women of a certain age are like sunflowers; they know how to turn their faces to the sun.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Better Angels

Better Angels

Words and Music by Parker J. Palmer, Sharon Palmer and Carrie Newcomer 

What we want is nothing less
Than the dream behind this land,
A country where each person counts
And gets a helping hand.
And we who’ve been given much,
We can sing this simple song,
“We can keep this gift alive by passing it along”.

Chorus: And that “more perfect union”,
We can have it if we try.
When our hearts are broken open,
Then our better angels fly.
This is the people, by the people,
For the people this is true.
So let’s summon up the very best of us
And call it me and you.

We have lost and we have suffered,
We’ve cried an ocean of tears.
And we know the dread that comes,
When the shadows get too near.
And we know the comfort of a good friend
Saying, “It will be alright.
Take my hand and we will find our way
Through this night.”

Chorus: And that “more perfect union”,
We can have it if we try.
When our hearts are broken open,
Then our better angels fly.
This is the people, by the people,
For the people this is true.
So let’s summon up the very best of us
And call it me and you.

Bridge: We’re gonna make a few mistakes.
We can’t do it all today.
And our hearts are gonna break,
But we’ll do it anyway.

We are all in this together,
We can’t rise when many fall.
So let us work for the common good
As we write upon the wall,
“Take care of one another
Be truthful and be kind
And day by day by reaching out
We will surely find —

Chorus: That “more perfect union”,
We can have it if we try.
When our hearts are broken open,
Then our better angels fly.
This is the people, by the people,
For the people this is true.
So let’s summon up the very best of us
And call it me and you.


Copyright 2011

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Susan,
I think that said it all.
Thank you,