I met you when I was a boy In Sunday shirt and corduroy, I asked your name, and in tones serene You said, “Evangeline.” We spent some time over the years I learned to love what you revere It was Jesus, and you and me, as a team Evangeline You taught me how to love the lost To give and love despite the cost How to pray and how to kneel How to tell what’s fake from real Stand up for truth and righteousness Live like God commanded us Cheer for the good and for the just Embrace what’s pure, and flee from lust Fight for the weak, and then repair The broken with God’s loving care Love mercy, make the way for peace Till all in bondage find release.. [musical interlude] But something shifted toward the dark both in your words and in your heart, And I watched someone I loved Look at the world and shrug I long to hear your old voice hidden beneath Empire noise But every year you look less kind A bit more hardened in your eyes The lies you hear you just don’t care They turn to gossip in your prayers The voiceless ones you used to hear You now stay mute when they appear Where you once opened the door You now build walls blocking the poor You used to cry for those in pain Now you’re amused while they’re ashamed The weak you once tried to protect Are now victims of your neglect The powerful, men in white halls Now order where your footsteps fall And power takes you where it pleases And it doesn’t look like Jesus. [CHORUS] I didn’t move, you did I stand where you once said you lived Somewhere the world got in your heart And now we’re worlds apart I stayed where you said truth should be I didn’t leave… you left me So I’ll shake this dust from off my feet And follow Jesus where you used to be… …oh, Evangeline…
