A concert by Wendy Chappell-Dick and the Anabaptist Singers, presenting the direct words and hymns of the martyrs through contemporary song settings. Just as the founders of the Mennonite faith used well-known secular tunes to share their message, we are using musical genres from English folk songs to 80s Rock and Roll to give new layers of meaning to the texts from the 1500s.
Scroll down to hear the songs and read the lyrics
The collection of early Dutch music on the CD De tijd van de martelaren by Camerate Trajectina includes some obscure stories of Anabaptists that are not well known, along with others which are referenced in The Martyr’s Mirror. Wendy Chappell-Dick’s arrangements of the translations from Dutch to English by Gary K. Waite in the liner notes of that CD, answer questions about what early Anabaptist martyrs were thinking, writing, talking and singing about, to each other, and to the world.
Guitar Accompaniment: Jeffrey Yoder
Blffton Icon News Release 9/26/17
Wendy Chappell-Dick and the Anabaptist singers to share new approach to martyr songs
BLUFFTON, Ohio—When Wendy Chappell-Dick, a 2008 graduate of Bluffton University’s MBA program, was in high school she saw the “Mirror of the Martyrs” exhibit for the first time on campus. As an adult, she is unveiling a unique approach to learning about Anabaptist martyrs during the exhibit’s second visit to campus.
“I remember the exhibit being very impactful, and I loved it,” said Chappell-Dick. “The exhibit probably sparked my lifelong interest in the martyrs because of how moving it is.”
Chappell-Dick and several other members of the Bluffton community will perform “Grace to You and Peace: Voices of the Martyrs,” at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15 in Yoder Recital Hall. Over the last few months, Chappell-Dick has taken translated Anabaptist martyr ballads and set them to contemporary tunes—from camp songs to folk music.
“Some of the songs are about martyrs we’ll see in the exhibit, but others are stories we haven’t heard before. There are stories that didn’t make it into the “Martyrs Mirror,” and that’s one thing that’s so exciting. We’re telling stories that are being rediscovered,” explained Chappell- Dick.
Chappell-Dick uncovered several of the original Martyr songs after listening to a CD from a Dutch group that had performed on campus. The group happened to have recorded a whole album of obscure songs of Anabaptists martyrs, and they were translated into English.
“At first I thought, this is great. I’m a musician. I can sing some of these songs,” said Chappell- Dick.
However, the songs were from the 1500s and sounded like medieval chants. “It was all very boring to me, and I was like forget that,” laughed Chappell-Dick. “Then I noticed that most of the songs had an inscription at the beginning that said this song should be set to the tune of ‘Little Red Rose in Full Bloom’ or ‘The Water Nymph and Her Love.’ These were secular songs that people knew, and they were using these tunes and putting words to them that described their stories. I realized we could do that again and use tunes that people can relate to today to deliver their stories in a new way.”
So, over the last few months, Chappell-Dick has been reading the words to the songs, meditating on them and waiting to see what current songs came to mind. She then rewrote the martyr ballads to fit the meter of the contemporary tunes.
Chappell-Dick currently has more than 20 songs adapted for the debut show at Bluffton University, and nearly a dozen community members will join her on stage as the Anabaptist Singers.
“We’re doing this in a folk-style tradition so not everyone is a trained musician. These stories are based on a wide range of experiences so I want them to be sung by a wide range of people and voices.”
The songs tell dramatic stories but surprisingly few are actually about martyrs dying for their faith. Instead, the songs talk about the connections people have to their families and community or what life was like in the 1500s. For example, there is a song where a father explains his life philosophy to his son and another that is a conversation between a women whose baby has died and her friends in which they talk about the nature of grief. Chappell-Dick explained that about half are filled with religious content but all provide social history of the time and place.
“One thing that has been so moving to me is that these people come from a completely different world than me, but they were eyewitnesses to events and the songs were written so people would remember what happened. We’re still remembering, and that’s very powerful,” said Chappell-Dick. “These stories are still moving to us, and we are still living their stories.”
