Swansong: 2015

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Heartfire

Sometimes I feel almost hopeless

This world can be so cold

I feel so lost and lonely

Like I've wandered from the fold

And then I hear you call me

From away down deep inside

Then I know that you still love me

You are my patient guide

You know all about me

How I serve my own sweet will

And yet you go on loving me

Though I'm so foolish still

Your love is all I'm made of

It's that for which I strive

Your precious love sustains me

It's what keeps me alive

There's a fire in my heart

And it keeps me warm inside

It's my love for you a-burnin'

And it keeps me satisfied

There's a flame in my soul

And it keeps me hangin' on

It's my love for you a-burnin'

And it helps me carry on

Prabhupada, sometimes the pain's

Almost too much to bear

This world's so full of suffering

So much misery and despair

But when I chant the holy name

And read your precious words

Everything is clear to me

And fear seems so absurd

You cut away illusion

You teach me to serve with love

You're my beloved guru

Sent from the Lord above

Prabhupada, your love sustains me

It drives away the cold

It's my strength, my inspiration

It satisfies my soul

There's a fire in my heart

And it keeps me warm inside

It's my love for you a-burnin'

And it keeps me satisfied

There's a flame in my soul

And it keeps me hangin' on

It's my love for you a-burnin'

And it helps me carry on

There's a fire in my heart

May it burn forevermore

It's my love for Srila Prabhupada

Pure devotee of the Lord

Take the Chance by Phalini McLeod

Take the Chance

I was a rebel without a cause

Searching for universal laws

When you found me I was lost

On waves of maya I was tossed

You stretched forth your golden hand

To bless this foreign land

With the light of the Bhagavatam

No, you didn't have to come

But there you were, ready

To bestow Caitanya's mercy

If we'd only chant the Holy Names and dance--

We dared to chant the Holy Names and dance

We took the chance, we took the chance

Now at least five decades later

Yes, it's fifty-some years hence

I'm writhing in the agony

Of Krsna's time misspent

I'm praying for the courage

To hold my head up high

To sing aloud the Holy Names

With arms stretched to the skies

And here you are, ready

To bestow Caitanya's mercy

If I'd only chant the Holy Names and dance

I'll dare to chant the Holy Names and dance

I'll take the chance, I'll take the chance

Hare Krsna...

And here you are, ready to bestow Caitanya's mercy

If we'd only chant the Holy Names and dance

We'll dare to chant the Holy Names and dance

We'll take the chance, we'll take the chance, yes, we'll take the chance

Hare Krsna...

Swansong

If you give a swan some milk that's mixed with water

He'll only drink the milk and leave the rest

And because he possesses this mystic power

Among all birds he's considered the best

There are swan-like men, they're called “paramahamsas”

They hear and speak only about the highest truth

The embodiment of all truth is Lord Krsna

The all-attractive and Supreme Eternal Youth

Now, these swan-like men, they know that human life is meant

To reawaken our forgotten love for God

And return back home to the spiritual world

Krsna's abode, known as Sri Vrndavana-dhama

So, how do we get to Vrndavana

Where the swan-like men all go?

We must always hear and speak about the Supreme Lord

This is the way that's told to us by those who know

There are many, many topics for discussion

What we discuss determines what we think about

And our thoughts determine where we'll go when leaving

This body, which we'll have to leave, no doubt

There are many places where the soul can journey

When he leaves this mortal body to move on

If we want to always taste the highest pleasure

Then the place to go is Sri Vrndavana-dhama

And the way to get back home to Sri Vrndavana-dhama

Is the same for you and me

To always hear and speak of the topics of the Lord

With His swan-like devotees

If you give a swan milk mixed with water

Do you know what he will do?

He will only take the milk and leave the water there

And swan-like men love to discuss the highest truth

If you give a swan milk mixed with water

Do you know what he will do?

He will only take the milk and leave the water there

And swan-like men return back home

To enjoy loving pastimes

With Lord Krsna, the Supreme Eternal Youth

I've Got a Home

(sung to the tune of “I've Got a Home in Gloryland”)

Chorus:

I've got a home in Vrndavana and you've got one, too

And we're on our way back home

(Repeat)

Gaura-Nitai have risen like the sun and the moon

To light our way back home

(Chorus)

Prabhupada came to the West to bring us all back home

Back home to Vrndavana

(Chorus)

Chanting Hare Krsna is the yoga for this age

So let's chant the holy name

(Chorus)

Let's all chant the holy name and dance and take prasad

'Cause we're on our way back home

(Chorus)

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Chain of Gold

Many years ago

Gazing out my window

Beholding millions of bright stars in the cool midnight sky

I longed to be with You

I longed to talk with You

My heart was yearning to be with You, so I cried,

“Dear Lord, please speak to me!

Give me a clue to see

That I am not alone and that You're still my closest Friend

You and Your devotees

Are where I want to be!”

Then from the heavens came a sign—a golden chain

So I accepted it

And gratefully held it

I put it 'round my neck and magically it fastened there

I took this as a sign

Of our eternal bond

And vowed that always this dear token I would wear

And to this day, dear Lord

I still remember how

You were so kind to send some comfort to this lonely soul

And to this day, dear Lord

I still remember You

When I recall that precious gift—a chain of gold

Prayer to Krsna

Thanks for never giving up on me

You've been in my heart for an eternity

Guiding, correcting so patiently

You never gave up on me

Though I've treated You impersonally

You've always loved me unconditionally

I've tried to enjoy living separately

But You never gave up on me

For aeons of time I turned my back on You

Trying to claim what belonged to You

Life after life, pretending I was You

But You never gave up on me, O Krsna

You saw I was tired of struggling alone

You sent Your devotee to bring me back home

Though his mercy's so great, my heart is still like stone

But please don't give up on me

Doo-doo-doo...

Thanks for leading me to Prabhupada

The external manifestation of God

From atheism and mayavada

He graciously rescued me

Thanks for descending as Your holy name

To give us a chance to taste krsna-prema

Unfortunately, I still don't have a taste

But please don't give up on me, O Krsna!

Thanks for giving me the chance to chant

The maha-mantra, although I can't

Seem to control my rascal mind just yet

But please don't give up on me, O Krsna!

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare...

Forgetting You, the most valuable jewel

Here I am in this place that's meant for passing stool

By broken pieces of colored glass I'm still fooled

But please don't give up, no please don't give up

Oh please don't give up on me

Doo-doo-doo...

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare...

Chant Hare Krsna

Chant Hare Krsna when you wake up in the mornin'

Chant Hare Krsna when you're getting' outta bed

Chant Hare Krsna when you're takin' a shower

Chant when you're puttin' tilak on your forehead

Oh, devotees, chant Hare Krsna!