“Time After Time,” was originally recorded by Cyndi Lauper. While I like Cyndi Lauper, I also found this lyric version sung by Pink. It’s the words I want to focus on, so I picked the Pink one.
I love the chorus:
If you’re lost, you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall, I will catch you, I’ll be waiting
Time after time
The song came out right around the time I started thinking about having a baby which led me to thinking more about God. I remember watching the Cyndi Lauper video on TV in the 80s and thinking this song could be about God catching me when I fall, or a parent catching a child, being there, time after time. Of course it can be about any love that’s faithful, and that’s comforting any way you look at it.
“Time After Time,” was written by Rob Hyman, Cyndi Lauper for the album, She’s So Unusual (1983)
Thanks to Helen, at Helen’s Words of Life, for hosting Song Lyric Sunday. You can find more song lyrics about this week’s prompt, seconds/minutes/hours, at the link below.
Three days after Jesus died on the cross, Mary Magdalene saw him alive.
….Then the disciples returned to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
John 20: 10-18
You can see Mary’s joy in this video perfectly aligned with Natalie Grant’s song, “Alive.” It gives me chills, or “Godbumps,” every time.
“Alive”
By Natalie Grant
Who but You, could breathe and leave a trail of galaxies and dream of me?
What kind of Love is writing my story till the end with Mercy’s pen? Only You.
What kind of king would choose to wear a crown that bleeds and scars to win my heart?
What kind of Love tells me I’m the reason He can’t stay inside the grave?
You. Is it You? Standing here before my eyes, every part of my heart cries
Alive! Alive! Look what Mercy’s overcome; Death has lost and Love has won Alive! Alive!
Hallelujah, Risen Lord, the only One I fall before I am His because He is alive.
Who could speak, and send the demons back from where they came with just one Name?
What other heart would let itself be broken every time till He healed mine?
You. Only You could turn my darkness into dawn; running right into Your arms
Alive! Alive! Look what Mercy’s overcome; Death has lost and Love has won Alive! Alive!
Hallelujah, Risen Lord, the only One I fall before I am His because He is
Emmanuel, the promised King the baby who made angels sing Son of Man who walked with us, healing, breathing in our dust
The author of all history, the answer to all mysteries The Lamb of God who rolled away, the stone in front of every grave
Alive! Alive! Look what Mercy’s overcome;
Death has lost and Love has won.
I couldn’t pass up Helen’s theme of peace for today’s “Song Lyric Sunday.”
I’ve always felt “Peace Like a River” was an old song. Some sites list it as African American Spiritual. But I’ve also seen John O. Schroeder identified as the author. It feels like a spiritual to me. One nice thing about this song is that it’s easy to learn. Some versions are faster, but I picked a relaxing one for this Sunday afternoon. I hope you enjoy it.
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river in my soul.
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river in my soul.
2. I’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul.
I’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul.
3. I’ve got love like an ocean,
I’ve got love like an ocean,
I’ve got love like an ocean in my soul.
I’ve got love like an ocean,
I’ve got love like an ocean,
I’ve got love like an ocean in my soul.
I’m doing my own thing for today’s Song Lyric Sunday. The beautiful voice of Hillsong’s Taya Smith becomes a meditation in the middle of the song, transporting me to a place of trust, comfort, and faith. I hope it helps with whatever storm you may be facing.
Lyrics:
You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand
And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You’ve never failed and You won’t start now
So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
I will call upon Your name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine
Songwriters: Joel Houston / Matt Crocker / Salomon Ligthelm
In Trust the Timing, I write about my fear of falling in love again when my high school sweetheart comes back after 39 years. It was a gamble. I’d learned that people are on their best behavior when we’re just getting to know them (even for the second time), and the infatuation stage of romance had clouded my judgement in the past. As I started leaning toward taking one more chance on love, I sang the song, “Desperado” to myself, changing the words a little, like replacing queen of hearts with king of hearts, and “things that are pleasing you” with “fears that are teasing you.”
Desperado was written in 1973 by Don Henley and Glenn Lewis Frey. I originally wanted to share the Eagles version, but I do love Linda Ronstadt’s voice in this beautiful video.
Desperado, why don’t you come to your senses?
You been out ridin’ fences for so long now
Oh, you’re a hard one
I know that you got your reasons
These things that are pleasin’ you
Can hurt you somehow
Don’t you draw the queen of diamonds, boy
She’ll beat you if she’s able
You know the queen of hearts is always your best bet
Now it seems to me, some fine things
Have been laid upon your table
But you only want the ones that you can’t get
Desperado, oh, you ain’t gettin’ no younger
Your pain and your hunger, they’re drivin’ you home
And freedom, oh freedom well, that’s just some people talkin’
Your prison is walking through this world all alone
Don’t your feet get cold in the winter time?
The sky won’t snow and the sun won’t shine
It’s hard to tell the night time from the day
You’re losin’ all your highs and lows
Ain’t it funny how the feeling goes away?