The performance by Wendy Chappell-Dick and the Anabaptist Singers is one of several special events that coincides with the “Mirror of the Martyrs” exhibition at Bluffton University from Oct. 1-Nov. 5. For a full schedule of events, visit http://www.bluffton.edu/arts/mirror/
LYRICS:
Loyal Friends, A Welcome Song
Originally sung to the tune “Susanna one day”
Now to the tune of “Wexford Carol:”
Loyal Friends,
Here one and all
A loving greeting do I call
And at this time I bid you come
A liberal heart, good favor sum
Oh tis so sweet
To be gathered here
As balm flows down from head to beard
Flowing down upon his clothes
Illustrious Christ, who we do know
He gave his life
To set us free
His members all, unsparingly
With spirit, nature, all as one
Christ offers holy disposition
Be Gracious! Bless us
Originally The Sixty-seventh Psalm. A Psalm, a song, for the choirmaster, on Neginoth
To the tune of “Sanctuary:”
Oh Lord,
Be gracious, bless us
With the most comforting light
Incline your lovely face upon us
Our hearts in earnest, Oh God
All the peoples,
Tongues and races
Let a rising in their hearts
All born of Earth, let them be nourished
By a reverence in their thoughts
So rejoicing and exalted
We shout your name so merrily
On your commandments esteem your glory
As we walk your path with thee
If you want to be a warrior
A summons to fight against the world not with spear and a sword but with spiritual weapons such as the truth, the faith, and God’s word.
Originally to the tune “A Knight and a young maiden”
Now to the tune of “Soldier, Soldier won’t you marry me?”
If you want to be a warrior
A soldier, God’s own knight
Mark yourself and arm yourself
You must learn to struggle and fight
Chorus:
For we fight not in flesh and blood
But we fight against the power of the world
We fight against the power of the world
We must fight openly
Emperors, great princes and kings
With hearts as cold as ice
We battle til it means our death
Raising up the banner of Christ
Therefore stand, be pious in the fight
Gird your loins with truth and grace
Put on the armor, good and sincere
And his righteousness embrace
Take up your faith and wear it as a shield
Against the devil’s hate and wrong
Use it to extinguish and still
All his arrows, sharp and long
Place the helmet bravely on your head
Salvation through the word of God
Prepare to triumph over enemies
In the battle against all odds
I, Poor Sheep
A song by someone who escaped the persecution and has gone into exile. A spiritual contrafact to a love song with a similar beginning; “I poor lamb on the pasture; to where shall I go? My love desires to leave me, which causes me many tears.”
Now to the tune “Another you have found to lie with you, my love”
I poor sheep on the green pasture, wherefore shall I go?
I must part from friends and family upon my soul
Abandon self to Christ; it brought me grief and strife
This time the world’s frivolity’s no use to me
The wolves will tear me up, they’re thirsting for my blood
But they shall not succeed because the Lord my God
Has delivered me from Pharaoh I am free
And I will directly do as Abraham had done.
I wonder foreign lands until an unknown day
The wolves have eaten, but their hunger did not satiate
They are to blame for that, they are so angry, and I went
In disgrace where I shall live, oh God, help me forgive.
In Bitterness of the Soul
A song about an anonymous martyr in the town of Veurne in Western-Flanders. His pregnant wife died of grief.
Originally sung to the tune “With a Sad Song”
Now sung to the tune “Matthew”
In bitterness of the soul
I complain in misery
The friends who I have seen destroyed
Who confess God openly:
Many have paid for heavenly bread
Their blood is flowing red
The Pharasical rogues
Bring most of them to death
They say he was good-natured
Though no one knew his name
He died and he suffered
And confessed the Lord’s word plain
Chorus
(he said)
The Kingdom of God shall come to me
For he has promised that
Confessing God’s word openly
In the prison where he sat
He wrote these sweet words of comfort
For he dearly loved his wife
She was carrying his baby
And he was frightened for her life
He said: My love, my flesh and blood,
Disregard what they do
As you rely upon God’s spirit
It shall go well with you
Chorus
After seven brutal beatings
He drew in his last breath
But they ordered him beheaded
To complete a martyr’s death
All the people in the city
Cried til streets filled up with tears
And they told the martyr’s story
The word of God spread through the years
Chorus
His poor pregnant wife
Raised her sorrow in a cry
And the fruit within her withered
As both of them did die
Oh this heavy bitter suffering
Such as we can hardly bear
Lord, avenge us in your mercy
For your martyrs, strong and fair
He who is Continual in Amusement
Against those who unnecessarily dissipate money.
