This song is about 2 1/2 - 3 years old. Pre-Japan; it comes from a beautiful time in my life when I lived in a truly Acts 2-ish community. Wisdom flowed like water from the tap, and I really feel like this is my signature song to date.
It started as a little progression that sounded lovely with a falsetto line behind it (the part after the chorus). I really wanted to include it in a song, and later, as I wrote another part that also had falsetto (the break in between verse lines), I knew they should go together. The lyrics were the last thing to come, and, as they developed, they began to mimic the examples of godly men in Hebrews 11. The chorus takes a cue from I Corinthians 3:12-15.
I totally flaked and forgot the last verse when I played it live. Pity, it's kind of the focus of the song...
Traces of the FallHe takes the axe and starts to work upon the trees
In a hundred years the rains will come
His family the only ones to survive . . . new life
He takes the dagger in his hand and holds it high,
As he looks down at his son upon
The altar in the hopes that he won't die . . . alive
CHORUS
For the tests are sure to come;
Prove our faith or be undone;
The worth of work, the day will bring to light.
Gold, steel, hay, wood, or straw;
The fire refines them all;
What burns away are traces of the fall.
He takes the staff and holds it high over the sea.
As the waters part, the people start
To make their way along the dry ground
He takes the trumpet in his hand and blows it hard;
While all around him, people shouting,
Triumphant; the walls come tumbling down
CHORUS
By its fruit the tree is known.
In our works His glory's shown;
His majesty reflected in our lives.
Gold, steel, hay, wood, or straw;
The fire refines them all;
What burns away are traces of the fall.
He takes the cup His Father's giv'n and drinks it down;
Through the thorns and nails, our God prevails,
And shows us what our lives ought to be like .
