I WILL BE WITH YOU ALWAYS

Once I was as ugly as a harpy-bitten tree And every voice within me spoke, "You will be never be free" Once I was as ugly as a harpy-bitten tree But today I am as perfect as a single blade of grass Because I am free In the night, I was beset with demons I know all their names, but cannot speak them Their grinning teeth split the darkness and I said "I know your name, take your teeth out of me Return my body to me, release me, release me, release me Release me, release me" My tears soaked my bed The blood of many wounds soaked my bed The sweat of many fears soaked my bed And I begged, "Release me, release me, release me" And sinner-friend, I heard that voice sweet as a bright bell It spoke to me and said, sweet as a bright bell "I will always be with you, I will be with you always" And I spat "Who are you?, some demon?, do I know your name?" And the voice replied "I am the one heralded by seven trumpets, have you not heard? I claim no thing and no thing can claim me But I am yours, and you are mine, for this hour, you are free" And I said, "Demon, release me" "I cannot release you, for you are already free I made you as perfect as a single blade of grass Have you not seen?" And the voice spoke, sweet as a bright bell "I will always be with you, I will be with you always" And so I sit at the table of God And my garment is woven from the stars And the leaves that fend from the trees, that unfurl into heaven In my hair are lilies, and in my throat are pearls And when I walk the streets of gold with naked feet All this was promised and came to be And so, sinner-friend, lay your burdens down The night is not yours alone to carry Take my hand, for in the darkness And I will speak to you what you have spoke unto me "I will always be with you, I will be with you always" "I will always be with you, I will be with you always"