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Mark Shepard Sings

A Life In Song: 4 Decades of Original Music

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January 31, 2015 · Forgiveness, inspirational songs, Life In Song 1980's, Spiritual Songs

44 Tears At A Moment’s Notice


7825260_sAbout This Song: (Lyrics below)

I’ve always been interested in spirituality. Back when I wrote this song I was working on my BA in comparative religions. Ronald Reagan was campaigning for the White House. I would sing what I thought were progressive “christian” songs at the time, (minus cheap sentimentality and heavy “god talk”) but at every gig somebody would ask me if I was saved or “when are you going to play some christian music?”

That caused me to think I might not be hanging with the right crowd…

Those are the empty righteous ones in the song. “Bless they leetle hearts!” In my imaginary video version of this song, one person will start out singing the chorus to be joined on each next chorus with more and more and more people of all ages, colors, creeds, nationalities, genders (you get the idea right?).

This is the original version from my “Songs Through A Window” LP recorded in 1982. A live version is now available at Tears At A Moment’s Notice Live With The Rogue Mystics

Getting goose bumps just thinking about it… enjoy.

Tears At A Moment’s Notice

Song #44   | Spring 1980 | CD: tbd

Refrain:
Will we risk tears at a moment’s notice?
Love that dares to show?
Arms that share the aching?
Eyes that always know?

Will we dare to live our lives
Among the wide open spaces?
Will we dare to reach inside
To touch and heal the damaged places?
Will we dare to lose ourselves
In the “dangerous” embraces?

Refrain:

And when the empty, righteous ones
Tangle you aside
With dulling exhortations
That always fail to hide
The deeper things around us
That no pat answer can describe,

Refrain:

Can you see the possibilities
Of living to the edge
Can you feel the sense of liberty
In what some call “sacrilege”
Did you know that being fully human
Is a God given privilege?

Refrain:

© 1980-2015 by Mark Shepard

Photo credit – Copyright: / 123RF Stock Photo

Filed Under: Forgiveness, inspirational songs, Life In Song 1980's, Spiritual Songs

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Some reviews & testimonials

Your song was just perfect to start my day…

Mark, your song ‘Freedom (It’s Been  Long Road)’ was just perfect to start my day. I LOVE IT!  Thank you, Thank you.  Blessings to you and much gratitude for your musical gift.

Judy

For me these songs are transformational lessons in self-love…

Dear Mark, THANK YOU for sending *Spark & Flame*!!!! This CD certainly is a compilation of Conscious Love Songs! As I listen I am transported to memory after memory past, present and future, fulfilled and unfulfilled. I was flooded with many different emotions. I cried, laughed, held my breath and also breathed deep heart-centered breaths of connection to the Divine. I feel joy, grief, sadness, compassion, love, awe, freedom, kindness, gratitude and appreciation. For me these songs are transformational lessons in self-love, releasing, acceptance for what was, what is and who I am. Knowing that I am enough and that I am Divinely Loved.

J

You write some great songs!

Hi Mark, You write some great songs! I really enjoyed listening to all of them on Spark and Flame. Thank you for all that you do. Keep up the good work! All the best.

Susan

Just awesome…

Your music is taking over my life and it’s awesome!

Eric

I Love listening to all your songs…

Mark, you really are an amazing songwriter! I Love listening to all your songs and sitting in the creative aura they create!

Cheri

Total awesomeness!!!

‘Let’s Run’ is MY FAVORITE so far.. I LOVE THIS ONE.. great job.. total awesomeness!!! I thank Jana Stanfield for introducing me to your gifts. I am grateful.

Merril

Enjoying your songs so much…

Hello Mark. I am enjoying your songs so much! I’d love to see you play live somewhere.

Marianne

Your lyrics embody everything we hold sacred…

Your lyrics embody everything we hold sacred and dear as a faith community.

Gina Sullivan, Sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph

Been singing the chorus since the first day I heard it…

I sh*t you not when I say I’ve been singing the chorus to Honest Rock since the first day I heard it. I sing this every single day. Many times a day. Seriously. It’s like a mantra to me. It soothes me:-)

Gene Moore

Brilliant!

Brilliant! I LOVE seeing the words to all these beloved songs, thanks!

Mary F.

Love your lyrics!

Love your music! Love your lyrics!

Robin Bridgeford

I loved the song and listened to it 3 times….

Hi Mark, I just had to tell you this. I emailed my 3 granddaughters the song you wrote who are sisters with the youngest being 11 years old, has cerebral palsy and is very smart, is able to talk, very funny, uses a computer, is able to write, now is learning to play drums, emails me ‘Thanks. I do.’ I loved the song and listened to it 3 times.

Gail Russ

Never fails to move me…

Your incredible music never fails to move me. Thank you, Mark.

Paula

You have put a grown man in tears…

Mark, this song and message really hit home for me today. You have put a grown man in tears. Thank You for what you do. Sometimes I think you sound kind of cheesy, and then others, I think you are a genius, and I’m beginning to realize that you actually care about helping people. So hard to “get out of your own way” sometimes…thanks for the reminder.

Jeremy

They love (your song) and ask to listen to it, ALWAYS.

My name is Cecile. I teach kindergarten at OMSD. I had the pleasure of using your song Together We Can Change The World to help my students make a difference in this wonderful world! They love it and ask to listen to it, ALWAYS.

Cecile Arvizo

Love the “Key To Your Cage” album…

Love the “Key To Your Cage” album. I hear so many different influences and styles woven throughout the songs, really keeps it interesting from start to finish!

Dan Z

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