Texts & Translations
“Hold On!” | traditional spiritual arr. Stacey V. Gibbs
Oh yes.
Keep your hand on the plow,
hold on, just hold on.
Nora, Nora, let me come in,
the doors all fastened and the windows pinned.
Nora said, “You done lost your track,
well, you can’t plow straight
and keep-a looking back.
Brother, hold on, oh sister, hold on.
Keep your hand on the plow,
hold on, just hold on
If you want to get to Heaven, let me tell you how,
just keep your hand on the gospel plow.
If that plow stays in your hand,
land you straight into the Promised land.
Mary had a golden chain
and every link spelled my Jesus’ name.
Keep on climbing and don’t you tire
cause every rung goes higher and higher.
Brother, hold on, oh sister, hold on.
Keep your hand on the plow,
hold on, just hold on
“Mille regretz” | Josquin des Prez
Mille regretz de vous abandonner
A thousand regrets for abandoning you
Et d'eslonger votre fache amoureuse,
and to lengthen your frustration in love,
Jay si grand dueil et paine douloureuse,
I have such great sadness and painful distress
Quon me verra brief mes jours définer.
That they will see, soon my days will dwindle away
Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich, BWV 150 | J. S. Bach
1. Sinfonia
2. Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich
Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich.
For you, Lord, is my longing.
Mein Gott, ich hoffe auf dich;
My God, I hope in you;
laß mich nicht zuschanden werden,
let me not be put to shame,
daß sich meine Feinde nicht freuen über mich.
so that my enemies may not rejoice over me.
3. Doch bin und bleibe ich vergnügt
Doch bin und bleibe ich vergnügt,
But I am and remain content,
obgleich hier zeitlich toben
although here for a time there rage
Kreuz, Sturm und andre Proben,
cross, storm and other trials,
Tod, Höll und was sich fügt.
death, hell and what is ordained.
Ob Unfall schlägt den treuen Knecht,
Even if misfortune strikes your faithful servant,
Recht ist und bleibet ewig Recht.
right is and always remains right.
4. Leite mich in deiner Wahrheit
Leite mich in deiner Wahrheit und lehre mich!
Lead me in your truth and teach me!
Denn du bist der Gott, der mir hilft;
For you are the God, who helps me;
täglich harre ich dein.
everyday I wait for you.
5. Zedern müssen von den Winden
Zedern müssen von den Winden
Cedars must before the wind
oft viel Ungemach empfinden,
often feel much hardship,
niemals werden sie verkehrt.
never they are overturned.
Rat und Tat auf Gott gestellet,
Thought and action entrust to God,
achtet nicht, was widerbellet,
pay no attention to what howls against you,
denn sein Wort ganz anders lehrt.
for his word teaches quite otherwise.
6. Meine Augen sehen stets zu dem Herrn
Meine Augen sehen stets zu dem Herrn;
My eyes look always towards the Lord;
denn er wird meinen Fuß aus dem Netze ziehen.
for he will pull my foot out of the net.
7. Meine Tage in dem Leide
Meine Tage in dem Leide
My days spent in sorrow
endet Gott dennoch zur Freude.
God ends nevertheless with joy.
Christen auf den Dornenwegen
Christians on the thorny ways
krönet Himmels Kraft und Segen.
are crowned by heaven's strength and blessing.
Bleibet Gott mein treuer Schutz,
If God remains my faithful protection,
achte ich nicht Menschentrutz.
I do not heed men’s spite.
Christus, der uns steht zur Seiten,
Christ, who stands at our side,
hilft mir täglich sieghaft streiten.
helps me everyday to victoriously struggle.
“Be Like the Bird” | Abbie Betinis
Be like the bird that,
pausing in her flight a while on boughs too slight,
feels them give way beneath her,
and sings, and sings, and sings knowing she hath wings.
—Victor Hugo
“A Sto Cemo” | Bosnian folk song arr. Moira Smiley
A sto cemo ljubav kriti kad ja moram toja biti?
And why should we hide our love When you should be mine?
Srce vise nije moje tebi dragi pripaloje.
My heart is no longer mine. It belongs to you, my dear.
Sto me tebi tako vude? Osjecaji mene muce.
What attracts you to me so? My feelings are tormenting me.
Il’ me uzmi il' me ubi. Ne daj drugom de me ljubi.
Either take me or kill me. Don't let another love me.
The Lady & Her Castle | Townsend Losey
The grass bounds over hills.
Purple-flowered trees cast gentle shadows over the fertile earth.
The birds build their nests in the thick, green walls that enclose the castle yard.
Even the deer come around for the roses,
And they stay to play in the open field.
But you are not there.
Alone, she surveys the landscape,
And what does she see?
Memories tread transparently across the luscious wasteland.
Not one of them finds a breath of rest here.
Not one of them breathes at all.
How can a place this void of hope look so serene?
What is this false hope that tries to fool her?
Has the world no empathy for her now
After all the life she has shared with it?
What good is fulfillment once it’s over and gone?
Why does it leave you more empty than before?
He Walks Along Alone | Townsend Losey
he walks
through moonlight,
on a smooth
stone
path
that’s gnawing
at his cold
bare feet
he walks
alone,
though he
could be
home,
where
little
more
warmth will greet
him
Tonight,
he walks along
alone
looking
down as his
toes turn to
ice
hoping
only that
his heart will grow
numb,
too if
he walks
far enough to
know
where.
That Lucky Old Sun | Beasely Smith and Townsend Losey
Up in the mornin’, out on the job
Work like the devil for my pay
But that lucky old sun has nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
Fuss with my woman, toil for my kids
Sweat till I'm wrinkled and gray
While that lucky old sun has nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day
Good Lord above, can't you know I'm pining
Tears all in my eyes
Send down that cloud with a silver lining
Lift me to Paradise
Show me that river, take me across
Wash all my troubles away
Like that lucky old sun, who has nothing to do
But roll around heaven all day
—Haven Gillespie