Their Meanings and Historical Backgrounds International Training Center Barrytown, New York 12507 (914) 758-6881
Holy songs are received through spirit world in deep prayer. In each song is expressed the heart of Heavenly Father who has been suffering to construct the path of our restoration. Our infant spirits cannot possibly comprehend our Father's 6,000 year course of walking the way of indemnity. But by coming to know the heart of each of these Holy Songs, by using tht:~m to preach to ourselves, and by retracing through them the course of restoration, these 90ngs will have a profound effect upon our lives of faith. The way of .restoration through indemnity is the way of restoration of the hcart. Throuqh thesc Holy Songs we can come to know thc heart of JC5US, thc llcart of True Parents, and finally even be able to make all aspects of God's heart, His anger, joy, sorrow, and happincss, one with our own heart. Our spirits will be opened up to infinite new worlds, and we will inherit God's personality in all full beauty.
We should sing them not just to fulfill our own desires, but in deep, sincere prayer in order to receive many things from them.
Because of lack of research, many Holy Songs still remain to be translated, and the explanations of the meanings and backgrounds of Holy Songs are not complcte. I intend to continue my study so that Heaven's Heart contained in Holy Songs can be told more accurately and more deeply, and so that we can construct a new tradition of Holy Songs. Finally, I wish to express my heartfelt thanks to Kathy Novalis and Diane Fernsler, who wrote the English words, and to Tim Elder, who translated the words from Japanese, for their great sacrifices towards the organization of this collection of Holy Songs.
Yoko Kobayashi Song Leader Education Department Barrytown, New York January 10, 1975
Kat'hy Goldman Novalis Impressions on Music January 15, 1975
Serving as channel for God and working along with Yoko and Tim held great meaning to me for many reasons. I could feel Father at work so much, feel His desire to give these songs to America at this time, on thc foundation of America's past 3 years of growth and accomplishmcnt, now perhaps our movement can appreciate more deeply th(~ mcssage and depth of heart in these Holy Songs.
There is vast spiritual depth in the historyand back- ground of these songs. Every one of them can easily become a lesson in Principle and the heart of God. Each can effectively raise the atmosphere and drive Satan away, when sung sincerely. We have only recently begun to hunger for the messages that these songs and their authors give, their potential is limit- less; we should look at these songs as swords of truth and ~ love, or as a meeting with our True Parents, rather than just songs. They contain the essence of our Father's word and heart. We should search for Father in words, and sing his life-blood into our souls.
Here we also inherit the tradition of Korea and Japan, a significant inheritance as we begin the third seven year course. Here I would mention the greatest challenge of the project. Korean and Japanese are languages of deep heart expressed in few words. Our challenge was not just to find a translation which could easily be sung, hut more importantly, to find words that where simple, deep and universal. We sought to rernain true to the original in every way, and to find the simple essential center of the message.
This has been joyful labor and privilege, for which I am grateful. I pray that these songs will be an offering to build unity of Father's Hcavenly tradition world-wide. This new tradition is our responsibility.
words: Father
l. The light of Glory shines on us from afar, Revive in strength, you Sacred Spirits of freedom. These hills and streams, even those valleys awake. Eternally radiate the reviving light.
2. He has called us together to realize His glorious existence His greatness encompasses the universe As He searches for those awakcncd Sacred Spirits How can I attend this Lord?
3. I have awakened from death. When I am embraced In the bosom of He who woke me, I rejoice eternally in His eternal love and words of comfort Be joyful eternallyand praise His glory.
4. It was by His grace that I could be embraced; It is also by His grace tha~ I can be wrapped in His love I try to return this blessirtg to Him on high, But my heart is so unworthy! We are called to restore the glory to God.
words: Father
I still haven't been able to discover the complete history and background of this song. It has been passed on by word of mouth that spirit world sang this in praise of Father when he uncovered Fall of Man. It is one of the most precious pearls among the Holy Songs.
l. Boundless grace He has given me. Now the eteinal life is my true joy.
Chorus: Now I rejoice and praise Him always, reward Him ever and ever returning great glory.
2. My heart is pleased to find the greatest joy, I'll praise new hope and sing always.
3. I am filled with the infinite new life I am so "grateful for this blessing that I cherish forever.
4. I thank Him for the greatest blessing to choose me I worship Him with all my wholeheartedness.
words: Father
In this song Father expressed his intense desire, intensified even further by lIeaven's inspiratiton. I haven't heard the exact time or circumstances in which this song was composed, but from behind which word we can sence the course that Father had to take, suffering greatly through fierce battles to unravel the Word.
The meaning of the original poem is profound and difficult but letls explore it together.
l. I was born on this earth, His gift to us And chosen to establish freedom and happiness. I wanted to find through Truth the purpose of this inspiration , I must become a living sacrifice to realize that purpose "On this earth which God prepared and presented to us I was born, and chosen to establish freedom and happiness. I am comanded by Heaven to search for und discover the truth. For the happiness of all living people I must sacrifice myself and search for God's Words at the risk of my life.
Here, inspired by Heavenly urging, Father is commanding himself with a sense of great responsibility. "I offer this body for the accomplishrnent of Your Will" means to make a living sacrifice of ones body.
The meaning of "living sucrifice" in this context can be to explained by refering to thc sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham. Isaac is allive, but he must be sacrificed on the altar, obediently saying nothing. In the same manncr, Father must have the determination to offer himself, his whole existence as a sacrifice.
He must be determined to die while living, overcome death and "gain victory over death. In this battle he firmly cornmands himself, "Find God's Words: Gain Victory!"
