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Give Thanks (Dedicated to Meeko Israel)
Music and Lyrics by Griffin Woodard
Original Artwork by Miyah Byers
100% of the proceeds from the sale of this song will go to a fund created by the Horton family for the benefit of Meeko’s beloved daughter, Strong Girl, Iniu Ann Horton. Iniu is a gifted young scholar, musician, and artist with a blindingly bright future ahead of her. Thank you for your consideration in purchasing this song in support of Strong Girl and her family.
I am so grateful for every single precious moment I was granted with Deacon Meeko Israel – a lifelong mentor, friend, and role model I was blessed to meet during my first year at Oberlin Conservatory. Deacon Meeko changed my life forever by showing me what it really means to “Love your neighbor as yourself” – Matthew 22:39. Showing me what it really means to “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you” – Luke 6:27-28. Showing me what it really means to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” – Deuteronomy 6:5. Showing me what it really means to “Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!” – Psalm 150:3-5.
Perhaps most importantly, he showed me what it really means to “give thanks in all circumstances” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
In his own poetic words:
"Amen
Awoman
Achild
Smile"
lyrics
I wake up
With burning pain,
Yet I laugh
All the same.
Even pain
Is a gift
Wrapped in gold
From on High,
Give Thanks
Give Thanks
Give Thanks
Give Thanks.
(piano interlude)
I have seen
Many birds
Fly away
Into Sun.
Oh, how I
Wish I could
Fly away
And be free,
Give Thanks
Give Thanks
Give Thanks for all things
Give Thanks all the time.
Everything you know,
Every sight you’ve seen,
Every day and night,
Every breath you breathe.
Everyone you love,
Especially those you fight,
Like a soaring dove,
Full of light,
Give Thanks,
Give Thanks,
Give Thanks for all things,
It lessens the pain.
Give Thanks (I think I understand, I think I understand now)
Give Thanks (I think I understand),
Give Praise to God!
Give Thanks for all things, It heals all the pain.
Give Thanks (I think I understand, I think I understand now)
Give Thanks (I think I understand),
Give Praise to God!
“Give Thanks for all things,” My teacher told me.
---
Coda
(“Give Thanks” refrain is interspersed periodically by vc. 1, while vc. 2 sings the following verses.)
I Give Thanks
For the suffering,
And the silence,
And the sleepless
Nights of sorrow,
For tomorrow
And the next day,
For the hunger
And the warzones,
For the weakness
And the failure,
For the triumph
And the victory.
Don’t you hear me? Don’t you hear me? Oh...
I Give Thanks
For my suffering,
And my silence,
And my sleepless
Nights of sorrow,
For the pain that
Never ends dear, and
For the things that
Remain unclear.
For the nights that
End in laughter,
And the days I
Wish went faster
I consider
Them a gift dear,
I consider them, and I
Give Thanks
For the pain deep
In my bones dear,
For the nights
Without a home here,
I consider
Them a gift.
My Friend I tell you,
I am grateful
When my blood sheds,
And the tears fall
Down my face
Because my wounds are
Wide and open.
Can you heal me?
Can you heal me?
This will heal me,
If I Give Thanks.
It will heal me
If I Give Thanks.
So I Give Thanks
For the good things
And the bad things:
“It’s a lesson or a blessing.”
“It’s a lesson or a blessing.”
So I ask you,
Will you join me?
Will you join me
as I Give Thanks? Oh...
Will you join me
As I Give Thanks?
Will you join me
As I Give Thanks?
