"You Are the New Day"
by John David
I will love you more than me
and more than yesterday
if you can but prove to me
you are the new day.
Send the sun in time for dawn,
let the birds all hail the morning.
Love of life will urge me say,
you are the new day.
When I lay me down at night
knowing we must pay,
thoughts occur that this night might
stay yesterday.
Thoughts that we as humans small
could slow worlds and end it all
lie around me where they fall
before the new day.
One more day when time is running out
for ev'ryone,
like a breath I knew would come
I reach for a new day
Hope is my philosophy,
just needs days in which to be,
love of life means hope for me,
born on a new day.
Well, I don't know if it stands alone enough as a poem, but Welsh songwriter John David's song is very moving, especially as sung by The King's Singers (try to ignore Barney and the Teletubbies--I do):
The local community chorus with which I sing is singing an SATB arrangement (by former King's Singers member Peter Knight) of this song in our upcoming spring concert, along with some other lovely choices.
Poetry Friday is being hosted today by children's book author Julie Larios over at The Drift Record.
6 comments:
I'd like to hear this. Thank you.
I do think this stands as a poem, though maybe not quite as tight as I'd want it as pure poetry. I love:
When I lay me down at night
knowing we must pay,
thoughts occur that this night might
stay yesterday.
and
Thoughts that we as humans small
could slow worlds and end it all
lie around me where they fall
before the new day.
Lovely!
My sisters and I loved the Kings Singers and listened to them a lot. Didn't know they're still around. Thanks. Their singing is so tight, so beautifully controlled.
Nice video even with all the TV characters. That is a beautiful song/poem.
Very lovely lyrics!
Thanks to all who stopped by and commented!
Laura, those are my favorite two stanzas, as well.
Yat-Yee, the King's Singers are indeed still around, though the faces have changed quite a bit. My kids have fallen asleep to Scarborough Fair, Greensleeves, Skye Boat Song, et. al. (the Folksongs of the British Isles cd) from time to time throughout their childhoods.
Have a good weekend, everyone.
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