Originally to the tune of “Hey! How brightly shines the moon or “Certainly, you have lost the game”
Now to the tune of “Old Joe Clark” in a minor key:
He who is continual in amusement
Always hums quite joyfully no matter where he went
A lazy man who sits around, never with idle jaws
He brags and brags about himself but doesn’t see his flaws
Chorus:
The ant, that creature of a wiser nature
Gathers in the summertime
The ant, that creature of a wiser nature
Saves for the wintertime
You know, he don’t torment himself ‘bout money he doesn’t earn
But warbles on his old banjo and plays a lusty tune
He warbles on continually, then turns around and weeps
&No one knows if he gets bored with company he keeps
Chorus
Little beasts that hop in the overgrown reeds and sing in the summer grass
You never see them back again as long as the winter lasts
He who will bring his days to end without such misery
He must learn from the ant’s view and see what he can see
Chorus
Always now and always then, no hunger will harm him
A wise man now, and a wise man, then, his future won’t be dim
Now let us sing (a song of blessing)
To the tune of “Now let us sing”
Now let us sing
Sing out a song of blessing
Now let us sing
Make our hearts open to your praise
To sanctify
To sanctify
With thankful tongue
With thankful tongue
Oh Lord, you give us reasons for praising you!
Oh Most High
Most high, we honor your name
Oh Most High
Let the instruments increase our joy
Oh let us dance
Oh let us dance
Make our feet light
Make our feet light
On account of all the wonders which you do!
Come ask me why
If someone asks for a reason
Come ask me why
For everyone’s rejoyicing
Our enemies
Our enemies
They now retreat
They now retreat
Our enemies have fallen!
Were they destroyed
Along with all who were with them
Were they destroyed
With a keen sword or a sharp dart?
Not with the power
Not with the power
Which comes from this
Which comes from this
But with the Lord’s strength none can resist!
When David Joris Because of Treasure
(or, An Anabaptist Love Story)
Originally sung to the tune “When the sun drives its horses”
To the tune of “One Tin Soldier”
When David Joris, because of treasure
Which he had received from God
Could find no place to live or rest
He was vigorously hunted and oppressed
His love, her name was Dirkje Willems
Side by side they had to flee
Now apart, and then together
Which made them both sigh frequently
Chorus
They journeyed on together to a land of breathing space
An Anabaptist love story time cannot erase
No amount of persecution could make them doubt their faith
God showed them his favor
When together they escaped.
They never knew which direction
They would have to separate
Each hoping for a path to freedom
And Dirkje went to Utrecht
She was not there for many days
But was captured while she caught her breath
And the sword was wetted for her
With many calling for her death
Many lords were not as harsh
When dealing with the rebel band
As a certain Suffragen Bishop
Many died at his command
The ultimatum which he gave her
Never did he live to see
Death felled him like a mighty tree trunk
Before he brought her to her grief
This also happened to a Procurator
Who tried to place her in the Hague
He was slow and clumsy and lost his prisoner
By dying suddenly on the way!
After this she was granted freedom
And she went back to her home
Thanking God, so gracious to her
That from a bitter death she’d roamed
When David Joris in trepidation
First heard of her situation
There circulated fast a rumor
That Dirkje had a martyr been
But he learned later in jubilation
That his love was still alive
And, released, he quickly raced
To come back home, right to her side
Thus was the lot of this dear pair
To be gifted with the cross
And they went to live in Basil
Joyfully, without a loss
Tobias Who was Preparing to Die
Originally to the tune “Venus goddess of love, & c”
Now to the tune of “Tell me Why”
Tobias, who was preparing to die
Called to his son and told him why
My dear child, hear my words in full
And listen to them with approval
When God takes away my soul
Bury my body in a grave so low
Take care of your mother for all her days
And bury her too, beside my grave
Think of your God, where ‘ere you be
Help all the poor industriously
If you have much, give much away
And do your work well, living day to day
Do not give pride a place to start
In your speech or in your heart
From the first, it will cause you pain
And poison the promises you gain
And everyone who works for you
Give them good wages for what they do
Do not hold back, and don’t delay
Or boldly cut the wage you pay
Clothe the naked with your own clothes
Be generous to all of those
Who have not God, nor saving faith
Unbury their hearts to abiding grace
Always thank God, pray in accord
And glorify your risen Lord
He will reign over you powerfully
And for his will, your plans will be
Oh God, you are my good helper: The Ballad of Martha Baerts The Maid
To my sister Betken. A lovely Spiritual song, made by Martha, the maidservant of Lady Soetken vanden Houten.
