Procession of the Dawn

[Verse 1 – solo voice, walking rhythm] She comes not runnin’, she comes not fast— Just steady walkin’, like time that lasts. Gold on her shoulder, ash on her hem, She’s wearin’ the prayers of broken men. [Chorus – call and response] (Leader) Step by step, she climbs the air— (Choir) Lady of Light, O flame so fair! (Leader) Where she walks, the shadows break— (Choir) She gives what pain can’t ever take. [Verse 2] She don’t forget the names we cry— She folds ‘em in her amber sky. She don’t undo what night has done— She just walks through it, one by one. [Chorus – stronger) (Leader) Step by step, she burns the gray— (Choir) Lady of Morning, show the way! (Leader) Let the sleepers lift their head— (Choir) She ain’t here to raise the dead— (All) She’s here to walk ‘em home instead. [Bridge – low and meditative] I walked the road ‘fore she came near, My feet was numb, my mouth was fear. But when she passed, the air turned wine— And I could see with eyes not mine. [Final Chorus – full, with horns swelling behind] (Leader) Step by step, through blood and bone— (Choir) Lady of Day, don’t walk alone! (Leader) Carry us in your quiet flame— (Choir) We ain’t the same, we ain’t the same— (All) Since you came walkin’ with our name.