THE KINGDOM SHALL RISE [INTRO — Deep male voices chanting in unison, slow kebero drum pulse] Egziabher yimesgen! (Praise be to God!) Egziabher yimesgen! [WOMEN'S CHOIR — Answering from a distance] Hallelujah! Hallelujah! [VERSE 1 — MALE SOLOIST] Before the kings had crowns of gold, Before the ancient scrolls were told, Before the mountains touched the sky, The Holy One was lifted high. The mighty rivers know His name, The desert winds proclaim the same, And every stone beneath our feet Shall rise to hear creation sing. [CHOIR — RHYTHMIC RESPONSE] Rise! Rise! Let the kingdom rise! Rise! Rise! Before our eyes! [VERSE 2 — FEMALE ALTO] I hear a sound from Zion's hill, A voice that makes the earth stand still, Not born of thunder, sword, or flame, But every heart that calls His name. The weary come, the hungry sing, The broken bring their offering, And where the world has planted fear, A thousand songs of hope appear. [CHORUS — FULL CHOIR, STRONG KE BERO DRUMS] THE KINGDOM SHALL RISE! THE KINGDOM SHALL RISE! FROM THE MOUNTAINS TO THE VALLEYS, LET THE HOLY SONG ARISE! THE KINGDOM SHALL RISE! THE KINGDOM SHALL RISE! LET THE CHILDREN OF CREATION LIFT THEIR VOICES TO THE SKIES! [AMHARIC CALL AND RESPONSE] LEAD: Selam! Selam! (Peace! Peace!) CHOIR: Selam le'alam! (Peace to the world!) LEAD: Egziabher yimesgen! (Praise be to God!) CHOIR: Hallelujah! Hallelujah! [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK — Krar plucking a fast repeating melody, kebero drums accelerating, joyful ululations] [VERSE 3 — ELDER FEMALE VOICE] No throne of man shall last forever, No earthly power shall remain, But love shall flow beyond the ages, Like the rivers after rain. Let the orphan find a shelter, Let the stranger find a home, Let the wounded find their healing, Let no soul be left alone. [CHOIR — SOFT, A CAPPELLA] Let no soul be left alone… Let no soul be left alone… [BRIDGE — MALE AND FEMALE VOICES ALTERNATING] MEN: Who shall lift the fallen? WOMEN: The hands of mercy! MEN: Who shall feed the hungry? WOMEN: The hands of kindness! MEN: Who shall welcome strangers? WOMEN: The hearts of the faithful! ALL: And the kingdom shall rise! [FINAL CHORUS — MASSIVE CELEBRATORY CHOIR] THE KINGDOM SHALL RISE! THE KINGDOM SHALL RISE! LET THE DRUMS OF EVERY NATION SOUND BENEATH THE MORNING SKIES! THE KINGDOM SHALL RISE! THE KINGDOM SHALL RISE! NOT BY POWER, NOT BY RICHES, BUT BY LOVE THAT NEVER DIES! [OUTRO — Chanting continues as instruments gradually fall away] Egziabher yimesgen… Selam le'alam… Hallelujah… Hallelujah… [One final deep kebero drum strike]
