[Intro, Fingerpicked Acoustic Guitar, Distant Church Bell, Intimate Whisper] Before the first stone broke, Before the blackened sky, A voice above the morning Asked what a man would do If everything he loved should die. [Verse 1, Quiet Lead Vocal, Low Cello Drone] I kept my hands from taking What another man had sown. I gave the hungry bread I had. I welcomed the alone. I laid my children down to sleep Beneath a roof of cedar beams. I thought the Lord who fashioned stars Would not make sport of me. But somewhere past the firmament, Where no poor soul can see, The Devil named my love a lie. And God agreed to let him try. [Verse 2, Sparse Piano, Mournful Viola] The messengers came running. The horizon turned to flame. One by one, they brought me ruin. One by one, they spoke their names. My sons and daughters buried Beneath the house that fell. I tore my robes and kissed the dust. What else was there to tell? I searched my heart for wickedness. I begged to know my crime. I never knew my life had been A wager bought with time. [Chorus, Chamber Strings Swell, Distant Wordless Choir] What did You win in heaven With the bodies of my kin? What truth required their dying? What virtue needed testing? You knew that I was faithful. You knew the love I gave. So why was I the wager? Why were my children the price You paid? [Instrumental, Brief Solo Cello] [Verse 3, Nearly A Cappella, Voice Cracking] My friends arrived with holy words And measured out my pain. They built a prison out of scripture And called the bars my shame. I begged the dark to answer. I demanded to be shown. If I had sinned, then name the sin. If I was guilty, let it be known. Then You came in thunder, Spoke of oceans, stars, and beasts. You told me of Your mighty works. You never spoke of these. [Bridge, Strings Intensify, Vocal Rises From Desperation] I NEVER ASKED WHO MADE THE OCEANS! I ASKED YOU WHAT MY CHILDREN DID! I NEVER ASKED YOU FOR THE HEAVENS! I ASKED YOU WHY YOU LET THEM DIE! I DID NOT ASK TO BE YOUR PROOF! I DID NOT ASK TO BE YOUR TEST! YOU HAD THE WHOLE OF HEAVEN'S KINGDOM! WHY DID YOU TAKE WHAT I LOVED BEST?! [Final Chorus, Full Strings, Explosive Vocals, Choir at Full Intensity] WHAT DID YOU WIN IN HEAVEN WHEN YOU LEFT ME HERE TO GRIEVE? WHAT KIND OF LOVE DEMANDS A WITNESS WHO MUST SUFFER TO BELIEVE? YOU CAN COMMAND THE LIGHTNING! YOU CAN SPLIT THE SEA IN TWO! BUT POWER IS NOT JUSTICE! AND I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU! [Outro, Everything Falls Away, Solo Voice and Sustained Cello] You gave me sons and daughters. You filled my house once more. But the children who were taken Will not walk back through the door. If You were right to do it, Then tell me what they died for. My Lord... I am still waiting. [End, Unresolved Cello Note, Silence]
