FAMILY A Joyful Proclamation!
(Scroll down for song titles, lyrics, and album credits)
Brand new from Marvin Payne & Steven Kapp Perry. A joyous celebration of "Family: A Proclamation to the World." You can preorder "FAMILY" by clicking on "How to Order" at the left, or by calling Prime Recordings toll-free at 1-800-377-6788.
SONG TITLES:
1. Children of God 2. In Whose Image Am I Made? 3. Half a Million Skies 4. Our Father's Dream 5. God Gave You To Me 6. The Song of Ages 7. Travelers Who Shelter Here 8. Father, Mother, We Need Your Love 9. Come to the River! 10. No Other Love 11. The Path to Joy (narration) 12. Our Brother Walked This Way 13. Who Is Turning the Hearts? 14. Love One Another 15. Our Father's Dream/This Is Our ChoiceFAMILY A Joyful Proclamation! Copyright © 2002 Steven Kapp Perry & Marvin Payne
1. Children of God
Choir: Familia. Pater. Pater, mater, filius et filia. Family. Familia. Father, mother, son and daughter, sister, mother, brother, father, Children of God. Watoto wa Mungu. (Children of God) Children of God. Watoto wa Mungu. Sing the Joyful Proclamation! Watoto wa Mungu. Sing with Joy! Tangazo kwa Ulimwengu! (A Proclamation to the World!) Sing with Joy! Tangazo! (A proclamation!)
The Father of Light and Love and Dreams has given us family so we can stream all our light, spend all our love, and dream all our dreams for them-tasting for the first time in this awesome walk on earth, the sharp sweet joy our Father in Heaven feels.
Father of Light:
I am the Lord, and Endless
is my name.
Choir:
One God, and the Father of all.
Mother of Joy:
Let us make man to be like us,
just the same.
Choir:
Man, woman, creating them all.
Father of Light:
I am the Lord of the flame
that kindles birth.
Choir:
One God, and the Father of all.
Mother of Joy:
Let it rain down on the children
of the earth.
Choir:
Man, woman, creating them all.
Father of Light:
And behold, thou art my sons,
Mother of Joy:
my daughters.
Choir:
We are the children of the Lord our God,
Father of Light and
Mother of Joy:
born of the spirit, like the wind
and waters.
Choir:
We are the children of God.
We are children of God!
Vizazi, vizazi! (Generations, generations!)
Watoto wa Mungu! (Children of God!)
And we will fill wondrous bodies
Imbeni furaha! (Sing with Joy!)
Watoto wa Mungu! (Children of God!)Men:
like our Father has,Women:
and Mother has,Choir:
and we will walk the path they trod.
One God, and the Father of all.
Father of Light:
I am the Lord, and Endless
is my name.
Choir:
One God, and the Father of all.
Mother of Joy:
Let us make man to be like us,
just the same.
Choir:
Man, woman, creating them all.
Father of Light:
And behold, thou art my sons,
Mother of Joy:
my daughters.
Choir:
We are the children of the Lord our God,
Father of Light and
Mother of Joy:
born of the spirit, like the wind
and waters.
Choir:
We are the children of God.
Chorus (repeat)
Choir:
Watoto wa Mungu! (Children
of God!)
2. In Whose Image Am I Made?
If I am a he, I have always been a he, like my Heavenly Father, who loves me and wants me to be like He is. If I am a she, I have always been a she, like my Heavenly Mother, who loves me and wants me to be like She is. Before we came to earth, we knew and loved them both.
Choir:
In whose image am I made,
Father, Mother of the world?
Is there shape to who I am,
who I was, and who I always will be?
Man:
Will I have hands that rake the earth
and break the crusted fields of earth?
Father of Light:
Like mine, whose hands created earth,
and shaped the wheels of sky and earth.
Woman:
Will I have hands that soothe my child?
Mother of Joy:
Like mine, that smooth the wild sky.
Man:
Will I have feet that dance?
Woman:
Will I have feet that dance?
Father of Light and
Mother of Joy:
Feet like ours that fly!
