Lyyra Texts and Translations

Caritas Abundat

Love abounds in everything,

From the lowest depths to the highest stars,

And is loving to all,

For the supreme King gave a kiss of peace.

Tabescere me fecit

My zeal hath consumed me,

because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.

Suscepit Israel

He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy.

As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever.

Heaven Haven

I have desired to go
Where springs not fail,
To fields where flies no sharp and sided hail
And a few lilies blow.

And I have asked to be
Where no storms come,
Where the green swell is in the havens dumb,
And out of the swing of the sea.

Haec Dies

This is the day the Lord has made:
let us rejoice and be glad in it,
Alleluia.

Give praise to the Lord for he is good:

His mercy endures forever,

Alleluia.

Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

Therefore let us feast on the bread of sincerity and truth.

Alleluia.

Sing Joyfully

Sing joyfully to God our strength; sing loud unto the God of Jacob!
Take the song, bring forth the timbrel, the pleasant harp, and the viol.
Blow the trumpet in the new moon, even in the time appointed, and at our feast day.
For this is a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.

America

“Let us be lovers, we’ll marry our fortunes together

I’ve got some real estate here in my bag”

So we bought a pack of cigarettes and Mrs. Wagner’s pies

And walked off to look for America

“Kathy,” I said, as we boarded a Greyhound in Pittsburgh

“Michigan seems like a dream to me now

It took me four days to hitch-hike from Saginaw

I’ve come to look for America”

Laughing on the bus

Playing games with the faces

She said the man in the gabardine suit was a spy

I said, “Be careful, his bow tie is really a camera”

“Toss me a cigarette, I think there’s one in my raincoat”

“We smoked the last one an hour ago”

So I looked at the scenery, she read her magazine

And the moon rose over an open field

“Kathy, I’m lost,” I said, thought I knew she was sleeping.

“I’m empty and aching and I don’t know why”

Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike

They’ve all come to look for America

All come to look for America

Bridge Over Troubled Water

When you're weary
Feeling small
When tears are in your eyes
I will dry them all
I'm on your side

Oh, when times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
I'll take your part

Oh, when darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

Sail on, silver girl
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine

Oh, if you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind

Eleanor Rigby

Ah, look at all the lonely people!

Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been,

Lives in a dream.

Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door,

Who is it for?

All the lonely people,

Where do they all come from?

All the lonely people,

Where do they all belong?

Father McKenzie writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear,

No one comes near.

Look at him working, darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there,

What does he care?

All the lonely people,

Where do they all come from?

All the lonely people,

Where do they all belong?

Ah, look at all the lonely people!

Eleanor Rigby, died in the church and was buried along with her name,

Nobody came.

Father McKenzie, wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave,

No one was saved.

All the lonely people,

Where do they all come from?

All the lonely people,

Where do they all belong?

Landslide

I took my love, I took it down

Climbed a mountain and I turned around

And I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills

'Til the landslide brought me down

Oh, mirror in the sky, what is love?

Can the child within my heart rise above?

Can I sail through the changin' ocean tides?

Can I handle the seasons of my life?

Well, I've been 'fraid of changin'

'Cause I've built my life around you

But time makes you bolder

Even children get older

And I'm gettin' older, too

Well, I've been 'fraid of changin'

'Cause I've built my life around you

But time makes you bolder

Even children get older

And I'm gettin' older, too

I'm gettin' older, too

Ah, take my love, take it down

Oh, climb a mountain and turn around

And if you see my reflection in the snow covered hills

Well, the landslide will bring it down

And if you see my reflection in the snow covered hills

Well, the landslide will bring it down

Oh, the landslide will bring it down

You Are the Sunshine of My Life

You are the sunshine of my life

That's why I'll always be around

You are the apple of my eye

Forever you'll stay in my heart

I feel like this is the beginning

Though I've loved you for a million years

And if I thought our love was ending

I'd find myself drowning in my own tears

You are the sunshine of my life

That's why I'll always stay around

You are the apple of my eye

Forever you'll stay in my heart

You must have known that I was lonely

Because you came to my rescue

And I know that this must be heaven

How could so much love be inside of you?

You are the sunshine of my life

That's why I'll always stay around

You are the apple of my eye

Forever you'll stay in my heart

You are the sunshine of my life

The Song of Trees and Growing Leaves

When a tree grows from being small

When a tree grows to become so impressive however tall

Is that not unlike our children

Fragile limbs to sturdy branches

In the wind perform flowing dances

Playful whims to things profound

unleash life creations to abound

Trees can be a forest strong

Or a single wood like flower

Each will give shelter to a bird and its song

Protecting it from the elements and sunless showers

Is that not unlike our children’s needs

Budding leaves are the gift of trees

Exhibiting hillside canvases of breathless colors sculptured shapes and endless hues

Is that not the means of awe and inspiration

Is that not unlike our children

Rise Up My Love

Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away

For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone

Come see the flowers as they appear on earth

The time for singing of birds is come

The voice of the turtle doves is heard in our land

The fig tree puts forth her green figs

Arise my love, my fair one, and come away

Dusk in June

Evening, and all the birds

In a chorus of shimmering sound

Are easing their hearts of joy

For miles around.

The air is blue and sweet,

The few first stars are white,-

Oh let me like the birds

Sing before night.

Will the Circle Be Unbroken

Will the circle be unbroken by and by, Lord, by and by?
There’s a better home a-waiting if we try, Lord, if we try.

I was singing with my sisters
I was singing with my friends
And we all can sing together,
‘Cause the circle never ends.

I was born down in the valley
Where the sun refused to shine
But I’m climbing up to the highland
Gonna make that mountain mine

Tryin’ to Get Home

Lord I’m bearing heavy burdens tryin’ to get home.

Lord I’m standin’ hard trials tryin’ to get home.

Lord I’m climin’ high mountains tryin’ to get home.

Someday We’ll All Be Free

Hang on to the world as it spins around

Just don't let the spin get you down

Things are moving fast

Hold on tight and you will last

Keep your self-respect, your human pride

Get yourself in gear, keep your stride

Never mind your fears

Brighter days will soon be here

Take it from me, someday we'll all be free, yeah

Keep on walking tall

Hold your head up high

Lay your dreams right up to the sky

Sing your greatest song

And you'll keep going, going on

Take it from me, someday we'll all be free

Hey, just wait and see, someday we'll all be free, yeah

Take it from me, someday we'll all be free

What Was I Made For?

I used to float, now I just fall down

I used to know but I'm not sure now

What I was made for

What was I made for?

Takin' a drive, I was an ideal

Looked so alive, turns out I'm not real

Just something you paid for

What was I made for?

'Cause I, I

I don't know how to feel

But I wanna try

I don't know how to feel

But someday, I might

Someday, I might

When did it end? All the enjoyment

I'm sad again, don't tell my boyfriend

It's not what he's made for

What was I made for?

'Cause I, 'cause I

I don't know how to feel

But I wanna try

I don't know how to feel

But someday I might

Someday I might

Think I forgot how to be happy

Something I'm not, but something I can be

Something I wait for

Something I'm made for

She

No, she don’t stop

She walked towards you with her head down low

She wondered if there's a way out of the blue

Who's gonna take her home this time?

She knew that this time wouldn't be the last time

There she waits looking for a savior

Someone to save her from her dying self

Always taking ten steps back and one step forward

She's tired but she don't stop

Every day she stood hoping for a new light

She closed her eyes and she heard a small voice say

"You don't stop, no, you belong to me"

She cried, "Maybe it's too late"

Don't, don't stop, no don’t, don’t stop

No, she don’t stop