A song by Martha Baerts, maid of the well- known martyr Soetken van den Houte. The latter was executed in Ghent in 1560. In her song, Martha tells how her former friends from Oudenaarde blamed her for assuming the new faith. She has given herself up to the law.
Originally to the tune of “Blessed is he who fears God”
Now to the tune “They Don’t know ‘Bout us:”
Oh God you are my helper and my aid
Deliver me from the eternal pain
Oh Lord, protect me from the dragon’s claws
The torture chamber and the devil’s jaws
Chorus:
The evil world despises me
My friends likewise advise me
To depart from faith
But I will not abate
The flesh gives me so much torment still
Through its opposition to the Good Lord’s will
Oh Lord, remember me
I’m giving you my body
The tempters torment me so urgently
To depart from what God’s teaching me
I do not believe them
For they seek to make me dumb
Chorus
They say I’ll burn in an eternal flame
Lose the Kingdom of God, which is my gain
I tell them- judgement don’t belong to you
My God will avenge the evil that you do!
The Lord delivers and strengthens me
Throughout all generations works mightily
Neighbors, remember the Lord of Hosts
He will rescue you when you need it most
Chorus
They tell me no one else is worse than me
As wicked as wicked I will always be
They didn’t capture me through might or stealth
But like my mistress before me, I gave up myself
I Heard a Maiden Singing
Dialogue between a maiden and the Devil. The maiden is the bride of Christ (the believers, the church). She sings a song of praise for her Bridegroom. The song is interrupted by the devil, who deceivers her. However, the maiden remains faithful to her Bridegroom.
Originally to the tune “Good God, to whom shall I complain”
Now sung to the tune “Little Mattie Groves:”
[Singer]
I heard a maiden singing, singing with such sweet sound
That it made me think that she must be the Bride of the Canticles
I stood there for a long, long time and listened to her sing
Such a lovely voice, she sang her choice of thanks to her Bridegroom
[Maiden]
Praise glory laud & honor
I owe to you
My God, my Lord, that you care for me
I call you my Bridegroom
By meekly suffering you defeated Babylon
And if we wish to rejoice with you
We also must take her on
Secrecy is Babel’s name
For those who have ears to hear
She is pleasant toward the world but angry toward those
Who face her without fear
My Bridegroom is a comin’ soon
And his will be done
He will damn you, Babylon
With the sword of his mouth and his tongue
[Devil]
Shut up! Shut up! You so-called Bride
Daughter of Zion
I will make you bow, no matter how
Bold and brave you run
I am from Saturn’s race, I change the day time into night
I torment the innocent
With my love the Antichrist
I’m exalted up to heaven, above all rich kings
I sit upon a camel’s back, a dragon ruling things
Just like a frog upon the lake
So does my Beast rule over this view
Woman, “Bride,” hold your tongue
Or Antichrist will harm you
[Maiden]
Who can stop, oh who can stop
Me from singing my Bridegroom’s praise
Who above all estates is so rich and mighty of days?
For he alone is the Living God, his promises will be kept
Although I am in sorrow now
It’s joy that I expect!
[Singer]
Around midnight, a sweet voice called –
Stand up! Be on guard
Receive the Bridegroom and the Bride
For Babel now must fall
Fall, along with Antichrist
The Devil who had her fooled
Fall, along with the false prophets
Into a fiery pool
The Cranky Ship, Battered by the Storm
The seventeenth Psalm, a prayer of David
Now to the tune “Jesus, won’t you come by here:”
Cranky ship, battered from the storm
In the sea of the world’s stupidity
Bobbing upon a faint trust
When hope becomes
Weak & weaker still
Prayer to God furnishes the anchor well
Whereby the soul can keep on
Hearken oh God, hearken to my prayer
The petition of my righteousness!
