Good & Evil

 It is not because angels are holier than men or devils that makes them angels, but because
 they do not expect holiness from one another, but from God only. 

 William Blake (1757-1827), English poet, painter, engraver. 
A Vision of the Last Judgement
     (1810; repr. in Complete Writings, ed. by Geoffrey Keynes, 1957). 

  The Columbia Dictionary of Quotations is licensed from Columbia University Press. Copyright © 1993, 1995 
by Columbia University Press. 
All rights reserved. 

He fell to his knees and he cried out for mercy
Heart-felt confessionals to an angry mob
But vengeance was theirs as they bellowed for justice
"Death to the man who has sinned against God"

I joined in the chant feeling so high and mighty
Pointing the finger from up on my throne
'Til I looked in his tears and I caught my reflection
And I knew that I could not cast the first stone

Let the gavel fall slowly tho' truth's been revealed
Sequester the jury for a moment to feel
And in the courts of compassion I hope we can appeal
To the better angels of our nature
To the better angels of our nature

I walked along on my soft streets of plenty
She walked the alleys of anguish and need
While clutching my greed I was struck by a vision
But for the grace of God, that could be me
And we gather in chambers of lofty ideals
Still debating the giving when handed the bill
But in the congress of kindness I hope that we can yield
To the better angels of our nature
To the better angels of our nature

Angels of mercy-angels of light
Angels of darkness-angels of might
Angels with voices that whisper so clear
Who do I lean to?
Who do I hear?

We are building our world with a fevered emotion
While trying to keep it from coming apart
But as we reach for the dream can we still reach within us
We won't have the hope if we don't have the heart

'Cause we've tossed in the gale of a moral decline
As we drink from the grail of society's wine
But at humanities table I hope we choose to dine
With the better angels of our nature
With the better angels of our nature

     This tale of family meltdown takes an
          operatic form which starts with a Tragic
             Overture, followed by Act I, "The Betrayal,"
         (listen for the murderous breezes as the
            sisters walk on the windy shore) and Act II,
            "The Wedding." Vocals, guitar, percussion,
     hammered dulcimer, pennywhistles,
           woodwinds, piano (Charlie), Celtic harp.

       There was a lady on the North Sea shore,
       Two daughters were the babes she bore.
   As one grew bright as in the sun,
   So coal black grew the other one.

  A knight came riding up to their door
Lay the bend to the bonnie broom
 He travelled far to be their wooer
Fa la la la la la la, la la la

    He courted one with gloves and rings,
 He loved the other above all things.

     "Oh, sister, come take a walk with me
      And we will watch the ships at sea."
         But as they walked on the windy shore,
     The dark girl threw her sister o'er.

           Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam,
          Crying, "Sister reach to me your hand.
     Oh sister, sister let me live!
       And all that's mine I will surely give."

     "It's your own true love I shall have and more
     And thou shall never walk ashore."
    And so she floated like a swan,
      The dark sea bore her body on.

  Two minstrels walked along the strand
      And watched the maiden float to land.
      They made a harp out of her breast bone
That would melt a heart of stone.

      They took three strands of her golden hair
       And with them strung the harp so rare.
 They took it down to her father's hall
To play the harp before them all.

         But as they laid it upon a stone,
           The harp began to play alone.
            The first string sang with a doleful sound,
            "The bride her younger sister drowned!"

         The second string as that they tried,
            In terror sits the dark-haired bride.
           The third string sang out so sad and low,
            "And now at last my tears shall flow..."