Woman:
Will I have eyes that gleam and glance?
Mother of Joy:
Like mine, that see my children's loves
Father of Light:
and loss,
Mother of Joy:
and shine,
Father of Light:
and cry.
Man:
Will I have a voice that sings?Woman:
Will I have a voice that sings?Father of Light and Mother of Joy:
You will have a voice that sings
with the stars that shout for joy!Man and Woman:
Stars that shout for joy!Choir:
Stars that shout for joy!Father of Light & Mother of Joy: For Joy!
Man:
Will I have a back that carries wood
and water from the forest home?
Father of Light:
Like mine, that bears the weight of cloud
that strikes the lightning on the stone.
Woman:
Will I have arms to hold my loves?
Mother of Joy:
Like mine, that warm the world awake.
Man:
Will I have space for dreams?
Woman:
Will I have space for dreams?
Father of Light and
Mother of Joy:
All your minds can make!
Man and Woman:
Will we have hearts that fill with hope?
Mother of Joy:
Like ours, that thrill with hope for you,
Father of Light:
and yearn,
Mother of Joy:
and burn,
Father of Light:
and break.
Chorus (repeat)
In whose image am I made,
Father, Mother of the world?
3. Half a Million Skies
We chose Our Father's dream and came here to have a body and learn to live and love in families, like He does. We can have His joy if we are bound together by His power, in His house, before His smiling angels, at the altar hallowed by His Son, who promises with His blood that we can be like Him.
A Young Woman:
Before our Father called the world
out of the darkness, before He twirled
it reeling 'round a golden sun,
He gathered us 'round as one
and shared with us His dream of dreams,
that we might someday learn to sing
the song within His eyes.
Before our Father called
the world
out of the darkness, before he swirled
the oceans around this empty sphere,
He felt our hope and fear,
and asked each one if we would leave,
if leaving were the path that leads
to seeing through His own eyes.
Solo
& Choir:
We
chose to step into the shadow,
chose
to leave the light we loved,
felt
the curtain close against our eyes.
We
chose to step into the shadow,
chose
to walk this world alone
falling
to the other side
of
half a million skies.
Solo:
Before our Father carved the world
out of the darkness, before He curled
the rivers 'round the canyon floor,
and shouted the cliff-towered shore,
He dreamed one mountain in His mind,
for us to build, for us to climb,
and meet Him as we rise.
Solo
& Choir:
So
let us rise up from the shadow
on
the mountain of the Lord,
feel
the veil dissolve before our eyes.
Oh,
let us rise up from the shadow,
see
His smile and breathe His word
calling
from the other side
of
half a million skies.
Solo:
Whispered from the other side
of half a million skies.
4. Our Father's Dream
Choir:
We'll make our Father's dream our own,
His story singing in our bones,
calling us to share the life He lives.
We'll make our Father's dream our own.
His work and glory bring us home,
sealed to those we love, as Father is.
5. God Gave You To Me
The Father's first blessing to the first man and first woman was to invite them into the joy that is closest to the very meaning of His life, His work and His glory. He commanded them to love.
Men:
After the gift of the lights in the sky,
after the gift of the soil and the sea,
after the gift of all bright and growing things,
Man:
God gave you to me.
Women:
After the gift of the stars and the streams,
after the gift of the garden and tree,
after the gift of the holiest of dreams,
Woman:
God gave you to me.
Choir:
How long is the giving?
Father of Light and Mother of Joy:
As long as God gives.Choir:
How long is the loving?
Father of Light and Mother of Joy:
As long as God lives.
Choir:
After He promised the life that He lives,
loving that's endless and faithful and free,
after we promised to honor all He gives,
Man and Woman:
God gave you to me.
Chorus (repeat)
Father of Light:
Daughter, take his hand.
Man:
God gives me you.
Mother of Joy:
Take my daughter's hand.Woman:
God gave me you.
Man:
Sister, wife, and mother of our future.
Woman:
Brother, husband, father of what will be.Chorus (repeat)
Man & Woman:
God gave the gift of His holiest of dreams.
God gave you to me.
