Sing sing

Melodia, revisited, with Stevie Wonder co-opted:
To the extended tune of Wonder’s Have A Talk With God


Lowly sparrow, you in your stubble field
are God’s example and encouragement
to stand behind a thinly-feathered shield
with nothing more as an accouterment
than simple faith in what tomorrow brings:
all things are set before you, every seed
and sunray

comes delivered without strings;
God gives you everything you need

But gives you more, the time and voice to sing!
Sing boldly, bird, across the stubble field,
show us your color and your gilded wing,
your air of confidence, that all may yield
and pause, to see what stands behind the fable
of fearlessness and food at every table,

comes delivered without strings;
God gives you everything you need.

Sing, sing
Sing, Sing
Sing, sparrow, sing

The sparrow chirps, “But who am I to be
the center of attention?  I believe
your story: God is good, even to me,
and daily God provides, and I receive
abundantly beyond what I deserve,
but that’s the point.  You call on me to sing
for all I’m worth;

you’re telling me to serve
as if my voice made me acceptable,

  but take a look at me:
my feathers are the shades of sand and dirt,
my wings are short and my ability
to fly will never take me far from earth,
and now you’re asking me to join the choir
of angels, as if song could take me higher?”

you’re telling me to serve
as if my voice made me acceptable,

Sing, sing
Sing, sing
Sing, sparrow, sing

Yes, little sparrow, by your very word
you are acceptable; indeed, you were before
the first note of your song was ever heard,
but you will please your maker even more
if you will sing.  Sing loud for all you’re worth,
but louder still for all that you’ve been given:

seed and stubble from the earth,
air and sunshine sent from heaven,

and all the camouflage and coloring
designed to keep you safely unrevealed,
and all the intricacies of your wing
designed to let you navigate the field.
O sparrow, sparrow, know that you are gifted
and by your gift the whole world is uplifted.
...comes delivered without strings;
God gives you everything you need

Sing, sing
Sing, sing
Sing, sparrow, sing

But you will please your maker even more
if you will sing.  Sing loud for all you’re worth,
but louder still for all that you’ve been given:

seed and stubble from the earth,
air and sunshine sent from heaven,

comes delivered without strings;
God gives you everything you need

and He’s telling you to serve
because His gift makes you Acceptable,

and He’s telling me to serve
because my voice makes me Acceptable.