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1. |
And So I Followed
03:45
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Never walked the streets
I’m glad of that
Never washed his feet
But I wish I had
I was a woman who believed
And so I followed.
Stayed by his side
Learned all I could
He was my guide
And it was good
Then he was crucified
But still I followed
You know who I am
My name is Mary
I was part of his plan
Part of his story
I loved the man
I loved his truth
I loved his spirit
And so I followed.
Here’s what he said
Love is the way
He loves us yet
Though some would say
He was conquered by death
But I still followed
And you know who I am
My name is mary
I was part of his plan
Part of his story
I loved the man
I loved his truth
I loved his spirit
And so I followed
They asked me to tell what I’d learned
But wouldn’t believe what I had to say
Their envy simmered and burned
And once he was gone
They cast me away
But I still felt his grace.
My name is Mary
I was part of the plan
Part of the story
I loved the man
I loved his truth
I loved his spirit
That’s why I followed
I love the man
I love his truth
I love his spirit
And so I follow.
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2. |
Rachel's Sister
05:06
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As far back as I remember
I was always Rachel's sister
Sometimes I think that started
Before she was even born
She was lively, she was clever
And everybody loved her
And when the men came looking
It was Rachel they looked for
Not me
I was Rachel's sister.
Jacob saw her fetching water
Asked if she was Laban’s daughter
And she ran home to let us know
To make room for one more.
I fell in love that night at dinner
He never saw for watching her
And when the meal was over
It was Rachel he asked for
Not me
Only Rachel's sister
This is the story as it's written
These are the lives we were livin’
Here is the truth, not the one that the others told
But the one that I know,
I am Rachel's sister.
They say Jacob was a trickster
But my father veiled her sister
On Rachel’s wedding day
So that was me upon his arm.
But then Jacob worked the harder
For the object of his ardor
Still, I thought I'd win him
When each new son was born
To me.
Rachel's sister.
Then every night I heard her whisper
Give me sons just like my sister
And prove that you love me
Prove you love me more
And then one night he did it
Little Joseph was his favorite
But Rachel died in childbirth
When her second son was born
Leaving me
Rachel's sister.
Cho
Every now and then I wonder
If he’s still thinking of her
Though I’m the one who keeps him warm
When the nights are cold.
Did she really ever love him
Or did she just love to win?
But she's a blessed memory
So I will never know.
I am only
Rachel's sister.
This is the story as it's written
About the lives we were given
Here is the truth, not the one that the old men told
But the one that I know,
I am Rachel's sister.
It can only be told
By Rachel's sister.
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3. |
Your Neighbor's Garden
04:07
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I have something to say
Though I’m not allowed to speak
I may not show my angerBut I am far from meek
The Lord will smite us both, David
Through your son, born and dead within a week
You spied while I was bathing
And you knew I was alone
And I had to obey you
When you called to me to come
While my husband was away, David
You took me from my home
Who do you think you are then? (2X)
Stealing roses
From your neighbor's garden.
My husband was a fine man
A loyal man and true, David
An honorable and kind man
Not a king like you, David
Sent him into mortal danger
While within me your child grew.
Who do you think you are then? (2X)
Stealing roses
From your neighbor's garden.
There are commandments
There are commitments
And there are always
Consequences
My name is Bathsheba
And I will be your queen,
And the mother of Solomon
So I will bear the shame,
But the rose you stole, David
Will forever wear a stain
Who do you think you are then? (2X)
Stealing roses
Who do you think you are then? (2X)
Stealing roses
From your neighbor's garden.
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4. |
Dear Momma
02:26
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Dear Momma,
You ask if I am enjoying my place
As Solomon’s latest wife
Yeah … It’s got its moments
What can I say?
It’s a life.
Right now, I’m his darling
And I’m calling that a plus
Though the other wives say
His attentions will fade
When a new face inspires his lust.
That’s why there’s so many of us.
No, Mom, he doesn’t sing like his father did
At least not when he’s with me.
But he’s built a beautiful temple, Momma
And he writes decent poetry.
He’s a glorious king, to be sure
And masterful in the boudoir
And you might think that’s all he is good for
But really, he’s pretty smart
Just last week two women quarreled
About a baby they both claimed
When he offered to cut the child in two
We all thought he’d gone insane
But it sure got that knot untangled!
So if he doesn’t sing like his father did
He’s still all right with us.
‘Cause he’s built a beautiful temple, Momma
And his poetry makes us blush!
