Salem
The other song that I mentioned I working on a few weeks ago is now posted on the Reformation Drive MySpace.
This song is for some friends of mine that recently adopted a little girl from Ethiopia. They chose to name her Salem, which means “peace.” They chose this name before they’d even received their call, and before their little girl was even born. This idea impressed me - that parents would pray for their child by name before she was even born. A song began in the back of my mind. The parents kept a web journal going with their reflections and experiences through the long process of international adoption. In writing the lyrics for this song, I borrowed and adapted quite a few of the thoughts from these journals. When they finally received the call, they found out that the little girl’s given name was Ethiopian for “they are longing for you”. What an amazingly appropriate name that screams with poetry.
About a week and a half ago, I had the chance to go with most all of my fellow counseling students to welcome the now-complete family to Florida. It was an amazing day. I went home that afternoon and finally finished up the music and lyrics for this song, and recorded this demo.
Salem
Before you were born your parents prayed for you by name
A long time waiting for the process of waiting to begin again
So they take these anxious hopes and hold them up to God
Sometimes even perfect plans can seem to take so long
They are longing for you…
Salem come home soon
There was provision before you even learned how to cry
And arms that are waiting to hold you while you sleep tonight
A mile never seemed so far, or this world feel so small
As that day when they finally heard your call
They are longing for you…
Salem, come home soon
You have heard their voices, they have seen your face
And soon all this yearning will all be replaced
They are longing… (they are)
Yearning with creation for the sweet embrace of peace
Where there’s no more ocean; there’s no longer any sea
They are longing for you…
Salem, come home soon
November 28th, 2006 at 9:09 am
What a beautiful song, Tim!
November 30th, 2006 at 12:27 am
I highly agree. Those lyrics are amazing. I listened to this song before reading this blog and was like “what is he talking about?” ’cause I expected it to be some theological point… but now I get it. And I’m all choked up. It’s late… I gotta go to bed.
December 13th, 2006 at 9:44 pm
Speaking of songs, r u gonna be @ the RTS concert Thu night, 12/14? If so, I’ll c u then.