy, mercy the children all cry
Bring the waters of loving to me
The mercy of God as she sprinkles the Earth
Mercy is one of God's names
Can you show God's mercy to me.
2. Mercy, mercy in sickness we cry
Bring the waters of soothing to me.
The mercy of God as she sprinkles the Earth
Mercy is one of God's names
Can you show God's mercy to me.
As the sky fill with clouds and the rain starts to fall
So the mercy of God is free unto all
Let it flow the cracks of our dry dusty land
Let it water the seed
Let it blossom in me... Oh oh..
3. Mercy, mercy in prisons we cry
Bring the waters of freedom to me.
The mercy of God as she sprinkles the Earth
Mercy is one of God's names
Can you show God's mercy to me.
As the garden delights in the rain as it falls
So the mercy of God is needed by all
Just one drop on the lips of the dryness in me
Let it be, let it be.. that mercy in me.. Oh oh..
Mercy, mercy here on the Earth
Mercy to all those who need.
The mercy of God as she sprinkles the Earth
Mercy is one of God's names
Can you show God's mercy to me.
GOD OF THE MESS
God of the mess that we're in, you still bless us
And feel every bump when we fall;
You see the good in our heart
and you know how we struggle
You fathered and mothered us all.
You see through the eyes of the child on the street
The man on the dole who drinks down defeat,
The mother alone- her rent overdue
It's not what you want but it's true.
The old man confused, the junkie in gaol,
The baby all bruised- a victim so frail;
Good things go wrong, we try and we fail
Over and over again.
But the seasons turn round and wounds they can mend
A neighbour comes round- you laugh in the end;
You take a deep breath and count up to ten
And start it all over again.
God of the mess that we're in, you still bless us
And feel every bump when we fall;
You see the good in our heart
and you know how we struggle
You fathered and mothered us all.
WE WELCOME THIS CHILD
Words & Music- Peter Kearney
1. We welcome this child in the circle of love.
In the circle of love we welcome this child.
Here in our heart is a home for you now . .
We welcome this child to the heart of our world.
You're a new thread to weave in the fabric of life,
One colour unique in the cloak of our life;
God is the weaver the pattern is grand . .
We welcome you child as the work of God's hand.
CHORUS:
We welcome you child to our beautiful world.
We give you the earth and the sea and the sky;
We give you the sun and the moon and the stars . .
We welcome you child to the heart of our world.
2. Our life is a mystery, we puzzle away
AIl straining our ears to hear what we may.
If the Universe gathered and spoke just one Word
You are flesh of that Word here today.
We sing and we dance to the rhythm of life
The surge of the sea and the heartbeat of life;
We move to the music however we go . .
We welcome you child to the dance and the song. CHORUS
3. You're a new light that shines in the cave of our fears
You move us to love and you drive us to tears.
You are the hope of the ongoing world . .
We welcome you child as the light of our world.
We welcome this child in the circle of love.
In the circle of love we welcome this child.
Here in our heart is a home for you now . .
We welcome this child to the heart of Our world. CHORUS
FATHER MOTHER GOD
Words & Music by Peter Kearney
Based on ‘The Lord’s Prayer’
Our Father and Mother God in your deepest home
Holy is the myst’ry of Your name
As we come from and go to you in this changing world
We pray we will grow in love like you dear God.
Give us this day the love we need
Forgive us all every harmful word or deed.
For with you Father Mother God is the home that’s true
If we forgive each other and return to you.
So lead us not through testing days
and keep us from all the dark and desperate ways.
Father and Mother God in your deepest home
We place all our trust and hope in you- dear God.
HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS
Words & Music by Peter Kearney
On the history and mission of the Missionary Sisters of Service, a small
Australian order begun in 1943 by Fr. John Wallis (who was born in the
town of Yea, Victoria).
Father Wallis heard these words one day
In a little bush house by Adventure Bay:
“What about us?” He pondered long
The call of the battlers out beyond.
“Yea” was a word he really had to say
So he scratched around till he found a way;
There came four women in a life so new
With a song and a prayer they could just make do.
On the highways and the byways
With the out-of-sight out-of-mind people far (shut) away;
On the highways and byways to the call of those beyond we go.
With people on the land through their ups and downs,
Isolated mums in mining towns;
In for a chat and a cup of tea
Yes a barbecue can a banquet be.
Out to beyond by letter and the wheel
Where to next? Like a wind we feel;
In the shanty camp or the concrete town
This life can turn you upside down.
Who are we today? We are young and old
Looking for the signs as the times unfold.
Many are the fields and the hands are few
Are but where we are what we can we do.
Whose is the call? The challenge is to come
In the midst of the world to a different drum
With a pilgrim’s tread to a better day
On the winding path or the broad highway.
Father Wallis heard these words one day
In a little bush house by Adventure Bay:
“What about us?” He pondered long
The call of the battlers out beyond.
“Go to the people now!” Father Wallis said,
You may get lost but you’ll still be led;
The Spirit of the Land is calling you
With the stringybark gum and the kangaroo.