6. The Song of Ages
The drive and joy of uniting our bodies with someone we will love forever is meant to spark the beginning of children, our children, and we must share that drive, that joy, only with the one we marry.
Man:
There was cold wanting warm.
There was flame wanting heat.
There was light, distant, sweet,
in our unborn baby's eye.
Woman:
One strong storm to be stilled,
two soft hearts to be filled,
three sealed souls warmed and thrilled
by the breaking light--
Both:
heavenly light,
Choir:
heavenly light.
Man:
I
came to you with a tiny spark.
Woman:
I
came to you with an open heart.
Both: Out of the safe and shelt'ring dark we have felt the song of ages flash again! Man: I will sing the song to you.
Woman:
I will sing the song to you.
Man:
Only you,
Woman:
Only you
Both:
will hear me sing the sacred song.
Man:
Because I sing the song with you,
Woman:
Because I sing the song with you,
Both:
life comes through.
Life comes through
When we sing the sacred song--
when we sing,
Choir:
when we sing,
Both:
when we sing the song of ages once again.
7. Travelers Who Shelter Here
As it is with our Heavenly Parents, our work and glory is to lead our children to health and giving, and loving the laws of light.
Women:
They are travelers who shelter here,
huge spirits in small forms.
These were our brothers and sisters and friends
before they were our children, newly born.
Men:
They are travelers drawn by our fire,
bright pilgrims from so far,
fresh from the forge of the Father's desire,
not knowing who they are.
Choir:
This
is our work
and
our glory, glory:
teach
them a part
in
the endless story,
story
of heroes,
for
we know who they are.
Though
they rock in our arms,
they
have wandered from a star.
(This
is our work and this is our glory.)
They are travelers who
shelter here,
forgetting where they're bound.
When they walk tall from our fireside at last
will they walk holy ground?
Chorus
(repeat twice)
They are travelers who
shelter here,
huge spirits in small forms.
This is our work and
this is our glory, glory.
8. Father, Mother, We Need Your Love
I am father-I will love by finding my family what they need to live, and by protecting them from hurt and evil. Their mother will help me. We are equal.
I am mother-I will love by feeding and teaching my children. Their father will help me. We are equal.
Their mother, (their father,) will help me. We are equal.
Children:
Father, we need your arms
to shield us from the storm--
the rains of hate, the breath of cold and darkness.
Gather up in your arms
the good things of the earth
to fill and heal and make us warm.
Father, we need your arms.
Mother, we need your hands,
your fingers soft and worn,
to raise our faces to the smile of safety.
Mother, we need your hands
to feed us from our birth,
with bread and dreams and kind commands.
Mother, we need your hands.
We look to you for house and home,
Father, mother, arm and hand,
soft as skin and deep as bone,
clear as water, warm as sun on stone.
(Repeat verse one under the following)
Mother, raise our faces
to the light.
Feed us with your tender hands
bread of life and heaven's dreams
and gentle kind commands.
Chorus (repeat)
Father, we need your arms.
Mother, we need your hands.
Father, we need you.
Mother, we need you.
Father, Mother, we need your love.
9. Come
to the River!
We will answer to the Father for how we have cared for His children. (We will answer. We will answer.) The Father will ask. (He will ask.) We will answer for how we have cared. (How you have cared?) How have we cared for His children?
Father of Light:
How have you cared for my children?
Have you taught them to be clean?
Have you walked them to the cleansing river's side?
What have you done with my children?
Have they followed, cold and lean,
as you walked the dusty gutters of your pride?
Father of Light & Parents (Adult Choir): Come to the River! We will follow! Sing with the children washed in light! Come to the river! We will follow! Feeling the deep and rolling life! Father of Light: Where shall I look for my children? Are they silent in the street, pressed in thirst against dry stones through lonely night? Parents: Where shall we gather the children? Where do child and Father meet? Father of Light: At the rising of the child through waters bright. Chorus (repeat twice) Feeling the deep and rolling life!
10. No Other Love
Our children deserve to be born to a mother and father who have given their lives to each other in marriage, and keep giving to each other the married love they give to no one else.
