If Ever I Would Leave You

If ever I would leave you, it wouldn’t be in summer
Seeing you in summer, I never would go
Your hair streaked with sunlight, your lips red as flame
Your face with a luster that puts gold to shame

But if I’d ever leave you, it couldn’t be in autumn
How I’d leave in autumn, I never will know
I’ve seen how you sparkle when fall nips the air
I know you in autumn and I must be there

And could I leave you running merrily through the snow
Or on a wintry evening when you catch the fire’s glow

If ever I would leave you, how could it be in springtime
Knowing how in spring I’m bewitched by you so
Oh, no, not in springtime, summer, winter, or fall
No never could I leave you at all

— Artist: Andy Williams, (Warm and Willing, 1962)
Originally from the Musical “Camelot”
Words by Alan Jay Lerner
Music by Frederick Loewe

Welcome to Our World

Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from God
You’ve been promised, we’ve been waiting
Welcome Holy Child
Welcome Holy Child

Hope that you don’t mind our manger
How I wish we would have known
But long-awaited Holy Stranger
Make Yourself at home
Please make Yourself at home

Bring Your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
Word now breaking Heaven’s silence
Welcome to our world
Welcome to our world

Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is born
Unto us is born

So wrap our injured flesh around You
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holy
Perfect Son of God
Perfect Son of God
Welcome to our world

— words and lyrics by Chris Rice
Album: Deep Enough to Dream; 1997

Empty Chairs

I feel the trembling tingle of a sleepless night

Creep through my fingers and the moon is bright
Beams of blue come flickering through my window pane
Like gypsy moths that dance around a candle flameAnd I wonder if you know
That I never understood
That although you said you’d go
Until you did
I never thought you would

Moonlight used to bathe the contours of your face
While chestnut hair fell all around the pillow case
And the fragrance of your flowers rest beneath my head
A sympathy bouquet left with the love that’s dead

And I wonder if you know
That I never understood
That although you said you’d go
Until you did
I never thought you would

Never thought the words you said were true
Never thought you said just what you meant
Never knew how much I needed you
Never thought you’d leave, until you went

Morning comes and morning goes with no regret
And evening brings the memories
I can’t forget
Empty rooms that echo as I climb the stairs
And empty clothes that drape and fall on empty chairs

And I wonder if you know
That I never understood
That although you said you’d go
Until you did
I never thought you would

–words and music by Don Mclean
Album: American Pie; 1971