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Canticle of the Turning

from Free by wade baynham

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This is ‘Mary’s Song’ that some traditions call ‘the Magnificat,’ from Luke 1. The lyrics are set to a beautiful traditional Irish melody, and it is a song of humility and surprise, of wonder and joy, of vision and judgement. And it’s not the kind of judgement that we can read from the top, from the position of power and wealth. She sings this from the bottom, from her point of view-- a pregnant teen with few resources, facing scandalous gossip around her marital status. And yet, her song stems from the hope and conviction that God was at work in her-- in the life to be born through her, who would begin to bring the world in line with the values of God-- help for the poor, food for the hungry, the hope for downcast, healing for the crushed, freedom for those in prison, mercy for the penitent and yes, justice for perpetrators.

In the original version, the verse begins with Mary’s perspective of her smallness and God’s greatness. I love that version, but for this version, on this record, at this time I wanted to start with the ‘halls of power’ and the justice of God that will tear tyrants from their throne --reminding us that they will not have the final say, or hold the final power. Love, grace and freedom from perpetrators will rule the day for all who want to participate. My heart does sing for that day, and my daily hope and prayer is to participate with that here and now as much as I possibly can.

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from Free, released April 18, 2021
Words by Rory Cooney Music: Irish traditional ‘Star of the County Down’

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wade baynham Durham, North Carolina

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