I was a vocal music major in college, but did not write many songs. Of those I wrote, I remember few. But of those I remember, this one is probably my favorite. And yes, I know this is the age of YouTube, so there should be a video, but I want to present the lyrics here as a poem. I love words, and I love the physical placement, grouping, and isolation, of words in poems. Not sure about the way I’ve handled the placement here, but the words still encourage me on those dark days.
Shout
Trapped
Within a lonely cell
Trying hard
To live my life so well
But blinded by the darkness in me
Who
Will show me what I lack
What I need
To stop this crazy attack
Of sin at work, at play in me?
Who will set me free?
Dead
Behind these iron bars
Something deep within my conscience
Jars
The voice of One much more than me
He
Speaks
And when I hear His voice
I know then that I must make a choice
When He says, “Follow you or me
But I can set you free.”
“I became a slave for your bondage.
For your loneliness I was cast out.
I owe the sin at work in you no homage.
I paid off its death fee with a shout.”
Trapped
Within a lonely cell
Trying hard
To live my life so well
But blinded by the darkness in me
Who
Will show me what I lack
What I need to stop
This crazy attack
Of sin at work, at play in me?
Who will set me free?
“Set me free!”
“I became a slave for your bondage.
For your loneliness I was cast out.
I owe the sin at work in you no homage.
I paid off its death fee with a shout!”
“With a shout!”
______________________________________
Copyright Chris Leonard, 1987