Well, Mom, I’ve gotta go now
I’ll try to write more later
‘Cause it seems there’s a queen needs my room for a bit
And they say she is wealthy and, oh, so bewitching
And the King’s so excited, he’s positively twitching
And I just became second-rate
But oddly enough, I don’t hate her
“Cause he doesn’t sing like his father did
And I’m bored with his poetry
So though he’s built a beautiful temple, Momma
She can have him, it’s OK with me!
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5. |
Mighty Goliath
03:25
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No one speaks my name out loud
They even fear to whisper
They used to point and laugh but now
They pay me in gold and silver
Behind me soldiers place their wagers
Lots of money changing hands
How long might it take for
Goliath to kill his man?
All hail the mighty Goliath
Bigger than the biggest soldier
Camped on yonder mountain
And I dare anyone
To strive against me
I am the mighty Goliath
The man I’m fighting is so small
I could crush him like an ant
In fact, I tried, but he’s too fast
Each time, away he dances
On his head he wears no helmet
He’s barely dressed at all
Battle will commence in moments.
Ripe fruit. Ready to fall.
All hail the mighty Goliath
Bigger than the biggest soldier
Camped on yonder mountain
And I dare anyone
To strive against me
I am the mighty Goliath
Man???? That’s nothing but a boy.
And he’s facing me with nothing but a toy in his hands
But in his hands, that toy’s a weapon
Now he swings it round his head
Now I’m lying here and dying
Guess nobody won their bet.
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6. |
Delilah's Lament
02:53
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He was a pious man
But he was a brute
Best any man in a fight
Paid for my favors
‘Cause he had to
I was Delilah, woman of the night.
Something ‘bout the man drew me
It wasn’t love, but I pulled him to me
He’d be company while I waited for the real thing
But it got complicated.
I took him as my lover
Afraid to refuse
And a girl gets tired of being alone
But he had enemies
Who wanted to use me
So I knew I was living in a danger zone
But something ‘bout the man drew me
It wasn’t love, but I pulled him to me
He’d be company while I waited for the real thing
But it got complicated.
No one asked me why I did it
‘Cause they all thought they knew
Here’s the reason between you and me
I only took the money ‘cause it meant that I’d be freee
I didn’t believe him
Three times he had lied
When he told me about cutting his hair
It sounded silly
So imagine my surprise
Now it’s to late to decide that I cared.
But something ‘bout the man drew me
I knew it wasn’t love, but I pulled him to me
He’d be company while I waited for the real thing
But it got complicated.
Now I’ve no company and no hope of the real thing.
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7. |
Gate of Enayim
03:09
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I was so proud to be part of this family
When Judah the Lion made me his son’s bride
But my husband was careless, and soon he left me
A widow without any child
I am Tamar, the only hope in this family
Of a new generation for the Lion’s pride
But the second son’s dead too of his own greed
So again I’m a widow without an child
If I must be a trickster
To get what I’ve prayed for
I will....
For I ‘m afraid, but I’m not uncertain
The child must be born.
The chance I take is for the sake of the future.
The Tribe of the Lion must go on
So I will wait
At the gate
Of Enayim.
My father-in-law, Judah, is recently widowed
So there’s a new choice if I have courage enough
I will wait in disguise at the gates of Enayim
And I think he’ll agree when he sees what I’ve done
If I must be a trickster
To get what I’ve prayed for
I will....
For I ‘m afraid, but I’m not uncertain
The child must be born.
The chance I take is for the sake of the future.
The Tribe of the Lion must go on
So I will wait
At the gate
Of Enayim.
I will veil my face
I will bare my breast
I will have Judah's seed
I will pray G-d provides what we need.
For I ‘m afraid, but I’m not uncertain
The child must be born.
The chance I take is for the sake of the future.
The Tribe of the Lion must go on
So I will wait
At the gate
Of Enayim.
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8. |
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I may have been the first one out of the womb
On the day that we were born
I may have been taller and stronger
But that may be unimportant
And though I was the better hunter
You were the one who got blessed
I may have been Papa’s fair-haired boy
But Mom always liked you best.
I may have sold you my birthright
‘Cause I was a hungry guy
And the smell of your bean stew made me
Crazy enough to pay your price
You totally fooled me with your trick
And I didn’t protest
Papa mighta liked the meat I brought
But Mom always liked you best
I admit I wasn’t around much
And Mom may have thought it a shame
But she always called you her sweet Jacob
And had trouble remembering my name.
It’s Esau, Mom.
So when it came time for Papa to give
My inheritance to me
Mom sent you into his room instead
‘Cause she knew he couldn’t see
She made you feel and smell just like me
And you stole my bequest
And by the time I got there it was too late
‘Cause Mom always liked you best
There goes my future
Mom always liked you best
She said G-d made her do it
But we both know….
