[Intro — acoustic guitar alone, slow and searching] [Verse 1 — Bubba, male] We have heard the older voices Tell the things Your hands have done. How You made a place before them, How You helped when strength was gone. They were never saved by weapons, Never held by their own might. It was You who stood beside them, With Your favor shining bright. [Electric guitar answers; bass enters] [Verse 2 — Darlene, female] You are still our King and Helper; You’re the One we call upon. We won’t put our trust in power Or the strength we think we’ve got. When we tell the rescue story, Let the praise belong to You. We have carried it through generations; Lord, we need Your help anew. [Brushed drums enter; Hammond rises] [Chorus — full duet] We’re still calling Your name, From the place we cannot understand. We remember how You helped us; Now we’re reaching for Your hand. Hear the voices worn with waiting, Hear the questions in our pain. By the love that held our fathers, Lord, draw near to us again. [Piano enters; harmonica answers] [Verse 3 — Bubba, male] Now our footsteps turn in weakness; There is laughter at our shame. We are scattered far from shelter, And they make a joke of our name. Like a flock marked out for slaughter, We are driven from our ground. Lord, the songs we sang together Have become a broken sound. [Fiddle enters; low tenor sax responds] [Verse 4 — Darlene, female] Every day the shame surrounds us; Every day we hear the scorn. There are words that leave us trembling, There are nights that wear us worn. Still we have not left Your covenant, Have not turned to other gods. With our faces in the darkness, We are calling from this dust. [Chorus — duet, stronger] We’re still calling Your name, From the place we cannot understand. We remember how You helped us; Now we’re reaching for Your hand. Hear the voices worn with waiting, Hear the questions in our pain. By the love that held our fathers, Lord, draw near to us again. [Instrumental — electric guitar, then harmonica; tenor sax carries a low, aching response] [Bridge — organ and voices] [Bubba, male] If our hearts had turned against You— [Darlene, female] Would You not have seen it there? [Bubba, male] You can search our deepest secrets. [Darlene, female] You know every hidden prayer. [Both] Yet because we bear Your name here, We are counted for the grave. Lord, behold the ones who love You; Hear the cry we lift today. [Drums build slowly; piano and subdued brass enter] [Final plea — duet and restrained choir] Wake and rise, Lord; come and help us. Why does silence last so long? Why does it feel You hide Your presence While the cruel hands grow strong? We are bowed down to the ground here, With our bodies in the clay. For the sake of love unfailing, Rise and rescue us today. [Chorus — full band, earnest] We’re still calling Your name, From the place we cannot understand. We remember how You helped us; Now we’re reaching for Your hand. Hear the voices worn with waiting, Hear the questions in our pain. By the love that held our fathers, Lord, draw near to us again. [Band falls away — acoustic guitar and organ] [Bubba, male] We have told what You have done, Lord. [Darlene, female] Now we need Your help today. [Both, softly] For the sake of love unfailing, We’re still calling Your name.