Oh let my cry not slip out of your ear
Ascend my prayer, sincere, to you
My Dear Child I must Leave You
A mother laments the death of her child and is in despair. Her dialogue partner comforts her with the thought that it is the will of the good God.
Lamentation and comfort originally sung to the tune “Of the ten commandments” or the first Psalm in the Old Psalmbook
Now sung to the tune “The Ash Grove”
[Lamenter]
Sear child I must leave you, your death has gnawed through you
Your life shone in my heart, but death torments me more
[Comforter]
My friend, why do you lament so o’er that which must be so?
Death’s plague comes from God who has never done wrong
[Lamenter]
Can I not weep justly, alone will I grow old
My life and my joy gone, these tears bear my pain
The scent of the bloom snatched away far too soon
My beautiful flower so hastily plucked
[Comforter]
Whatever arrives mortal, then mortal it must be so
You’ve borne a mortal child, and God taketh his own
Whether early or late, though, you know it must be so
God does not promise time, but a loan he provides
[Lamenter]
Oh soul cease your weeping, accept as good what God’s sending
Lord, carry my weakness and bring me under your tent
[Comforter]
This is the direction, give God your attention
He’ll bless you, eternal with rest and with peace
Know this if you can, you are led by God’s hand
Into the eternal promised land
Grace to you and Peace
Hendrick Verstralen wrote this song from the prison in Rupelmonde (Flanders) to his beloved wife, Janneken (1571) with his legs in irons
Originally to the tune “Come out of the sorrow of death”
Now to the tune “Hey there Delilah”
My Janneken Verstralen
God’s grace and peace and mercy
And the comfort of the Spirit
Be with you as you’ve prepared it in your heart
I offer you, my dear, the Christ
You’ll be his bride.
Janneken Verstralen
My dearest wife and lover
Remember how together our union gave God honor
We were one
But we promised if this would come
We’d be at peace
Chorus:
Oh Grace to you and peace
Oh Grace to you and peace
Oh Grace to you and peace
I wish you peace
Janneken Verstralen
The time has come, I’m bound here tightly
I must make the sacrifice to God
Abandoning my body for the truth
Oh Lord, give me comfort, and also you
Help us get through
Janneken Verstralen
Through my tears I say goodbye
You know I’ll always love you
Be a father to our kids
I know you will
Relate a message of goodwill
To all our friends
Chorus
Upon the Mournful Sound of the Harp
To the tune “Lean on me”
Upon the mournful sound of the harp
Must my cry
Now go to the chorus
To carry my prayer
Before you, O God
Please don’t ignore us
Lean on me, when you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on
For it won’t be long til I’m gonna need somebody to lean on
My bitter lot
Might report with anxious prayer
And Lamentation
I cry out so loud
My voice can run far from my hand
You just call on me brother/sister when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
Grasp for help
In all your complaints
We all need somebody to lean on
Until the end of the land
And out of the farthest region and borders
There the mournful heart
Grapples with pain
That you won’t let show
Lean on me…
When one wrote/ It Could have Been Me
Originally sung to the tune “Oh Wheel of Fortune”
The poet of this song Hans van Overdam, was himself present at the execution described in this account, at Lier, 1550.
