While I’m Here (Psalm 39)

country gospel-blues, Southern soul, Appalachian storytelling

[Intro — fingerpicked acoustic guitar, unhurried]

[Verse 1 — Bubba, male]
I put a watch upon my speaking,
Tried to keep my tongue from wrong.
With the cruel ones standing near me,
I kept quiet far too long.
Even good words stayed inside me;
Still the sorrow would not cease.
Till a fire rose up within me,
And I spoke into the heat.

[Electric guitar answers softly]

[Verse 2 — Bubba, male]
Lord, remind me of my measure,
Let me understand my days.
How this life I hold so tightly
Like a passing breath can fade.
All my years lie small before You;
All my strength is soon withdrawn.
Even standing at our strongest,
We are mist before the dawn.

[Bass and brushed drums enter]

[Chorus — Bubba lead; Darlene, female harmony]
While I’m here, Lord,
With this breath You’ve given me,
Turn my eyes toward what will matter
When there’s nothing left to keep.
All the things I’ve chased are passing;
All my days are in Your view.
What am I waiting for now, Lord?
All my hope is placed in You.

[Piano and Hammond organ enter]

[Verse 3 — Darlene, female]
We move through the world like shadows,
Busy hands and worried minds.
Stacking up what we can gather,
Leaving all of it behind.
Who will hold the things we treasured?
Who will spend what we have saved?
There is more beyond our knowing
Than the plans that we have made.

[Harmonica answers; fiddle enters quietly]

[Verse 4 — Bubba, male]
Save me from my own transgressions;
Keep my life from being their joke.
I have stood here without answers,
With so much I cannot hold.
Underneath Your hand I’m weary;
Let this heavy burden ease.
When You show a heart its folly,
What it treasures fades like leaves.

[Chorus — full duet]
While I’m here, Lord,
With this breath You’ve given me,
Turn my eyes toward what will matter
When there’s nothing left to keep.
All the things I’ve chased are passing;
All my days are in Your view.
What am I waiting for now, Lord?
All my hope is placed in You.

[Instrumental — electric guitar, then harmonica;
tenor sax answers in a low, tender register]

[Bridge — organ and voices]

[Darlene, female]
Hear the prayer beneath this silence.

[Bubba, male]
Do not pass these tears unseen.

[Darlene, female]
We are travelers in Your keeping.

[Bubba, male]
Here a little while between.

[Both]
Like the ones who walked before us,
We are guests upon this ground.
Hear us calling from the journey;
Let Your mercy find us now.

[Drums return gently; piano rises]

[Final refrain — duet, restrained gospel harmonies]
While I’m here, Lord,
With these days I cannot keep,
I will bring You all my questions,
I will bring You all my grief.
All the things I’ve chased are passing;
All my days are in Your view.
What am I waiting for now, Lord?
All my hope is placed in You.

[Band falls away — acoustic guitar and organ]

[Bubba, male]
Let the weight upon me loosen.

[Darlene, female]
Let a little gladness come.

[Bubba, male]
Before my traveling days are over—

[Both, softly]
Hear me, Lord, while I’m here.

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[Intro — fingerpicked acoustic guitar, unhurried] [Verse 1 — Bubba, male] I put a watch upon my speaking, Tried to keep my tongue from wrong. With the cruel ones standing near me, I kept quiet far too long. Even good words stayed inside me; Still the sorrow would not cease. Till a fire rose up within me, And I spoke into the heat. [Electric guitar answers softly] [Verse 2 — Bubba, male] Lord, remind me of my measure, Let me understand my days. How this life I hold so tightly Like a passing breath can fade. All my years lie small before You; All my strength is soon withdrawn. Even standing at our strongest, We are mist before the dawn. [Bass and brushed drums enter] [Chorus — Bubba lead; Darlene, female harmony] While I’m here, Lord, With this breath You’ve given me, Turn my eyes toward what will matter When there’s nothing left to keep. All the things I’ve chased are passing; All my days are in Your view. What am I waiting for now, Lord? All my hope is placed in You. [Piano and Hammond organ enter] [Verse 3 — Darlene, female] We move through the world like shadows, Busy hands and worried minds. Stacking up what we can gather, Leaving all of it behind. Who will hold the things we treasured? Who will spend what we have saved? There is more beyond our knowing Than the plans that we have made. [Harmonica answers; fiddle enters quietly] [Verse 4 — Bubba, male] Save me from my own transgressions; Keep my life from being their joke. I have stood here without answers, With so much I cannot hold. Underneath Your hand I’m weary; Let this heavy burden ease. When You show a heart its folly, What it treasures fades like leaves. [Chorus — full duet] While I’m here, Lord, With this breath You’ve given me, Turn my eyes toward what will matter When there’s nothing left to keep. All the things I’ve chased are passing; All my days are in Your view. What am I waiting for now, Lord? All my hope is placed in You. [Instrumental — electric guitar, then harmonica; tenor sax answers in a low, tender register] [Bridge — organ and voices] [Darlene, female] Hear the prayer beneath this silence. [Bubba, male] Do not pass these tears unseen. [Darlene, female] We are travelers in Your keeping. [Bubba, male] Here a little while between. [Both] Like the ones who walked before us, We are guests upon this ground. Hear us calling from the journey; Let Your mercy find us now. [Drums return gently; piano rises] [Final refrain — duet, restrained gospel harmonies] While I’m here, Lord, With these days I cannot keep, I will bring You all my questions, I will bring You all my grief. All the things I’ve chased are passing; All my days are in Your view. What am I waiting for now, Lord? All my hope is placed in You. [Band falls away — acoustic guitar and organ] [Bubba, male] Let the weight upon me loosen. [Darlene, female] Let a little gladness come. [Bubba, male] Before my traveling days are over— [Both, softly] Hear me, Lord, while I’m here.

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