This is another narrative folk sing about the life of Christ from John Bell and the Iona Community in Heaven Shall Not Wait. I have been noting that you can buy the book of the sheet music from Wild Goose, but it might be easier and cheaper from GIA.
I saw a note on the internet joking (I hope) that the song was about someone called “Howard King”.
This is set to THE BONNIE LASS O’ FYVIE. This is apparently so well known that they only provide the melody line so I made up some chords. Bell hates too much accompaniment and here suggests a just a fife and drum. No luck there.
1 We proudly sing of how a king forfeited fame and security:
Born and brought up unknown, a manger for his throne,
And they called him a victim of obscurity.
2 In faith he grew, in wisdom too, learning and loving with every breath;
He served his time and trade, as furniture he made,
And they called him the carpenter of Nazareth.
3 Twelve friends he called were soon involved sharing his mission to shire and slum;
He healed the sick and sad, he helped the poor and mad,
And they called him the man who made the kingdom come.
4 For doing good, for where he stood, rumours were spread of the worst intent;
His critics, unimpressed, disparaged those he blessed,
And they called him a threat to the establishment.
5 Cruel and detached, a plot they hatched, leading to death on the gallows tree;
Those who his grace had seen refused to intervene,
And they called him the dross of all humanity.
6 And yet we sing – this is the king who neither death nor deceit can kill.
By rising to forgive, he sets us free to live
And he calls us to be his friends and followers still.
Words: John L. Bell & Graham Maule, copyright © 1987 Wild Goose Resource Group/ WGRG, Iona Community, Glasgow G2 3DH, Scotland. Melody: ‘The Bonnie Lass O’ Fyvie’, Scots traditional. Websites: wgrg.co.uk & holycity-glasgow.co.uk