This is a song from the Iona Community in Heaven Shall Not Wait to be used in reference to the feeding of the 5000 pericope. It is set to KINGSFOLD a traditional tune used for many other hymns. I made anew backing but for some reason it won’t load so I’ll use an old backing I made years ago instead.
1 To him who walks among the crowds let’s show our gratitude:
We came to him a hungry mob, and his response was food.
This is the teacher well renowned for talk of sin forgiven.
Some prize his smile, some pull his robe, some say he comes from heaven.
2 Who are you, lean faced traveller whose words surpass all law,
Whose past was spent in industry with hammer, nails and saw?
Who are you, time served carpenter, now that you’ve changed your trade
To hosting casual lakeside feasts with food you never made?
3 But why the silent modesty, and why the shaking head?
You’re worth a thousand bakers for you multiply the bread!
We’ll make you king and gladly sing songs to re-tell your story.
So why not stay? Why move away? Do you refuse our glory?
4 There goes the man whose eyes can scan a crowd and tell their need.
There goes the one whose words we shun when keen to frown or feed.
He walks from here while people peer at his all-knowing face
Which speaks of how each one who stares has, in his heart, a place.
Words: John L. Bell & Graham Maule, copyright © 1987 Wild Goose Resource Group/ WGRG, Iona Community, Glasgow G2 3DH, Scotland. Melody: ‘KINGSFOLD’ English traditional. Websites: wgrg.co.uk & holycity-glasgow.co.uk