Songs for the Journey

Songs for the Journey was originally commissioned as a companion piece to the Fauré Requiem. I have long admired Fauré’s Requiem for its personal tone, and for the way in which Fauré brought out the beauty and intimacy of the traditional Latin texts. In assembling the movements of Songs for the Journey, I chose texts with uniquely personal stories and connections. For example, “More Love,” a song I had written for my wife when we were expecting our first child, became the cornerstone movement. Together, the five movements explore similar themes as the traditional requiem—love, faith, and mortality—but in a non-liturgical framework, with poems and texts drawn from a variety of sources.

I.
Into your hands, O Lord
I commend my spirit.

You have made us for yourself
and our hearts are restless
until they find peace in you.

II.
When I die,
if you need to weep,
cry for someone
walking in the streets beside you.
And when you need me,
put your arms around others
and give them
what you need to give me.

You can love me most by letting
hands touch hands
and souls touch souls.

You can love me most by
sharing your joys
and multiplying your generosity to others.

You can love me most
by letting me live in your eyes
and not just in your mind.

Love doesn’t die,
people do.
So when all that’s left of me is love,
give me away.

III.
O we have found a lovely vine
in this valley blooming,
whose blossoms shoot and promise fruit
that’s beautiful and cheering.

Refrain
More love, the heavens are blessing.
More love, the angels are calling.
More love, more love.

Its verdant branches spread so wide,
it shades the meek and lowly.
Its dazzling light does shine so bright
it truly fills the valley.

(Refrain)

We’ll plant it and sow it and everyday grow it.

(Refrain)

The angels are calling more love.

IV.
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

V.
May the road rise up to meet you,
may the wind be ever at your back,
may the sun shine warm upon your face,
and the rain fall soft upon your fields;
and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of his hand.

**

TEXT SOURCES:

Into Your Hands - Psalm 31:5; excerpt from Confessions by St. Augustine

When All That’s Left of Me Is Love - Anonymous, adapted from the poem Epitaph by Merrit Malloy. “Epitaph” copyright © 1975 Merrit Malloy. All rights reserved. Permission to use words in adaptation granted by Merrit Malloy.

More Love - Shaker texts adapted by Kevin Siegfried

Do Not Stand At My Grave and Weep - Mary Elizabeth Frye

Celtic Blessing - Traditional

Choral Score - 8784
Full Score, Harp (Piano) and Strings - 8784A
Parts, Harp (Piano) and Strings - 8784B
Full Score, Chamber Orchestra (2 Horns in F, Harp, Organ, and Low Strings) - 8784C
Parts, Chamber Orchestra - Rental

Available separately:
Into Your Hands - 8785
When All That’s Left of Me Is Love - 8786
More Love - 8787
Celtic Blessing - 8788