The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #38859   Message #3159512
Posted By: Genie
24-May-11 - 12:03 AM
Thread Name: New Songs for 9-11-2001
Subject: RE: New Songs for 9-11-01
This video is a very informal recording. Rather sloppy, in fact. (The last chorus should say "... tears in our eyes .., " not "dust in our eyes," for example.)
But it does show how the melody and lyrics fit together.

The lyrics posted earlier in this thread represent an earlier stage in the evolution of this song.

Video: "Valley Of The Towering Shadows"

VALLEY OF THE TOWERING SHADOWS
(R. Jeanene Pratt © 2001, 2002

On our journey to the promised land, /
Ambushed by an unseen outlaw band, /
Most of us survived, but so many fell that day, /        
Many sisters, brothers perished in the fray. /

In shock, anguish, terror and dread, /
Vision blurred -- couldn't see the road ahead -- /
We knew it was a crossroads; nothing more was clear. /
Couldn/t find our way through the smoke and our tears. /  

    
Could we make it through the Valley of the Shadow? /
Could we move ahead in spite of all our fears? /
Could we feel beyond the hate?  Could we see our way clear? /                
Could we reach beyond our rage,  see the way through our tears? /

Wed been living in a garden, rich beyond compare. /
Some had called it the promised land and wanted to stay there. /                           
But there is no promised land when there is want outside the wall  /             
And the dream is "liberty and justice for all, /      

So we said, "Even through the Valley Of the Shadow, /
Well move a-head in spite of fear--  /      
Dust in our eyes, eyes on the prize,   /        
The promised land worth all our toil and tears."/         
                    
Then the  skyline on fire, the smoke and the screams,  /            
Buildings crumbling with untold hearts and dreams!   /   
Some of us were cowering, frozen in our tracks. /  
Many cried for vengeance!    Some   said we   must turn back. /         
 

Through The Valley Of the Towering Shadows, /
Could we move ahead in   spite of all our fears? /
Could we feel beyond the hate?  Could we see our way clear, /  
Reach beyond our rage,  See the way through our tears? /

Now, once more we're moving, anger justified, /         
Assured that God is   on our   side, /                
But have we got our bearings enough to comprehend /
Just where we're going, where it all might end? /

Is the garden now the Valley Of The Shadow?   /    
Will tomorrow be hostage to fear?  /     
Are we guided more by hate or by all that we hold dear? /
Can we channel this rage, see the way through our tears? /

Yes,  even through The Valley Of The Shadow, /
We'll move ahead in  spite of fears.  /      
Tears in our eyes,  eyes on the prize, /          
The promised land, the   hope of all the years. /
Tears in our eyes,  eyes on the prize,   /              
The promised land, the hope   of all the years. /     Valley Of The Towering Shadows YouTube recording, with one mistake in the lyrics of the last verse.