Joseph - Album Lyrics

When the light cut through the darkness
Oh how sweet the peace
Heaven filled the morning
As I was down on my knees
Then He spake, Oh He spake right to me
The voice of a new day had come
And I knew I could not deny it
I had seen the Father and Son
No I knew I could not deny it
I had seen the Father and Son

I told my mother what troubled my heart
I saw the worry as she took me in her arms
I told the preacher, and he looked at me
And I saw the rising that never let me be

Oh the rising
(The boy, the faith, the prayers, the hate)
From weak things the great things
Are rising, rising
(The love, the fear, the fire, the tears)
The persecution, the spirit, the peace

       The spirit of God like a fire it spread
       Calling the nations put a price upon our heads
       Running through darkness and running to light
       Praying on our knees for one more day every night

Amid the rising
(The boy, the faith, the prayers, the hate)
From weak things the great things
Are rising, rising
(The love, the fear, the fire, the tears)
The persecution, the spirit, the peace

I don’t know all the answers but I do my best
To live up to the rising that won’t let me rest

Well I’ve heard the people talking
In the fields and in the stores
They say a man is claiming visions
And they don’t want him ‘round here no more
And with questions in my heart
I walked home late last night
And in front of his old farm house
Something caught my eye

      I saw a candle burning brightly
      Up in his window late last night
      And in my heart it gripped me tightly
      And something said son what he’s doing’s right
      I saw a candle burning bright

Well a vigil got together
And they kicked in his front door
As they drug him on to the back porch
I wondered what all this was for
And I watched him wrench in pain
As the tar burned in his flesh
While a preacher held a candle
Dripping wax upon his chest

Well this morning I was walking
Leaves blowing down that old dirt road
And those feelings just kept stirring deep within my soul
On my lips a silent whisper
Lord please tell me what is right
And then the Spirit danced within me
Like the soft candle light

      And I saw a candle burning brightly
      Up in his window late last night
      And in my heart it gripped me tightly
      And something said son what he’s doing’s right
      I saw a candle burning bright
      And I saw the light

I’ve heard my name crossing the waters
Calling from somewhere that I’ve never been
I met a young man on a corner in Dublin
He told me the heavens have opened again
Now I’m waving farewell to my sweet Ireland

      ‘Cause somewhere there’s a prophet
      In a place they call Kirtland
      And he’s building a temple to worship my God
      And I’m filled with new scripture
      Angles and heavenly things
      Wrapped up in American dreams
      Ohhhhh!

I kissed the ground when I reached Ellis Island
White snow was falling from a cold winter sky
I asked a man how to get to Ohio
He said ‘Son all the work’s in those Virginia mines’
I said ‘It’s more than a job that I’ve got on my mind’

      Somewhere there’s a prophet
       In a place they call Kirtland
       And he’s building a temple to worship my God
       And I’m filled with new scripture
       Angles and heavenly things
       Wrapped up in American dreams
Ohhhhh!

It seemed like a lifetime for my feet to travel
The last twenty miles into town
And tears filled my eyes
When Joseph reached out for my hand
And said ‘Welcome my friend.’

      And now I know there’s a prophet
In a place they call Kirtland
      And he’s building a temple to worship my God
      And I’m filled with new scripture
      Angles and heavenly things
      Wrapped up in American dreams
      Ohhhhhh!

He lived 2000 years ago…I believe
So how could he truly know me
Though the son of God, my life, my friend
Still it’s hard for me to comprehend
And I wonder

      How could He know the heartache I feel
      When He lived a perfect life
      From Gesthemene to Calvary
      Was it really for me that He died
      Then the Spirit whispers
      These words ringing true
      From the garden to the cross
      He walked a mile in my shoes

Down on His knees in the garden that night
With tear-stained eyes
He lived each moment of our lives
Every fear and insecurity
That I’ve ever known
My every fallen moment, He has atoned
Still I wonder

Never had an ordinary day
Never lived your life in an ordinary way
For everything you loved you paid a price
But you couldn’t let the world see you cry

Never had a moment of peace
Never felt the sunlight
When the worries set you free
Every time your life turned a page
It seemed like your heart might break

       With the world on your shoulders
       When the nights had grown colder
       You seemed to weather every storm
       With a queen’s grace
       When you lost your husband
       When you buried your children
       I’m sure the angels stood in reverence as you prayed
       How much can on heart take

Never had a day to call your own
When so many needed your warm heart as a home
Whispering a mother’s lullaby
As you sat alone by the fire

And I’m sure your heart breaks, when some people still say
Somewhere down the line you lost your faith
How much can one heart take
How much can one heart take

A Hawkins rifle strapped to his saddle
And two Dragoons inside his vest
His long black hair blew through midnight air
Fighting revenge inside his chest
He’d seen the housed burned down to ashes
And seen those he loved lose that most dear
The saints they cried, “someone save our lives!”
The night the black angel appeared

       Hey now Porter, got an eye like an eagle
       Sworn to save the life of the Prophet of the Lamb
       Many men are lying under six feet of ground
       Fire from the smokin’ gun of Modern Day Sam
       Fire from the smokin’ gun of Modern Day Sam

The saint’s moved on as the fire grew strong
But some would never let them rest
Crystal eyes moved through shadowed nights
As he took the devils last breath
Promises from a Prophet’s lips
The Prophecy preserved his fate
But that June day his heart broke in vain
God forbid he was too late

From the first time you told me about
Everything you had seen
We were just boys, but there was no doubt
That in my heart I believed
That brother I’d follow you
Into a hailstorm of an angry town
With words like jagged knives
Every stone was meant to bring you down
Something you’d know all your life
And brother I’ll follow you

Rain or shine…fire and ice
With faith like iron
You walk right on through
And brother I’ll follow you

Into Ohio, a new northern town
Not knowing just what lies in store
Hearts were changing the Saints we grew
As our hands built the House Of Our Lord
And brother I’ll follow you
Into a cold night our children cried
Driven further west
And out of a swamp our hands built up Navuoo
And we prayed in the Lord we’d find rest
And brother we followed you

Rain or shine…fire and ice
With faith like iron
You walked right on through
And brother I’ll follow you

Into a building of sand, stone and steel
With faith like a rock you walked in
And at the end yours eyes looked into mine
With the love of a life-long friend
And yes, brother, I’ll follow you

Rain or shine…fire and ice
With faith like iron
You walked right on through
And brother I’ll follow you

The morning was clear on the road from Nauvoo
A tear touched his eye as his home fell from view
The journey was silent and few words were said
As he leaned to his brother and quietly said

As a lamb to the slaughter I willingly go
And die for my Father, His strength fills my soul
I’ve lived for my Savior and I’ll die for Him too
And with humble heart I lay down my life a prophet of truth

Four humble men sang with the angels on high
“He asked if I for him would die
The flesh was weak, my blood ran chill
But my free spirit cried I will!”
For I know this day I shall see my Savior’s face

A noise from the stairway, a shot through the door
The first martyr fell to the floor
Tears filled Joseph’s eyes, Oh my dear brother Hyrum
Today you’ll find peace
Oh Lord my God release my soul, set my spirit free