Wednesday, May 24, 2023

farthest field

the parish choir

“The Farthest Field,” David Dodson, arr. Kevin Siegfried

David, the original composer of this song, was at a music party in Vermont on a highland farm. Above the farmhouse was a long field that ran up to the height of the land. One sunset, everyone went up to that field and sang hymns – the call-and-response kind. "I was impressed that everyone knew these hymns, and I wanted one of my own. You could see the mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont and Canada, and I thought that heaven would look like that…"

There is a land high on a hill

Where I am going there is a voice that calls to me

The air is sweet the grasses wave

The wind is blowing away up in the farthest field

Walk with me and we will see the mystery revealed

When one day we wend our way up to the farthest field

The sun will rise the sun will set

Across the mountains and we will live with beauty there
The fragrant flowers the day and hours

Will not be counted and peaceful songs will fill the air

Walk with me and we will see the mystery revealed

When one day we wend our way up to the farthest field

I know one day I'll leave my home

Here in the valley and climb up to that field so fair

And when I'm called and counted in

The final tally I know that I will see you there

Walk with me and we will see the mystery revealed

When one day we wend our way up to the farthest field

Oh, my dear friend I truly love

To hear your voices alifted up in the radiant song

Though through the years we all have made

Our separate choices we've ended here where we belong

Walk with me and we will see the mystery revealed

When one day we wend our way up to the farthest field