Rise up, oh land of liberty,
Against the foe and for the friend;
Under the queen’s just ruling,
Stay true to her until the end.

Through dangers, many, we shall tread,
Though some more weary than the rest,
But we shall brave them through that time
With hearts of courage and of zest.

Rise up, oh land of liberty,
To needy ones a hand we’ll lend,
And thus we will forevermore,
Be true to her unto the end.

Johann Sebastian Bach and Claud Debussy were two of the most influential musicians in the world. They published songs they wrote, played instruments, and were brilliant when it came to music. Yet both their lives and their styles differ vastly, from the wild life of one to the disciplined way of the other; from one’s greed and self-interest to the other’s humility and hope in God. How did both come to play such a big part in the development of music in such different ways?

Travels
I grew up a nomad, wondering as I went,
With backpack over shoulder and shoes well spent.
I've seen Mesopotamian graveyards where dust fell from the Ishango Bone,
And trudged Mediterranean shores where Nap found the Rosetta Stone.

There's nothing like old Stonehenge at the midwinter heirophany,
Or late noons at Giza, shadows long like Modiglianis.
The snowflakes carved in Moscow are each a precious little fractal.
Who's tasted cacao where Aztecs toasted their own Quetzocoatl?

Caislín fingered her father’s crown.
The funeral was held yesterday. She was officially the queen of Destrea. Instead of sapphire coronation banners, black and purple streamers danced in the whistling wind to mourn the loss of a monarch. She was given word that Sa’di had been implicated with the band of terrorists and had since disappeared, thus proving their points.

World, I heard the lyrics that you sing
I’ve felt the pain that false love brings
I know the dark of depths of woe
I’ve seen the scars that few will show.

World, even music breathes your lies
Says hope’s sun sets in paradise
That sin’s allure’s your only happiness
But cannot reach eternal bliss.

World, your hope is fleeting, slipping fast
Your art reflects it; but, alas,
Your billions of feet tread the broadened path
That holds destruction in its grasp.

There's music in my soul
And no way to contain it
There's a song in my heart
But I can't release it
There's a melody in me
Fighting to be free
But it hides in darkness
Afraid to be seen
There's a poem of me
Beauty, wonder, joy
And no one on harmony
There's a dirge pounding
A slow, sad song in my head
With none to stop the decline
There's a battle-cry in me
Confidence, peace
There's a graveyard as well
Lost hopes, broken dreams
And a young tree that fell

Lightning flashes across the sky,
Thunder rumbles a lullaby;
Soft and deep, very sweet and low,
Wind hums along, breathy and slow.
Tree branches gently dip and sway;
Waltzing the moonlit night away.
Raindrops kissing the cool night air,
Stars twinkling with light-beams fair.
Rustic theatre sets the scene
For a concert and play serene.
Handiwork of a mighty Lord:
A musical you can afford.

Purpose
Your life has a purpose
Don't ever complain
You must push ahead
Your grumblings are vain
God's given you this day
You must make it your own
All you do and say
Is heard at the throne

Temple
Your body is a temple
Please keep it clean
Furnish with fear, tremble
For God is your king
Purify and make way
Sacrifice your desires of self
Clean them all out
Every one on the shelf

Be brave and strong,
Have courage, walk tall.
Never give up and never back down;
Always remember the cross and the crown.
There is such a great love,
It's your gift from above.
Always share it,
Make others aware of it,
Show it, shine it, live it, find it,
Know it, define it, understand it.
Your rank is not in who you are,
But what He made you by far:
Be that, show that, and see
That He is greater than you will ever be.
Be a great man and strong.
Show Him in your work, play, and song,

We're on the way to a rally to hear our freedom ring.
To protest for the truth my heart will joyfully sing.

Though truth is the minority,
My God is the majority,
This my song shall be:
"May God's freedom ring!"

Now I will stand up, give my answer to the call,
And with God to hold me up by His grace I won't fall.

Though truth is the minority,
My God is the majority,
This my song shall be:
"May God's freedom ring!"