Rotation Lyrics
TRACK ONE: Incarnation
track notes
let all mortal flesh keep silence
and with fear and trembling stand
ponder nothing earthly minded
for with blessing in his hand
Christ our God to earth descendeth
our full homage to demand
king of kings yet born of Mary
as of old on earth he stood
lord of lords in human vesture
in the body and the blood
he will give to all the faithful
his own self for heavenly food
rank on rank the host of heaven
spreads its vanguard on the way
as the light of light descendeth
from the realms of endless day
that the powers of hell may vanish
as the darkness clears away
at this feet the six winged seraph
cherubim with sleepless eye
veil their faces to the presence
as with ceaseless voice they cry,
“allelujah, allelujuah
allelujah, lord most high”
TRACK TWO: Ministration
track notes
we the cripples call to you
as ocean ripples crawl to you
bring our alms and psalms to you
come to give it all to you
we the deaf, the dumb, and blind
we who’ve wept a hundred times
leave our beds and stead to find you
leave to tread in step behind you
we the blessed and we the damned
we who quest for understanding
need not rest and need not lamps
stream to you across the land
God’s own realm is at your door
within, without forever more
sordid corners, foreign shores
floral mornings, roaring storms
those adored and those ignored
in accord to all implore
pouring across the fords and borders
swarming forward by the score
boring, soaring for the core
all performing for the Lord
TRACK THREE: Misconception
track notes
I’ve searched for you in stormy seas
and torment for my enemies
but come to me as a gentle breeze
and oh, my soul shall be at ease
and when your chariot comes for me
I shall be pleased to be released
when famine came and Ahab sought me
I ate the food your ravens brought me
I’ve known the widow in her grief
through you alone she found relief
and when your chariot comes for me
I shall be pleased to be released
I’ve seen false prophets come and go
I’ve seen the priests whose pockets grow
I’ve felt a rage I cannot tell
when Jezebel pronounced her spells
and when your chariot comes for me
I shall be pleased to be released
TRACK FOUR: Preparation
track notes
just lead me to Jerusalem
help me cry, hang me high
just lead me to Jerusalem to die
this winding road, uncertainty
so weary, need to sleep for all eternity
but tell me what you want from me
let me see light and honestly…
grit my teeth in Galilee
getting people made at me
oh, just one moment of clarity
of knowing that you’re there for me
this burning need for certainty
say the word and watch me bleed
Adonai, God on high
sometimes I want to die
clean my mind, throw wide my eyes
deign for just one nod on high
I await the sign I’m by your side
we’re riding into town tonight
we’re riding into town tonight
riding into town tonight
TRACK FIVE: Valediction
track notes
oh wheat, whose crushing was for bread
oh bread, whose breaking is for life
oh life, your seeming end is seed
a seed for wheat, our bread is life
oh fruit, whose crushing was for wine
oh wine, whose flowing is for blood
oh blood, you’re pouring out is life
our life in you, oh fruitful vine
oh life, whose crushing was for love
oh love, whose spending was to death
oh death, your mourning is our joy
full joy in birth to lasting life
TRACK SIX: Execution
track notes
my blood like water’s spilled
my joints are racked and out of frame
my heart dissolves within my chest
like wax before a flame
my strength like potter’s earth is parched
my tongue cleaves to my jaw
and to the silent shades of death
my fainting soul withdraws
my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
on you our ancestors relied
and your deliverance found
with pious confidence they prayed
and with success were crowned
but I am treated like a worm
like none of human birth
not only by the great reviled
but made the rabble’s mirth
my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
like bloodhounds to surround me
the packed assemblies meet
they pierced my inoffensive hands
they pierced my harmless feet
my body’s racked till all my bones
distinctly may be told
yet such a spectacle of woe
as pastime they behold
my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
TRACK SEVEN: Lamentation
track notes
stabat mater dolorosa
iuxta crucem lacrimosa,
dum pendebat filius.
TRACK EIGHT: Resurrection
track notes
now the green blade riseth
from the buried grain
wheat that in dark earth
many days has lain
love lives again
that with the dead has been
loves is come again like
wheat that springeth green
in the grave they laid him
love whom hate had slain
thinking that never
he would wake again
quick from the dead
my risen Lord is seen
love is come again like
wheat that springeth green
forth he came at Easter
like the risen grain
he that for three days
in the grave had lain
quick from the dead
my risen Lord is seen
love is come again like
wheat that springeth green
when our hearts are wintry
grieving or in pain
thy touch can call us
back to life again
fields of our hearts
that dead and bare have been
love is come again like
wheat that springeth green
TRACK NINE: Adoration
track notes
humbly I adore thee, verity unseen
who thy glory hidest, beneath these shadows mean
lo, to thee surrendered, my whole heart is bowed
tranced as it beholds thee, shrined within the cloud
taste and touch and vision to discern thee fail
faith that comes by hearing, pierces through the veil
I believe whatever the son of God hath told
what the truth hath spoken, that for truth I hold
o memorial wondrous of the Lord’s own death
living bread that givest all they creatures breath
grant my spirit ever by thy life may live
to my taste they sweetness never failing give
Jesus, whom now hidden, I by faith behold
what my soul doth long for, that thy word foretold
face to face thy splendor I at last shall see
in the glorious vision, blessed Lord, of thee
TRACK TEN: Expectation
track notes
oh come, thou dayspring from on high
and cheer us by thy drawing nigh
disperse the gloomy clouds of night
and death’s dark shadow put to flight
oh come, of come, Emmanuel
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in exile here
until the son of God appear
rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
shall come to thee, oh Israel