Linen weaver Gielis van Aarde
Road-maker Godevaert Mertens
75 year old Marie Vlaminx
Anneken van Roosbroecke
Now to “It could have been me, but instead it was you:”
When one wrote 1500 and added 50 more
People told the story of the pious Christians, four
The last day of January, they sacrificed their years
Oh they were bold and the tale is told they faced death without fear
Chorus
It could have been me, but instead it was you
So I’ll keep doing the work you were doing as if I were two
I’ll be a weaver of cloth, a singer of songs, a builder of roads and a righter of wrongs
It could have been me, but instead it was you
And it may be we, dear sisters and brothers, before we are through
But if you can die for freedom (3x), Rejoicing in God’s Kingdom, I can too
The first pious brother, a martyr named Goyvaert
They say he was perceptive as he was led to face the court
He told a group of priests, tear your garments and repent
With sackcloth and ash, like Nineveh of the past
He preached where’er he went
The sheriff couldn’t bear to hear these words and yet
Although they did disturb him, he said “your preaching has no effect”
Goyvaert spoke very softly, though his presence echoed loud
All that I ask is God’s own task
Though his grace and will, no doubt
The four friends stood together, rejoicing in the Lord
One the day they were to die, they spoke in friendly accord
He stands not with the wicked or with the scoffers sits
He clears the road both blessed and good
They sang loudly, undisturbed
(to the tune “As the deer panteth for the water”)
As the dear panteth for the water so my soul longeth after thee
You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship thee
My tears have now become my food
They scorn me, saying where’s your God
You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship thee
Chorus
Anneken spoke, joyful, Lord Sheriff, you must know
That two times in this city, great honor I was shown
The first, when I married my husband, the second when he won esteem
But never have I felt such joy as now I have in me
Then the stake rose up before them, and the friends fell down in prayer
As the flames grew hot & higher where their sacrifice would occur
They stood and kissed each other with joyful countenance
Then Anneken with great delight sang out with peace, intense
(to the tune “I Love you Lord”)
I trust you Lord
I cry out for grace
And bid you eagerly
Deliver me from evil ways
Let your goodness come down on me
One of the court servants said – be quiet, here you!
But Goyvaret said no, sister, sing freely, as you do
And though it made them angry, he helped her sing beyond their fear
The sheriff sour, at that very hour,
Called for a servant to come here
Chorus
He whispered to his servant who left immediately
And then the executioner who started angrily
Prepared to work on Goyvaert to bridle shut his mouth
Courageously, he stood his ground and laughing, shouted out-
Oh Gentlemen and Ladies, this day I take a chance
And sing wearing a bridle, to show their ignorance
For Paul said sing to God, whatever’s in your heart
You can stop a man, but not a song when each soul will do their part
The third brave martyr Mariken, whose age was 75
Strangled in the smoke, as if she weren’t alive
But suddenly she started singing, fearless thanks and praise
With faith above to the God of Love she had followed all her days
When Anneken she heard this, she also sang some more
Fiery love compelled her, flames rising from the floor
But then with cunning anger, they placed explosives on her breast
The crowd it grew, her sweetness they knew, and their grief it did not rest!
(to the tune of “Shine Jesus Shine”)
Lord, you I esteem, that you’ve received me, I will show honor
You have not allowed my enemies to rejoice
Vexed and oppressed, when I complain, you remove all danger
Send down your love, Lord, and let there be light
Chorus
Standing bound at stakes, with straps around their heads
Laughing now, and friendly, with every word they said
The nodded to each other, with comfort lovingly
It was noticed how, the offered now such confidence and peace
The word went out around them
The four had spoken out
From silent, faithful Gielis to Goyvaert with a bridle in his mouth
And people who had seen it were shocked and thought it odd
Did you see them there, tormented so, for only songs and praise to God?
Chorus
Praise, Prince God
To the tune of “Jolene:”
Chorus
Praise, Prince God, be to you always
You were and are, and you are coming back (2x)
Sing to God, good people, all
Songs of praise, before him fall
Spread his honor and a flood of love
Extol his name, you who are wise
His constant virtue, let it rise
Nobody on this earth can praise enough
Chorus
Remember how you laid in shame
Completely blind, you were to blame
For lies which had disfigured you through pride
Tore you from God through vanity
The enemy’s ability
To plague you, deceived your very soul
Chorus
But now God’s fighting mightily
To drag you out of slavery
From all your sins you’re liberated now
A blessed lot, you give for free
All who confess you piously
Therefore we will boast of you always
Chorus
The Lord Shall Still Protect
Originally to the tune “The fairest Nymph that vallies”
Sung to the tune “Love and Happiness:”
Our Lord will still protect
All those who trust in him
And always stand their ground
For his sake
Blessed are all of us
Who united, stay
Full of virtue til eternal life
Chorus
Let us constantly love our God
&Flee the ugly wicked crowd
Let us constantly, with heart and mind
Flee evil
And of all the things that harm the soul
Flee sin and hatred most of all
Always look to love to guide you home
Alas these evil times
With delusions, lies
Disputes, deceitfulness
They beat us down
With murder, misery
Abomination reigns
Stay awake and keep
The narrow path
Chorus
So Faint the Scent of the Lily Leaves
To the tune of “Shotgun down the avalanche”
So faint the scent of the lily leaves
Like a rose which languishes and dies
Overladen with sharp thorns and weeds
Lacking dew, and food, and falling down
Alas! Like me, in my misery
I must faint if God won’t show his face
Help me turn toward the light and hold on to the fight
His assistance renews my strength
God, I lie sunken in deep mud and morass
Sinking in the deepest water I can stand
In fear of death I am drowning for sure!
