OH ETHIOPIA
patience patience her time will come
broken queen of sheba a promise written on her bones africa arise she will show them what she knows I saw a vision and it won’t let me go patience patience she will reap all that she sows
sing out from mount entoto where the teff grass grows high and the barley burns in the hands of black widows
where the children laugh and stain the land with hope and a future yet unknown patience patience they shall reap what they sow
preparing the land for a great harvest deep roots will penetrate the virgin land she has been waiting for a lover to come pure and forgiven
christ took the debt bloodshed on the mountain holy water won’t heal the wounds but the scarred hands of love will make all things new
we are the hands and feet reaching out to the forgotten many creased skin and hollow eyes small peaking portals to a sky
light spews through the cracks good news carried for miles on her back fire wood, bricks, candles and stone she fights her way she fights all alone
this is where the women cry then wipe their salt away with a smile shackles on their twisted ankles heirs of a lost heritage now they come to claim back a royal mess but it returns as a message a fragmented gospel a woman by the well beggars hands turn to blessing the land rejoices in her kiss
this is where the untouchables unite where they kneel and go to pray god hears their song while the priests push them away high on a mountain close to heavens eye sleep brings solace on the dirty ground they lie in a mud hut their temples rise out of the dust
‘don’t lay your hands on us’ they cry hush hush sisters we softly proclaim the face of grace holds no condemnation no one will break the bond of mother ethiopia and her children of god apple of queen sheba’s eye emperor’s descendants africa’s delight
this is where the first woman rose from the ancient homo sapien throne we are the hands and the feet once primitive and mute now alive and speaking truth justice held inside a shaking fist let it pour out from the holy eucharist see the veil is now torn and all are called to break bread and step out from the shadows now there are no gates and no walls
oh ethiopia cradle of mankind womb of humanity gods very own spine
she breaks but is not broken a new seed is soon to grow patience patience she will reap what she has sown
beggars hands turn to blessing they will lead her to the new morrow the stones and trees will cry out if we do not singing will burst out from the sorrow so let us lift voices and write a glory song be not troubled for hope is here
africa arise there are new children to bear for now there is no male no female no black no white only love in the body of a broken christ
patience patience her time has come no longer will she be wronged this war has been won now follow in the footsteps of a people strong ancient, proud, where you belong beggars hands turn to blessing the eye that see’s becomes the heart that knows soon she will reap all that she has sown
join voices from mount entoto sing loud across the land redemption redemption from the dust and the sand glory has been bestowed queen of sheba shines on the land of scorched faces carrying torches to the cross the burden of a hundred generations
oh ethiopia the broken bride veiled in a vision and a promise justice inside that shaking fist heartbeat of the pulsing river Nile from the summit of pain births a new bloodline no longer does she live in shame
we are the hands and the feet this is where we come to speak to touch and place our fingers in the palms and reach through the wounded holes find new beauty out of the burning charcoal
sweet ethiopia a promise has begun a good work started and a war that will be won africa arise beggars hands turn to blessing lead us out of the corrupt and the carnal mind send us a spirit not of division but of one one love one sun a shining light for the world
oh ethiopia the beautiful broken queen she is calling she is rising we join hands and sing from mount entoto glory glory shine on we sing for the children so the story shall be known
Thank you.
