I began writing this song shortly after the 9-11-01 attacks and have modified both the tune and the lyrics a great deal since I posted the earliest versions of the song.
Some earlier versions are posted here Help: 9-11 and here Valley of The Shadow.These are the current lyrics and chords. I have also put in measure markings (which I had not posted earlier) to help give a feel for the rhythm of the words.
I have an MP3 of the song, but since I stupidly sang the song 3 consecutive times (trying out different keys) on the same MP3, the file is 15 MB, so I haven't been able to send it to anyone. (I don't know how to cut out a portion of an MP3 and "paste" it into or transfer to another MP3.) But I did make sheet music for the song using Finale NotePad (which can be downloaded free ---for Mac or Windows -- from Coda Music Technologies). I can send that via email to anyone upon request. I will post a MIDI as soon as I figure out how to do that.
Genie
VALLEY OF THE TOWERING SHADOWS
words and music by Jeanene Pratt ©2001, 2002; All rights reserved.
(sheet music available upon request via email -- geniesings@yahoo.com)(2/4 time - moderate pace)
G F C D
On our / journey / to the promised / land, /
G Em C D
Ambushed by an / unseen / outlaw / band, /
Em Am
Most of us sur- / vived, but so / many fell that / day,
D D7 C D G
Many / sisters, / brothers / perished in the / fray. /F C F G
In / shock, / anguish, / terror and / dread, /
G Em C D
Vision / blurred -- couldnÕt / see the road a- / head--,
Em Am D
We / knew it was a / crossroads; / nothing more was / clear. /
D C D G
CouldnÕt find our / way through the/ smoke / and our / tears. / /G F G
Through The /Valley Of the / Towering / Shadows, /
G# G D D7
Could we / move ahead in / spite of our / fears? /
Em Am
Could we / feel beyond the / hate? Could we / see our way / clear?
D D7 C D7 G
Could we / reach beyond our / rage, / See the way through our / tears? /(repeat melody of last line of chorus instrumentally)
G F C D
WeÕd been / living in a / garden, / rich beyond com- / pare. /
G Em C D7
Some had / called it the / promised land and / wanted to stay / there. /
Em Am
But there / is no promised / land when there is / want outside the / wall
D D7 C D G
And the / dream is / "liberty and / just-i- / ice* for / all,Ó / / /G F G
So we said, / ÒEven through the / Valley Of the / Shadow,
G# G D7
WeÕll / move a- / head in spite of / fear-- / /
Em Am
Dust in our / eyes, / eyes on the / prize--
D C D7 G
The / promised land worth / all our toil and / tears.Ó / / /F C F G G
Then the / skyline on / fire, the / smoke and the / screams! / /
Em C D7
Buildings / crumbling / with our hearts and / dreams!/ /
Em Am
Now / some of us are / cowering, / frozen in our / tracks. /
D D7 C D G
Many cry for / vengeance! / Some / say we / must turn / back. / /
G F G
Through The /Valley Of The / Towering / Shadows, /
G# G D7
Can we / move ahead in / spite of all our / fears? /
Em Am
Can we / feel beyond the / hate? Can we / see our way / clear, /
D D7 C D7 G
Reach beyond our / rage, / See the way / through our / tears? /(Repeat melody of last two lines of chorus instrumentally.)
G F C D
Now, once more we're / moving, / anger justi- / fied,
G Em C D7
As- / sured that / God is / on our / side, /
Em Am D
But / have we got our / bearings e- / nough to compre- / hend /
D7 C D G
Just where we're / going, / where / it all might / end? /G F G
Is the / garden now the / Valley Of The / Shadow? /
G# G D7
Will to- / morrow be / hostage to / fear? /
Em Am
Are we / guided more by / hate or by / all we hold so / dear?*
D D7 C D7 G
Can we / channel this / rage, see the / way / through our / tears? /G F G
Yes, / even through The /Valley Of The / Shadow, /
G# G D7
We'll / move a- / head in spite of / fears. / /
Em Am
Tears in our / eyes, / Eyes on the / prize, /
D C D7 G
The / promised land, the / hope of all the /years.
Em Am
Tears in our / eyes, / Eyes on the / prize, / /
D C D7 G
The / promised land, / the hope / of all the / years. / / /-------------
* With each measure getting 2 beats, the word "justice" uses 3 beats and the word "for" uses one.
**Alternate lyrics:
¥Verse four: "Then our world crashed down, as from a great earthquake, Would our faith
now shatter like the buildings in its wake."
¥Next to last chorus: "Are we greater than this hate? Will the dream again be clear?
Genie
(Unless I post a correction , please assume that the post survived the transmission with the chords staying where they belong.)