Let Speeches Fall Silent--a hymn after the Orlando massacre

Permission is granted for free use of this hymn during October, 2017.

Here is a new text, along with two possible tunes. Click on the tune images for full-sized versions.  This hymn may be freely used through July 31, 2016.

Let speeches fall silent and platitudes cease
from hawkers of violence they brand as “peace.”
Let people who suffer find places to speak,
and holders of power give way to the weak.

Let teachers of hatred, suspicion, and fear,
and those who would kill for the views they hold dear,
be turned from their ways and disarmed of their wrath
to walk on a new, more compassionate path.

Forgive us the times we neglected to act;
forgive our excuses for courage we lacked.
God, teach us the wisdom that leads us to grace:
your image is found in our enemy’s face.

Adam M. L. Tice, June 15, 2016
©2016 GIA Publications, Inc.



Comments

  1. UnknownJune 18, 2016 at 11:34 AM

    What a powerful piece. I'm going to use it next Sunday at First Church Somerville (UCC) with this old Tennessee folk tune I learned from a Pete Seeger book either called "My Horses Ain't Hungry" "The Wagoner's Lad" or "Pretty Polly." I sent you a pdf - Greg Woodsbie

    ReplyDelete
  2. efcJune 19, 2016 at 3:50 PM

    We sang this (Gaelic music) today at Saint Catherine's University in Saint Paul. It is a marvelous hymn. Thank you so much.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownOctober 5, 2017 at 4:20 PM

    Hi, Adam, I was trying to print this to use just this weekend, but the file is blury. (I did a "Save this image as...")
    Is there a better place to download it?
    I'd like to use the first version, the Gaelic tune

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AdamOctober 5, 2017 at 9:59 PM

      Christina,
      If you send me an e-mail (address is on the "Biography" page) I'll get you a good PDF. (Blogspot won't let me upload one.)
      Adam

      Delete

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