Boy:
Mother, I see a flame.
Father smiles, and a flame
lights your eyes.
No other smile
sparks that holy light in you.
Girl:
Mother touches your face.
Feel the love, feel the grace.
Father, trust
no other touch
brings this holy light--
Both:
heavenly light.
Choir:
Heavenly light.
Boy & Girl:
The joy between you sings above
the joy of other earthly loves.
No other song can calm and heal
like the song we feel you sing when you're in love!
Children:
We will sleep and dream of you.
Warm and deep, we'll dream of you.
We will sleep,
safely sleep,
and see you dancing in our dreams.
We will rise to your bright
love--
wake surprised at your bright love.
We will keep,
burning deep,
like a diamond, like a dream,
the hope that we can live the love we've seen.
Boy:
Mother will turn to
Girl:
Father will turn to
Boy:
no other smile,
Girl:
no other touch,
Both:
no other song, no other love.
11. The Path to Joy (narration)
The path to joy follows the footsteps of Jesus through faith and prayer, change and forgiving, love and lifting, and families creating together.
12. Our Brother Walked This Way
Choir:
Our Brother walked this way.
Solo:
And the fragrance of His footfall lingers
where our Savior trod.
Choir:
He walked this clouded way.
Solo:
And it feels familiar to my fingers
reaching for the iron rod.
And this is
Solo
& Choir:
how
a brother leads me,
breaking
walls for those behind.
This
is how a brother saves me
from
the bloody thorns that bind.
This
is how a brother loves me,
fighting
dragons at each bend.
This
is how a brother serves me,
as
if I were his dearest friend.
Choir:
Our Brother walked this way.
Solo:
I can feel His light that falls before me,
and I'm rising fast.
Choir:
And in the darkest night,
Solo:
beyond my reach, but not my sight,
there burns His guiding star at last.
Chorus (repeat)
Our Brother walked this way.
Come follow me, follow me.
Solo:
He
says follow.
Choir:
Come
follow me, follow me.
Solo:
And
I will follow!
Chorus
(repeat)
Our Brother walked this way.
13. Who Is Turning the Hearts?
If I am unfaithful to her, or I to him, or use my power or anger or fears as weapons against her, or him, or against my children, or if I turn my love away from them, God will ask me why.
When families break apart, we and our world will suffer deep sorrows. A loving God has warned us.
Choir:
Who is turning the hearts, turning the hearts?
Who is turning the hearts,
turning the hearts of the fathers away
from their children?
Ravens wheel above
eager to fly at the child denied of love.
Who is turning the hearts, turning the hearts?
Who is turning the hearts,
turning the hearts of the fathers away
from the mothers?
Ravens fall like snow,
falling on wounded children left below.
Man:
Disappointments crash like sword
on steel.
Woman:
And the pointing finger fails to
feel.
Choir:
And the clamor to be right
still strikes the drum.
And the ravens fly from Satan's
gate
on the breath of lies, control,
and hate.
All:
And the enemy is who we have become
Choir:
if we are
turning the hearts, turning the hearts.
We are turning the hearts,
turning the hearts of the mothers away
from the fathers!
Ravens fall like stone.
Crying of children chills us to the bone.
Woman:
Disappointments crash like sword
on steel.
Man:
And the pointing finger fails to
feel.
Choir:
And the clamor to be right
still strikes the drum.
And the ravens fly from Satan's
gate
on the breath of lies, control,
and hate.
All:
And the enemy is who we may become.
Choir:
But see the angels fly
turning hearts to home!
Or will the world be wasted,
the shining blue-spun wonder all undone?
Who is turning the hearts, turning the hearts?
Who is turning the hearts,
turning the hearts of the fathers again
to the children?
The children to mother's arms?
Woman & Choir:
The angels who whisper who we really are.
Turning the hearts of
the children again
to the fathers?
The mothers to father's arms?
Man & Choir:
The angels who whisper who we really are.
The Savior:
Follow me,
Choir:
Turning the hearts, turning the hearts,
The Savior:
Follow me,
Choir:
Turning the hearts, turning the hearts,
Savior:
Follow me!
