The section of the songbook Heaven Shall Not Wait called “Jesus, One of Us” contains songs that relate to particular episodes in the life of Christ. This one is a dialogue song involving the calling of the disciples and could be used whenever that relates to the readings or tangentially for commissioning.
It is set to SCARBOROUGH FAIR so the tune will be well known at least.
1 “James and Andrew, Peter and John, men of temper, talent and tide,
Your nets are empty, empty and bare. Cast them now on the opposite side.”
2 “Jesus, you’re only a carpenter’s son: joints and joists are part of your trade,
But ours the skill to harvest the deep. Why presume to come to our aid?”
3 “Friends of mine and brothers through love, I mean more than fishing for food.
I call your skill to service my will, cast your lives to harvest the good.”
4 “Stir then the waters, Lord, stir up the wind. Stir the hope that needs to be stretched.
Stir up the love that needs to be ground, stir the faith that needs to be fetched.”
5 James and Andrew, Peter and John and the girls who walked by his side,
Hear how the Lord calls each by their name asking all to turn like the tide.
Words: John L. Bell & Graham Maule, copyright © 1987 Wild Goose Resource Group/ WGRG, Iona Community, Glasgow G2 3DH, Scotland. Melody: ‘SCARBOROUGH FAIR’ Irish traditional. Websites: wgrg.co.uk & holycity-glasgow.co.uk