Seven Hillsides

All night I've wrestled Jacob's angels

And prayed with Matthew, Luke and John

Struggling to find the words you face the task

That comes upon the blood red dawn.

I've buried men before their time

Of alcohol and blackened lung

But how to bury seven of these

Appalachian miners sons.

Who stormed the beaches wave on wave,

And sailed home to these rocky graves

In family plots that bared their names.

Tomorrow I'll walk up, seven hillsides

Tremble before my flock on seven hillsides

Seven sorrows, seven sons, seven mothers and every one

Will turn to me for the word of God, what does this mean?

And there I'll stand good book in hand,

A shepherd to these precious lambs

What will I say, what will I say, what can I say?

To tell the truth I'd never thought much

About the will of God before.

Called to preach at seventeen

I was in love with fiery words and not much more.

The time has come to keep the faith

For others shattered by their loss.

Remind them of the loving God

Whose son like theirs paid the cost.

To save a sad and wicked world

Through sacrifice our love is heard

And pray that I believe those words.

Tomorrow I'll walk up, seven hillsides

Tremble before my flock on seven hillsides

Seven sorrows, seven sons, seven mothers and every one

Will turn to me for the word of God, what does this mean?