Choir:
Turning the hearts, turning the hearts,
gently turning the hearts.
14. Love One Another
The Savior: While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. Love one another, as I have loved you.
15. Our Father's Dream/This Is Our Choice
May the leaders of our lands, the keepers of our nations know and honor that this world is made of families. Whatever wounds and breaks the family wounds and breaks the world. Whatever lifts and saves the familylifts and saves the world.
Choir:
Arches carved in stone have failed and crumbled.
Banners bold and bright have fallen, frayed and curled.
But the danger of the hour is to the humble.
Whatever wounds and breaks the family wounds
and breaks the world.
Will we hear the crying
of the children?
Will we sense in them our greatest earthly need:
to hear the echoed passion of our birthing,
and listen for the whisper of the hope
our Father breathed?
We'll
make our Father's dream our own,
His
story singing in our bones,
calling
us to share the life He lives.
We'll
make our Father's dream our own.
His
work and glory bring us home,
sealed
to those we love, as Father is.
We can raise a city with
our living,
windows bright with laughing light, and towers tall,
stone on stone of steadfast years of giving.
Whatever lifts and saves the family lifts
and saves us all.
Chorus (repeat under following)
Father of Light:
This is our choice.
This is our story.
Mother of Joy:
This is who we will be!
Father of Light:
This is our work,
this is our glory,
Mother of Joy:
this is our family!
Choir:
This is our choice.
This is our story.
This is who, who we will be!This is our work,
this is our glory,
this is our family!Will you sing with us?
This is our choice.
This is our story.
This is who, who we will be!This is our work,
this is our glory,
this is our family!This is our work
and this is our glory!Family.
Album Credits:
Music & Lyrics: Marvin Payne and Steven Kapp Perry
Producers: Greg Hansen, Steven Kapp Perry and Marvin Payne
Orchestra arranged and conducted by Greg Hansen
Choir arranged and conducted by: Steven Kapp Perry
Executive Producers: Douglas C. & Janice Kapp Perry
Recorded, Mixed, and Mastered by Guy Randle at Rosewood Recording Co.
Additional recording by Steve Lerud at Lakeview Recording and Marvin Payne at Babymoon Recording
Design by John Perry
Cover Illustration by Barry Hansen, hansencreative.com
Swahili translation by Elizabeth Sitati
Soprano: Katherine Little, Catherine Stambaugh, Tammy Simister Robinson, Tanya Barkdull
Alto: Johanne Fréchette Perry, Eliza Wren Payne, Gaye Beeson, Peg Carter
Tenor: Jerry West, Dave Tinney, Roger Hoffman, Randy Porter
Bass: Steve Dimond, Daron Bradford, Barry Hansen, Marvin Payne, Steve Meredith
Children's Choir:
J.J. Carter, Sydnie Carter, Sarah Christofferson, Emily Perry, Jessica Perry, Rachel Perry, Charlotte Randle, Murphy Randle
Narrators:
Man: Roger
Hoffman
Woman: Laurie
Payne
Boy: Danny
Snyder
Girl: Eliza
Wren Payne
Child: Madeleine
Dame
All: The
Choir
Soloists:
Father of Light: Marvin
Payne
Mother of Joy: Kathryn LIttle
Man: Steve Dimond
Woman: Johanne Fréchette Perry
Young Woman: Eliza Wren Payne
Young Man: Steven Kapp Perry
Boy: Murphy Randle
Girl: Emily Perry
Woodwinds (penny whistle, recorders, flute, oboe, clarinet, english horn): Daron Bradford
Guitar, Dobro, Mandolin: Michael Dowdle
Guitar on "Our Brother Walked This Way," and "No Other Love," Marvin Payne
String bass: Rob Honey
Percussion: Todd Sorensen
Violins: Meredith Campbell, Joan Lunt, Beverly Hansen, Janae Hansen
Viola: Mario Ortiz
Cello: Jim Hardy
Percussion & Set: Todd Sorensen
Tympani: Kenny Hodges