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NOTES on 'A Conversation':
My start-point for writing this song was the story in the Gospel of St. Luke (24:13-35) where two disciples meet and converse with a stranger as they walk the path to Emmaus.
Ideally, the song should be done with a soloist singing the part of the Stranger/Jesus and a group singing as the Disciples. In St. John's Church, Barraba NSW, many years ago, the priest sang the part of the Stranger/Jesus and the congregation, led by the choir, sang the Disciples' part. A parishioner told me this and I would love to have heard that piece of liturgical-drama.
'A Conversation' was written a long time ago, in 1970, after I had traveled 'overland' from Australia to England and was working as a teacher in Basildon, Essex. In a burst of creativity, I wrote this song and several others, including 'Where Is You Song, my Lord? Beautiful piano arrangements were written by Clive Smith. But, whereas my 1966 song collection (including ‘Fill My House’ and ‘The Beatitudes’) had quickly found its way into the world, another fifteen years would pass before these new songs were properly published as music book and cassette tape under the title 'Where Is Your Song, my Lord?'. This album has turned out to be the most popular of all my publications.
The writing and recording of this song was done before I became aware of the importance of using gender-inclusive language. In lyrics below, see alternative lyrics in brackets
*****
lyrics
A CONVERSATION
Stranger: Why do you stand so crestfallen
You good men [good people] of Galilee?
Disciples: We weep for our Lord and our leader
Who's gone from us here recently -
Meaning that we are alone now, meaning that we are unsure.
All we knew as good is gone - life is dreary now.
We are orphans.
Stranger: Listen you men [for you] are mistaken,
You good men [good people] of Galilee;
I tell you your Lord is still living
And stays with you here constantly.
Disciples: Tell us, oh where can we meet Him?
Tell us, oh where is He now?
Stranger: If you look around you now
You will find Him here - in the morning.
Disciple: Please friend, oh speak not in riddles
For truly my heart must know
In which holy place is He living?
Tell me and there I will go.
Stranger: Surely this morning is holy.
And surely His temple's the world.
If you wish to love Him still, I advise you now
Love each other.
Why do you stand so crestfallen
You good men of Galilee?
Disciples: We weep for our Lord and our leader
Who's gone from us here recently.
Stranger/ Christ: I tell you His fountain is flowing.
I tell you His garden is here.
Rise up now and turn your grief into dancing
For I am with you. I am with you. I am with you. I am here.
I am with you. I am with you. I am with you. I am here.
I am with you. I am with you. I am with you.
I am here.
Words and music by Peter Kearney
credits
released April 11, 2020
*****
RESOURCES AVAILABLE for 'A CONVERSATION'
with links to Peter's online shop:
1. SHEET MUSIC (pdf file) for this song only: peterkearneysongs.com.au/product/557753
2. CUSTOM CD-ROM: Melodies, chords, piano-accompaniments and lyrics for all eleven songs in the original 'Where Is Your Song, my Lord?' music book, which is now out of print: peterkearneysongs.com.au/product/554041
3. CUSTOM-CD: This song is one of 11 tracks on the 'Where Is Your Song, my Lord? custom-CD, which contains all tracks heard on the original cassette tape: peterkearneysongs.com.au/product/356152
4. DOUBLE-CD: This song is one of 34 tracks on my double-CD 'Make Me a Song', which includes eight of the eleven songs from the original Where Is Your Song, my Lord? cassette tape: peterkearneysongs.com.au/product/356147
RECORDING
Recorded, engineered and mixed by Penny Davies and Roger Ilott at Restless Recordings, Balmain
May-June 1985
PIANO ARRANGEMENT by CLIVE SMITH
SINGERS & MUSICIANS
Jan Arie: group vocals
Stephen Arie: group vocals
Linda Berry: piano, flute, group vocals
Penny Davies: group vocals
Roger Ilott: acoustic guitar, bass, group vocals
Peter Kearney: lead vocal
Claire Parkhill: group vocals
Clive Smith: piano arrangement
ARTWORK
KARIN DONALDSON – cover image for ‘Where Is Your Song, my Lord?
DOROTHY WOODWARD – cover image for ‘Make Me a Song’.
Peter Kearney is an Australian songwriter and singer. His early folk-hymns 'Fill My House' & 'The Beatitudes' are
internationally known. He has written many other songs of justice and peace, songs for children, and a musical-narrative on St. Francis of Assisi. His published recordings include 153 original songs.
LINKS BELOW are for Peter's:
- Website
- Online store
- Facebook Artist Page....more
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