Lyrics

Suggested Text

 In order to try to demonstrate the strands of my thought, I worked with the texts which I had given Lisa and made a suggestion for lyrics. This was just an idea to stimulate further thought and discussion.

The text is drawn from the account of Elijah on the mountain (1 Kings 19: 11-16), a couple of other scriptural texts associated with Christmas (Wisdom 18: 14-15 and John 1:1), and a poem from John of the Cross. John 1:1 is also the motto of St Mary’s College, Divinity School, University of St Andrews: In principio erat verbum (In the beginning was the word.) I will draw out the sources after presenting the lyrics below.

Note: the Hebrew name for Elijah is Eliyahu which has a resonance with the name he uses here for God, Elohim. This is to emphasise the relationship of the very being and identity of Elijah with God, Eliyahu with Elohim.

In principio erat verbum.

The Word of the Lord came to Eliyahu
‘Eliyahu! Go, stand on the mountain before me.’

Know the storm of earthquake,
Know the storm of fire,
Know the storm of wind.

Eliyahu: ‘My God is not in the earthquake.
My God is not in the fire. My God is not in the wind.’

When all was in quiet silence
and the night was in the midst of her course,
thine Almighty Word, Oh Elohim,
leapt down from his royal throne.

Eliyahu: ‘Elohim! Elohim!
My Beloved, the mountains,
and lonely wooded valleys,
strange islands,
and resounding rivers,
the whistling of love-stirring breezes,
the tranquil night
at the time of the rising dawn,
silent music
sounding solitude.’

The Word of the Lord came to Eliyahu

‘Eliyahu! Go up to a high mountain
Joyful messenger to Zion!
Shout with a loud voice
Joyful messenger to Jerusalem!
Shout without fear,
Say to the towns of Judah
“Here is your God!”.’

In principio erat verbum


Now to show the sources and comment:

In principio erat verbum. John 1:1, In the beginning was the word. The first words of St John’s Gospel are certainly the ‘annunciation’ (the theme of this theoartistry project) par excellence. They are also the motto of St Mary’s College, the School of Divinity in the University of St Andrews. This Word of God is a leit motiv in through the lyrics.

The Word of the Lord came to Eliyahu
‘Eliyahu! Go, stand on the mountain before me.’ 1 Kings 19: 11. The Word addresses Elijah / Eliyahu

Know the storm of earthquake, Gloss, presenting in the lyrics the narrative of 1 Kings 19: 11b-12 Using the imperative of the verb to know presents the immersion of Elijah in the dramatic experiences
Know the storm of fire,
Know the storm of wind.

Eliyahu: ‘My God is not in the earthquake. Elijah’s response is presented in his voice rather than as narrative, again demonstrating his personal immersive experience.
My God is not in the fire. My God is not in the wind.’

When all was in quiet silence This section is from WIsdom 18: 14-15, a text used at Christmas to refer to the birth of Christ. 
and the night was in the midst of her course,
thine Almighty Word, Oh Elohim,
leapt down from his royal throne.

Eliyahu: ‘Elohim! Elohim! This section introduces verses from St John of the Cross, here put into the mouth of Elijah as he encounters God and addresses him.
My Beloved, the mountains,
and lonely wooded valleys,
strange islands,
and resounding rivers,
the whistling of love-stirring breezes,
the tranquil night
at the time of the rising dawn,
silent music
sounding solitude.’

The Word of the Lord came to Eliyahu The passage in Kings concludes with Elijah being sent out to continue his prophetic mission. Here the terms of his new commission are swapped for words from Isaiah 40: 9, again used in Advent and at Christmas.

‘Eliyahu! Go up to a high mountain
Joyful messenger to Zion!
Shout with a loud voice
Joyful messenger to Jerusalem!
Shout without fear,
Say to the towns of Judah
“Here is your God!”.’

In principio erat verbum

The purpose of the use of WIsdom, Isaiah and John of the Cross is to associate the ‘Annunciation’ of the Mt Horeb experience with the gift of the Word in the Incarnation in history and in the life of the Christian.