The title track from Kevin Bates‘s album, Whispers, was chosen for the Praise to God parish hymn book by the Dominican Fathers.
I can’t find any sheet music for this one and it isn’t listed on One Licence as far as I can see. It doesn’t look like anyone has taken over his website since his death and this may not be a Willow copyright like the others.
It’s more a personal reflection than a song for liturgy but he makes a good point that is more relevant now than forty years ago when he write it.
I made a backing:
1 Everybody has a story, everybody has a song.
Everybody has a people and somewhere to belong.
But some have lost their story and some forget their song.
Some don’t know where they’re going to ‘cos someone else forgot to sing along.
Chorus
But there’s whispers in their/our/my memory, pictures from the past.
What about the future? “Come to me and rest” they’ll/we’ll/I’ll hear at last.
2 Some people don’t remember, people cannot hear.
People have a time to beat and products to prepare.
We all enjoy our privacy, we all sing our own song.
But much too loud for harmony, we don’t need them to come and sing along.
Chorus
3 I sing too loud to hear the song that quiet moments sing.
I run too fast to notice what the silence has to bring.
I hear his voice impatiently, then I race on anyway.
I’m into sound not silence and I don’t need him to come and have his say.
Chorus
4 It sounds a sorry story, it sounds a broken song.
And it sounds as if we’re frightened and we’ve nowhere to belong.
But listen to the gentle voice that from the silence springs
And hear the Spirit calling as a people comes to life creation sings.
Chorus
© 1985 Kevin Bates SM