(Intro) (Slow, melancholic piano melody in C major. A pedal steel guitar slides in with a high, lonely note.) (Verse 1) The clock on the wall says it’s quarter to three And sleep is a stranger that won’t visit me I’ve tossed and I’ve turned, and I’ve paced on the floor Wondering if I can take anymore. The silence is loud, and the room feels so cold And I feel like a story that ends before it’s told Lord, I’ve cried 'til my eyes are too heavy to see Does anyone know? Does anyone care about me? (Chorus) But then I remember, there’s a Keeper of rain He knows the number of every grain of sand and every pain He’s keeping your Tears in the Bottle He’s writing them down in His book He knows the long journey, the road that you took. So hold on, my brother, through the darkest warning ‘Cause there’s Tears in the Bottle, but Joy in the Morning. (Verse 2) You know, King David, he sat on a throne But even a King can feel all alone He said, "Lord, my adversaries are many and strong" And the night seems to last, oh, so terribly long. But the God of the mountain is the God of the night He’s painting the sunrise, He’s bringing the light You might be planting your seeds in the sorrow right now But the harvest is coming, and that is a vow. (Chorus) Yes, He’s keeping your Tears in the Bottle He’s writing them down in His book He knows the long journey, the road that you took. So hold on, my sister, through the darkest warning ‘Cause there’s Tears in the Bottle, but Joy in the Morning. (Bridge / Recitation) (The music underscores softly. The drums drop out, just the piano and a low organ pad. Sammy speaks in a hushed, intimate tone.) "You know, friends, the Bible tells us in Psalm 56 that God gathers our wanderings. And it says He puts our tears into His bottle. Think about that for a minute. God doesn't let your pain fall to the ground and evaporate. He doesn't let your sorrow go to waste. Every time you cry out in the middle of the night, when you think nobody hears you... He catches it. He saves it. Why? Because He waters the garden of your future with the tears of your past. That pain you're feeling right now? It’s not the end of the story. It’s just the chapter before the miracle. The weeping may endure for the night... oh, and the night can be long... but listen to me..." (Key Change / Climactic Chorus) (The band swells. Drums kick in with a slow, powerful crash. Key change up to D major. Choir sings full harmony.) (Sung with power) I said the weeping may endure for a night! But JOY is coming with the early light! He’s keeping your Tears in the Bottle He’s writing them down in His book! He knows the long journey, the road that you took (Choir: The road that you took!) So hold on, believer, through the darkest warning (Hold on!) Yeah, there’s Tears in the Bottle... But there is Joy... Unspeakable Joy... (Slowing down) There is Joy... in the Morning. (Outro) (Piano resolves gently) The sun is coming up. Joy is on the way. Amen.
