Desert Father
(from the legend of St. Moses the Black)
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LYRICS:
Holy Mo, you been moving slow; Won’t you mosey on home with me? Holy Mo, you got a long way to go; Won’t you mosey on home with me? You were just a young man And you were looking for, looking for, You were looking for love But you didn’t know, no,what you were looking for back then, You tried to buy your only friends with stolen gold, But it didn’t make you whole. You stumbled into grace once While you were on the run, on the run, Trying to escape yourself You were a stranger when we took you in; That’s when a little bit of hope Met your heart and called it home And you couldn’t shake it free. And now you’ll never shake it free Holy Mo, you been moving slow; Won’t you mosey on home with me? Return to life as usual didn’t go as planned And ‘cross the sand you came a-knocking at our door again. You still didn’t know, no, what you were looking for but now You set your heart and made a vow That you knew you couldn’t keep― That none alone can keep. Holy Mo, you been moving slow; Won’t you mosey on home with me? Holy Mo, you got a long way to go; Won’t you mosey on home with me? The sun is rising over distant desert lands Like the sun that’s rising in your soul. If grace can fall on all these barren desert sands, Then patience child, He’ll make you whole; He’ll bring you home. You got bit by the love bug and now it’s taking a hold, And son, you’re well on your way. Well, it’s gonna be a long road and now it’s taking its toll, But you’re gonna make it, just you wait. You been bit by the love bug and it may be the death of you, But it’s gonna pull you through to life. Holy Mo, you been moving slow, You got a long, long way to go, but don’t you give up hope, Well, why don't you mosey on home with me? |
LINER NOTES: This is a song about St. Moses the Black (or "the Ethiopian"), who was one of the fourth century desert fathers. In his icons, he's always depicted as a rather old fellow, which I suppose is appropriate, given the time it took him to become all saintlike―and this is precisely why I like him so much. I find myself in the tedium of his struggle for perfection. This song comes from my favourite episode of Moses's life, in which Abbot Isidore offers grace after a desert vigil, meeting Moses and me in the midst of the long journey toward wholeness and home. Performers:
daniel couper - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar James West - Electric Guitar Colin Jeffress - Piano Jason Hardy - Bass Guitar Justin Short - Drums Words & music by daniel couper Produced, mixed, and engineered by daniel couper Special thanks to Moses Reynolds for his production advice Recorded at Hopwood Christian Church, One Seventy Studios, and The Keep (cc) 2017 The Kept Collective Previous song: "Bienvenue" Next song: "Beautiful, Sad Smile" |