Desperado, why don’t you come to your senses?
Come down from your fences, open the gate
It may be rainin’, but there’s a rainbow above you
You better let somebody love you (let somebody love you)
You better let somebody love you before it’s too late
Today’s theme is to post a duet. I’ve posted this one before, but it’s been at least a year.
When I was lonely, I used to sing this song in my backyard under the stars like bird calls to it’s mate. I believed my mate was out there somewhere, but I had no idea we’d already met.
Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight
Someone’s thinking of me and loving me tonight
Somewhere out there someone’s saying a prayer
That we’ll find one another in that dream somewhere out there
And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishin’ on the same bright star
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we’re sleeping underneath the same big sky
Somewhere out there, if love can see us through
Then we’ll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true
And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishin’ on the same bright star
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we’re sleeping underneath the same big sky
Somewhere out there, if love can see us through
Then we’ll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true
When I saw today’s theme was to share a song surrounding a happy memory, I wanted to find one from 1972, the year I fell in love for the first time. When I looked at the list for the top 100 songs from that year, there were so many good ones! But it was the sad songs I remembered best. In 1972, My first love moved 700 miles awayat the end of the school year. “Precious and Few,” by Bread, was bittersweet, and Harry Nilsson’s “Without You,” made me wail.
Then, I came across “I Can See Clearly Now,” by Johnny Nash. It didn’t make a big impression on me when it came out in 72, but it has brought me comfort and affirmation over the years.
In 2003, I had just broken free from the blinding rebound from hell and was on a freedom road trip with my almost teenage daughter. We sang a lot on road trips back then. When I taught her Helen Reddy’s “I am Woman,” she was not as enthusiastic as I’d hoped, but maybe that’s because I sang it at the top of my lungs. On our way home, a rainbow appeared in front of us, and the song, “I Can See Clearly Now” came to me. Or maybe it came on the radio. Anyway, it became my victory song for that year. It packs a powerful dose of hope.
Today, my physical eyesight is not so clear, but my spirit can see clearly that things work out wonderfully when the time is right. I am grateful beyond words.
Today’s theme for Song Lyric Sundayis about flowers. Helen, our gracious host, aYsked that we post a song with a flower in the title or lyrics. First, I want to share about my mother’s miracle flower.
When Mom was close to 80, she had this red, plastic flower in a small pot on the coffee table. She called it her miracle flower because he never had to water it. It stayed red and beautiful. Around that time, I’d read something about mental health being a dedication to reality at all costs. I was all serious business in those days and wanted my mom to be mentally healthy. So I told her something like, “I don’t know mom, I think this flower might be plastic.” She looked at me like I was crazy and insisted her flower was real. Then she changed the subject. To this day, I wish I’d joined my mom in celebrating her miracle flower. What would it have hurt? She only had a few more years to live.
My mom’s ditzy-ness embarrassed me when I was younger. I didn’t understand why some of my friends thought she was so sweet. Now, I get it. In the end, Mom’s faith was more important than whether a flower was real or plastic. So, before I post a flower song, I want to share this beautiful version of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” which was one of my mom’s favorites:
Remembering Mom’s song (and her faith) helped me during the lonely years. Maybe she planted a seed.
My flower song reminds me of my first love, a love that faded and became dormant but never died. It was like “a seed, that with the sun’s love, in the spring became a rose.”
(You can read more about my first love on my Work In Progress page.)
Helen was excited about her theme for today’s Song Lyric Sunday, and I can see why. Road trips! For today’s theme, we are asked to post our favorite road trip song or a song about road trips. I remember that sense of adventure when we’d get up before dawn to get a jump on the traffic. Ah the memories! Even packing can be exciting. Veering off the path a bit and taking the long way home, 😉 I’m sharing one of my all time favorites, one more time. This song by the Beatles became even more dear to me when my first love returned four decades later. I imagine it as part of the soundtrack if when my book becomes a movie.
“The Long and Winding Road,” by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
The long and winding road
That leads to your door
Will never disappear
I’ve seen that road before
It always leads me here
Lead me to you door
The wild and windy night
That the rain washed away
Has left a pool of tears
Crying for the day
Why leave me standing here
Let me know the way
Many times I’ve been alone
And many times I’ve cried
Any way you’ll never know
The many ways I’ve tried
But still they lead me back
To the long winding road
You left me waiting here
A long long time ago
Don’t leave me standing here
Lead me to your door
Today’s theme from Helen Espinosais to pick a song from the 80s.
“Time after Time,” written by Rob Hyman and Cyndi Lauper, came out in 1983 when my spirituality was just emerging. I realized later that the chorus could relate, not only to romantic love, but also to the divine, forever love of our creator.
If you’re lost you can look, and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you, I’ll be waiting
Time after time
You’ll find the lyrics in this “video” where Sarah Mclachlan joins Cyndi Lauper.
Anything is Possible! 