[Title: AFTERGLOW — THE LAST DANCE] [Intro — gentle ten-string harp, low cello, distant organ] There's something in the room tonight, You cannot tell me where. The music stopped an hour ago, But something's in the air. You cannot put your finger on it, Cannot hold it in your hand. But something shines beyond the curtain, Long after the final dance. [Verse 1 — warm male baritone, slow Southern gospel groove] Ten strings singing in the darkness, A thousand stories in these bones. A dancer moving through the silence, An earthen vessel far from home. The spotlight falls upon the dancer, But that's not where the light begins. God placed a treasure in the vessel, His glory shining from within. A bruised reed He will not break, The smoking flax He will not quench. And though the body bends beneath it, The song keeps rising from the bench. [Chorus — soaring male lead, strong female harmonies] THE LAST DANCE IN MORTALITY! THE AFTERGLOW OF GLORY! TEN STRINGS SINGING THROUGH THESE BONES, AND GRACE WILL TELL THE STORY! FROM GLORY UNTO GLORY! FROM DARKLY UNTO FACE TO FACE! THE LAST DANCE IN MORTALITY! THE AFTERGLOW OF GRACE! [Verse 2 — rhythmic strings, steady drums] The fitches need a gentle beating, The cummin answers to the rod. Not every seed is threshed alike, Such wisdom cometh forth from God. He knows the harvest and the handling, The instrument and what it's for. He makes a sharp one for the mountains, Till hills are chaff upon the floor. The senses exercised through using, Discern the evil and the good. And every gift the Spirit gives us Shall testify as vessels should. [Verse 3 — darker, intimate, slide guitar] Some see a woman in the spotlight, Some only hear a trembling song. They cannot see the years of fire, Or how His grace has held so long. There's something you can't put your finger on, Something you cannot explain. The wind blows where it listeth, You hear its sound but not its name. No magic ring upon her finger, No secret circle on the ground. Just an instrument of mercy, And the sweetest living sound. [Chorus — fuller, drums and organ swell] THE LAST DANCE IN MORTALITY! THE AFTERGLOW OF GLORY! TEN STRINGS SINGING THROUGH THESE BONES, AND GRACE WILL TELL THE STORY! FROM GLORY UNTO GLORY! FROM DARKLY UNTO FACE TO FACE! THE LAST DANCE IN MORTALITY! THE AFTERGLOW OF GRACE! [Bridge — instruments fall away, male lead with female answer] [Male] The spirit of man, the candle of the LORD, Searching where the eye cannot see. [Female] The treasure rests in earthen vessels, That the power may be of God. [Male] We see through a glass so darkly now, But one day face to face. [Both] And this mortal shall put on immortality, By the power of His grace! [Verse 4 — uplifting Southern gospel, strings rising] The flax is smoking, still He's faithful, The bruised reed stands beneath His care. The body waits for its redemption, While songs of praise still fill the air. The path shines brighter toward the morning, The perfect day is drawing near. And though the final note may tremble, There's no appointed wrath to fear. For death shall lose its final boasting, And corruption shall be gone. The last dance here is not the ending, When the Lord shall call us home. [Final Chorus — triumphant, full band, gospel harmonies] THE LAST DANCE IN MORTALITY! THE AFTERGLOW OF GLORY! TEN STRINGS SINGING THROUGH THESE BONES, AND GRACE WILL TELL THE STORY! FROM GLORY UNTO GLORY! FROM DARKLY UNTO FACE TO FACE! THE LAST DANCE IN MORTALITY! THE AFTERGLOW OF GRACE! [Outro — slow down, harp and cello, tender male vocal] When the final note has faded, And the curtain leaves the stage, The light was never in the spotlight, Nor imprisoned on a page. We sang a new song unto Jesus, While mortal feet still touched the floor. And when we put on immortality, We'll praise Him evermore. [Final line — both voices, clear and strong] JESUS IS THE LORD