Mom always liked you best
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9. |
No Name
03:25
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Jephthah was my father
A soldier and commander
Jephthah was a gambler
And like gamblers everywhere
He made a deal with G-d
Defeat my enemies
Give me this victory
That was his prayer
And in return he offered up
The first to meet him at his door
When the goats came out to greet him
As he marched home from his war
I am his daughter
His only daughter
No sisters, and no brothers
After all this time
I love my father
So I danced out to the gate
I came to celebrate him
But I found him crying
‘Cause he’d vowed to surrender
The first to meet his eyes
And now his only child
Would be that sacrifice.
And I would have no name
‘Cause I would have no life
‘Cause I wouold never be a mother
I’d be no man’s wife
And I would have no heirs
And he would have the same
But more important
I’d have no name.
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10. |
Not Their Fault
04:19
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I am Jacob’s daughter
Dinah is my name
Leah is my mother
I am seventeen
There’s a dozen more
Who are my brothers
And two of them went to Shechem
And killed my lover.
They say they thought he took me unwilling
They say the stain on my honor required this killing
And they tell me it’s not their fault
They say things just happened that way
They say, must be how G-d planned it
So there’s no use in carrying on
They say, if anything, I am to blame
And I stand convicted and appalled
They say I shouldn’t have given my heart
And they tell me it’s not their fault.
His touch was my comfort
His smile was my light
And he was tender
And wanted to make me his wife
He offered alliance
In our ways he’d abide
My brothers stole his life
Like thieves in the night
They say they thought he took me unwilling
They say the stain on my honor required this killing
And they tell me it’s not their fault
They say things just happened that way
They say, must be how G-d planned it
So there’s no use in carrying on
They say, if anything, I am to blame
And I stand convicted and appalled
They say I shouldn’t have given my heart
And they tell me it’s not their fault.
My father says we will have to leave this place
I’d rather stay, but who’d have us in such disgrace??
And they tell me it’s not their fault
They say things just happened that way
They say, must be how G-d planned it
So there’s no use in carrying on
They say, if anything, I am to blame
And I stand convicted and appalled
They say I shouldn’t have given my heart
And they tell me it’s not their fault.
Why ever did I give him my heart??
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11. |
Because It's Gonna Rain
02:26
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The girls all giggled.
Jealous, I could tell
When they heard who my groom to be would be
And my sisters, envious as well
When they heard who papa chose for me.
His curly hair!
He has the darkest eyes
And a gentle voice I strain my ears to hear
And such strong arms, and so very wise
Or so I thought, till he made his wishes clear
He wants to build a boat
He told me so today
He wants to buld a boat
What could I say
I ask him why
He looks at the sky
He wants to build a boat because it’s gonna rain.
Here on the desert
We raise goats and sheep
We’ve been blessed with sons not twice, but thrice
He thinks we need a zoo
Everything that crawls or creeps
Everything that slithers and everything that flies
He wants to build a boat
He wants to build it large
He wants to build a boat
He says I’ll be in charge
Of all the plants (Thanks!)
He says C’mon, take a chance
He wants to build a boat because it’s gonna rain.
Remember all those jealous girls who heard our wedding vows
I keep wondering what they’d think of me if they could see me now
He says the rain will cause a flood. He heard that from G-d
Is he kidding?
Apparently
Not
He wants to build a boat
I guess I’ll go along
He wants to build a boat
I’ll even write him a song
I ask him why
He just rolls his eyes
“Already answered that!
Because it’s gonna rain!”
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12. |
The Truth That Remained
02:55
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O King of Miracles
You brought me Abraham
He thought me beautiful and wise
And I believed in the fire in his eyes
O King of Miracles
You taught me wonder
When you finally gave me my son
When I believed all hope was gone.
You know my heart
So you know I doubted your ways
In the shadow of Moriah
Now hear my praise
‘Cause faith came so easy
When I was young
And I’d never known sorrow or pain
But when most of my truths
Turned to ash on my tongue
Then how sweet was the truth that remained.
O King of Miracles
You brought back my Isaac
Whom you could so easily have taken
But instead you sent your angel
And saved him.
You know my heart
So you know I doubted your ways
In the shadow of Moriah
Now hear my praise
‘Cause faith came so easy
When I was young
And I’d never known sorrow or pain
But when most of my truths
Turned to ash on my tongue
Then how sweet was the truth
Precious and sweet was the truth
Blessed and sweet was the truth that remained.
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Jan Seides Austin, Texas
Singer/Songwriter Jan Seides (sigh-deez) writes and performs original, lyrics-driven, award-winning songs that combine uptown sophistication with down-home truth. They have been presented with style and spirit in prestigious venues in the U.S., the Middle East and Europe. ... more
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