STILL TO COME - THE NEW CREATION
Words & Music by Peter Kearney
CHORUS
The world is turning oh-oh
The world is turning round and round.
What’s in the middle oh-oh
The world is turning upside down.
After the night there’s another day.
Hearts are yearning oh-oh
The Earth is groaning in its pain.
God’s in the middle oh-oh.
The world is turning round and round.
Verse A:
Still to come- new ways of seeing
new ways of knowing and new ways of being.
Still to come is the new creationThe transformation of
The liberation of
(The exhilaration of)
The world.
This is the way.
This is the way we are going.
Verse B:
From the beginning till now - the Earth
Shaking and groaning in the pain of giving birth.
And still, still to come- salvation’s feast
New ways, new world
This is the way
THE SEARCH FOR GOD
Words & Music by Peter Kearney
1. We searched for you in the heavens, scanned between the stars
Sent the space ships probing to Jupiter and Mars.
Flew to the dark side of the moon- didn’t see you there,
Swept the corners of an empty tomb
And fell into despair, fell into despair.
2. We drilled a shaft so deeply to the Earth’s deep core
Found the gold and the silver there- thought we’d dig some more.
Blasted you in our furnaces, processed you each day,
Disposed of your ashes on a dying sea
Then took a rise in pay... took a rise in pay.
3. We dogmatised and moralised, bound you everywhere.
Built the great cathedrals but couldn’t hold you there.
Silenced you from singing, warned you not to dance
Dusted the temple door for your finger printsNothing left to chance.. nothing left to chance.
4. We tapped your phone, ransacked your room, surveillance everywhere
Your file was on our database but you disappeared from there.
We tortured you in prison cells, with whips your back was grooved.
We said you died because you fellNothing could be proved.. nothing could be proved.
5. Why do we not see your face if you’re really here?
Why do we not hear your voice- hear it loud and clear?
Does the baby know its mother’s face when it’s in the womb?
Does the baby hear its mother’s voice
In the mother’s womb? In the mother’s womb.
MY EYE HAS NO MORE TEAR
Words & Music by Peter Kearney
My eye has no more tear to cry
Unless you cry with me
I am the stranger in the night who disturbs your sleep.
My back has no more strength to bear
But if you share the load with me
Then one day we could both be free.
1. Whose is the Earth today?
Who keeps the gift that was given to share?
Where are the treasures we found in the worldAll round the world plenty for all?
2. Why is the child so thin?
Who keeps the bread that was given to share?
Where is the harvest we raised with our toil
Grew from the soil- plenty for all.
3. Deep at the heart of all
Beckons the love that was given to share;
The sky is so dark but the stars are clear
Far and yet near- plenty for all.
Based on a saying from the refugee camps of Cambodia. Written for the
‘Fast For faith’ campaign organised by the Pontifical Missions Society,
Sydney.
I COULD NOT MAKE THE FLOWERS GROW
Words: Paul Smith
Music: Peter Kearney
I could not make the flowers grow
I tilled the earth and the seeds I sowed
And even though the rains came down
Those seeds lay there on the barren ground
I could not make them grow,
I moved on then to greener fields
In hopes that there my seeds would yield;
My sweat and blood must surely bringYet still those seeds they failed to spring.
I could not make them grow.
I could not make the flowers grow
I could not make them grow.
With calluses on my hands and feet
And even though my back grew weak
I worked and toiled throughout the year
In the hope that they might still appear
But I could not make them grow.
And now I’m full of fear and grief
I look back now in disbelief
For I am old and I must go
And I could not make the flowers grow
I could not make them grow.
I could not make the flowers grow
I could not make them grow.
Spoken:
Leave me not lost in here.
Leave me not cringed in fear.
Leave me not used and vacant.
Leave me not a vagrant.
Lord come and set me free
Bring with you a shining key;
Unlock the door to warm sunlight.
Come my Lord and stay the night.
On his grave the flowers grow.
In this song let flowers grow.
In his song let flowers grow for Paul.
My setting of a poem and a prayer by Paul Smith. Paul was a sometime
resident at the Edel Quinn shelter in Wagga Wagga. He gave handwritten
copies of these pieces to Joan Saboisky who compiled the Shelter newsletter.
Paul died two days later.
L'ARCHE PRAYER
Words & Music by Peter Kearney
Like a mother God we ask of you
Bless this place in all we do
Keep us in your heart. Keep us in your heart.
Make this place a welcome home
Refuge for the once alone
For the wounded ones. For the wounded ones.
May they find right here new life
The fountain of life
A place of shelter in the storm
The trouble and strife
And may your healing love..
Through humble heart and gentle hand
Lead each of us to understand
We are special here. We are special here.
In the glad your spirit sings
In the sad you are suffering
If we see you there. If we see you there.
Make this place a lasting home
Built upon the very stone
That was thrown away. That was thrown away.
We know you bless us from the poor
The hands of the poor.
Your smile comes shining through their eyes
The eyes of the small
We hope you'll welcome us..
One day into their company
When all we hope shall come to be
When your Kingdom comes
When your Kingdom comes
Amen.. Amen.