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Remember that song that came out about 20 years ago by Billy Joel? About a year ago last Pentecost, I was thinking it'd be fun to "filk" that song into a song about Pentecost, turning the fire into a positive force of change instead of a negative one. Well, it germinated and grew, and here's what I got:
1
Null and void, no day or night,
Then God said “let there be light,”
Birds and bees, flowers, trees,
Woman and man
Towers reaching to the sky
Sin so bad it made him cry
A flood of tears for all the years
And start it again
Refrain
We didn’t start the fire
It was always burning, since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
It’s the Holy Spirit, let us all revere it
2
Promise to Abraham
Even as an old man
Sarah’s joy, one new boy
Isaac is born
Stolen birth-right
Early morning angel fight
12 brothers, weeping mothers
Egypt’s our new home
Refrain
3
Baby in the water
Saved by Pharaoh’s daughter
Burning tree says “Look at me,
Let my people go”
10 plagues on the land
Crossing over on the sand
God’s law, grace and awe,
Lead us, and we’ll go.
Refrain
4
40 years to wander
Still so much to ponder
Joshua, Judges
Still so much sin
Prophets are warning
Storm clouds are forming
War time, drought, loss
How can they win?
Refrain
5
Baby in a manger
Worshiped by 3 strangers
Grew up, talked tough,
Jerusalem
Hailed and then scorned so
Nailed up, brought low
Three days and then a raise
To heaven again
Refrain
6
Paul and Peter at the door
Preaching of the law no more
Waiting, praying
For his return
Fifty days after
The fire’s just like laughter
Ringing, singing,
Watch how we burn!
Refrain
1
Null and void, no day or night,
Then God said “let there be light,”
Birds and bees, flowers, trees,
Woman and man
Towers reaching to the sky
Sin so bad it made him cry
A flood of tears for all the years
And start it again
Refrain
We didn’t start the fire
It was always burning, since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
It’s the Holy Spirit, let us all revere it
2
Promise to Abraham
Even as an old man
Sarah’s joy, one new boy
Isaac is born
Stolen birth-right
Early morning angel fight
12 brothers, weeping mothers
Egypt’s our new home
Refrain
3
Baby in the water
Saved by Pharaoh’s daughter
Burning tree says “Look at me,
Let my people go”
10 plagues on the land
Crossing over on the sand
God’s law, grace and awe,
Lead us, and we’ll go.
Refrain
4
40 years to wander
Still so much to ponder
Joshua, Judges
Still so much sin
Prophets are warning
Storm clouds are forming
War time, drought, loss
How can they win?
Refrain
5
Baby in a manger
Worshiped by 3 strangers
Grew up, talked tough,
Jerusalem
Hailed and then scorned so
Nailed up, brought low
Three days and then a raise
To heaven again
Refrain
6
Paul and Peter at the door
Preaching of the law no more
Waiting, praying
For his return
Fifty days after
The fire’s just like laughter
Ringing, singing,
Watch how we burn!
Refrain