Help, oh help me God, reach out your hand!
For it reaches my neck
My feet can’t stand firmly
And it forces me down to the ground
The water overflows me
Anxiety holds me
Deaths position now I have found
The name she gave was Elizabeth
Originally sung to “little Red Rose in full Bloom”
To the tune “The name she gave was Caroline”
The name she gave before the court
Was Lijsbeth Dirksdaochter
And her ways were free and it seemed to me
Gods love walked beside her
In January ’49, she was thrown in prison
For she longed for Christ, and risked her life
To study and proclaim him
The taunted her and said she was
The “wife of Menno Simons”
But in their fortress, she professed
To be the wife of no man
She was compelled to swear an oath
As the law was held before her
But she said simply, our words should be
Yes or no, with honor
We heard you are a teacheress
In the town of Leeuwarden
To tell us who has come to you
To learn the lies you tell them
Oh Gentlemen, leave me in peace
About the names of students
I’d gladly explain the faith that I’ve gained
She said to those blind and deaf ones
What of the mass and sacrament?
Your thoughts are of the devil
Can a priest forgive your sin, should you be baptized again?
The first time, of no avail?
She quoted from the holy book
And answered all their questions
My baptism would still be good
Had it been done up on my faith
They led her to the torture room
Before the executioner
At first all we do is show kindness to you
But now we’ll be proceeding harsher
They put two clamps upon her hands
And smashed her thumbs and fingers
We won’t stop unless you confess
Was the deal that they made her
Elizabeth cried out to them
Oh I can take no more!
Your pain will be erased if you agree to our case
Blood spurted to the floor
Elizabeth cried out to God
Help me, Lord, I beg you
When I invoke you, give me hope
And she found her pain was lessened
She spoke to them with confidence
And calmly said continue
Interrogate, I have no complaint
I feel no pain before you
They applied two screws upon her shins
She asked them, do not shame me
For until today no man has seen
Or touched my naked body
Then she fainted in their hands
They said her death was accidental
But she awoke in the irons, and said
I’m still alive, yes, I’m still living
And now will you deny your faith
Say you have been mistaken
We’ll let you go, if you tell us so
You’ll walk away forever
No, she said, without distress
No, she said, undaunted
I’d say again what you heard then,
Proudly seal it with my death
March of the aforementioned year
They passed a sentence on her
The wolves took their revenge upon her end
And cruelly they did drown her
Remember her with all our hearts
Elizabeth Dirks-daughter
Her ways were free, and it seemed to me
That God’s love walked beside her
I Say Adieu, Flesh and Blood
A spiritual variant of a well-known amorous song of parting “As it begins” I say adieu we two must part; the singer takes his leave from his neighbor. He or she goes to lead a “new life” prepared like a sacrificial sheep being let to the “alter” a martyrs death.
Now sung to the tune “Parting Glass”
I say adieu, a sad goodbye
As flesh and body, we now must part
I hope to lead a new life henceforth
Though soul and body separate
Your godly word, a clear fountain
Our certain comfort, all we know
So fill for me a parting glass
Upon you alone stands all our hope
Fierce persecutors use all their will
To kill Israel, God’s pure elect
Because the Emperor’s command
Regards us as fools and idiots
Oh Lord our God, Oh Lord our God
Although they take our temporal lives
We are this world’s sad mockery
But our lives our God’s as one can see
We yield not, we yield not
This sacrifice which shall occur
We yield not, we yield not
Even if they grieve us even more
Mennofolk Music 