2. The voice of inspiration sings for me with all its might, Spreading the new message of New Eden. Sacrifice yourself completely and start building anew, start the neworder. Seek and realize the Kingdom of freedom.
The image of the voices of all thc angels and all of spirit world ringing through the heavens is an expression of the joy that comes from the victory of the Lord are news that the building of a new Eden will begin.
"Spread this news, sacrifice yourself completely to build anew, to realize His Will and realize the Kingdom of freedom!" Here Father stands before those who share his ideal and commands them, (i.e. us) by saying, 'Fulfill the task!" We who follow must offer ourselves as living sacrifices.
3. We seek the eternal new family Which the Father of Good in Heaven has tried to find. Spread the new Truth, of good will And establish the new Reaven and new earth. What is it that Heavenly Father has sought throughout human history? It's the Four Position Foundation, the family of God that reflects' His image. The Lord is calling on us to establish these new families, and realize the new heaven. The Revelations will be founded on the true blessed families.
4. In a day of new life, establish righteousness; Through eternal new life, heighten good. Praise the Father of Good who is the glorious ideal; And build a new order of peace. (i.e. social system) Let's consider what is meant by "a day of new life" The word "new" appears through the song. All of history until now has been under Satanic dominion, and nothing new ever came. Jesus came and lived a new life, hut couldn't fulfill it. But finally, after 6,000 years, history begins anew with the Lord of the Second Advent. Nothing except that which is related to the Lord can be described as new. Conversely, all that is related to the Lord is new.
Thus, "a day of new life" refers to the Messiah's life, and the lives of those who follow him. Even when he leaves the church in the morning, Father always begins with his right foot. Father has said, "Shirts are glad if you use them by the number three (i.e. wear them three days). All of creation is the same way." We can see how he is working to establish good through every aspect of his daily life. This life should hecome the standard of the new Heavenly order, and change the present insane order of Satan.
The first two lines of this verse may be clarified by this quotation from Principle: "... to live a life of righteousness in order to attain the purpose of goodness..." In the Korean song, the verb is the same in the last line of each of the first three verses, and is repeated emphatically at the end of the line. That verb means both 'To realize and to establish.' The verb in the fourth verse is more specific and emphatic in its meaning; it is translated here as "build."
We cannot fully understand how difficult it was to battle for God's Words. I understand that Father tore apart three Bibles. He would press open Heavenly Father's heart and cry out with tears and sweat, "This must be Your will! But because Satan can accuse, You can't answer me even though You want to, can You?" The drops of precious blood that fell in this way were given to us in the form of the True Word.
Father's words as related to us through Mr. Eu: "Let me explain through example, how difficult it is to unveil the Principle. Imagine a completely dark night, a night like the whole sky has been covered by a tent. And imagine a light like a pin-hole in the canvas. Unveiling the Principle is about as difficult as it would be to strike that light with only one attempt."
words: Father
This is one of the best among Completed Testament Holy Songs. The Korean word for the Garden translates, "Eastern Mountain." Because winters are so harsh, the people wait for spring very eagerly. Because the first ray of the spring sun falls on the mountains to the East, "Eastern Mountain" has come to symbolize the Garden of Eden. (You can also probably understand why Song of the Garden is called song of the Eastern Mountain.
l. He searched for six thousand years This embattled and hate-filled Garden For the central point of victory. His struggle in Providence is recorded as footprints of blood. This is the love we see in His Providence.
2. The flower of happiness bIooms in the Providence of freedom. Blessed are we, for the flower of hope blooms in the Garden of our ideal. The fragrance of His Providence brings joyand happiness. This is the fulfillment of Father's desire. (Note the difference in meaning of the Garden in each verse: l. garden of hate 2. garden of hope 3. garden of joy, which He wanted to give us from the beginning, 4. garden of the original ideal.)
3. Blossoms of happiness bloom through the Garden of Freedom; Our true home is one of joy and happiness We live forever in this flowerlike Garden. This is the Garden the Father gives to us.
4. The eternal will of His Providence is the ideal on earth, The true Garden that He tried to build on earth. To jously and with fragrant spirits spread its glory, For this is the glory of His creation.
words: Father
Around 1956-57 many members would become spiritual during worship services. At the time Father would often preach the sermon himself and often wore the white traditional dress of Korea. This melody was arranged by Miss Kim from a melody that an old woman about 60 years old began singing when she became spiritual during service. Before being rearranged, the rhythm was far more distinctively Korean. I'm not told whether Father wrote the words before the melody existed.
l. We offer in tribute" the new glorious Hosanna' s And joyfully attend the glorious Lord of new life Search for the promised great glory, And the Garden of freedom and happiness where we can sing a new song.
2. When we have fought through the mist and clouds of darkness, The bright new world will brilliantly shine. Searching for new joy and happiness and new peace, And the Garden of freedom and happiness where we can sing a new song.
3. Those who sing the new song of new life, Offer praises for the great blessing of your being chosen, Search for the new glory of our hopes, And the Garden of freedom and happiness where we can sing a new song.
4. Take the day of our creation as our standard, And make shine the Heavenly love and beauty. Search for the flower garden of harmony And the Garden of freedom and happiness where we can sing a new song.
When Father was in prison, he never wanted to burden Heavenly Father with his condition. He was the Lord who was to bring in the eternal springtime, but because of his imprisonment he couldn't tell the people. His situation was so opposite to that of the future world he would bring in: to encourage himself he was always thinking about the future.
One day he heard another prisoner singing this song. Father began to sing it himself every day, perhaps with some changes; later, he said to the Family, "You don't know how much inspiration and comfort I received from singing this." Although it is, a simple song, he imparted a deeper meaning to it.
In singing this song it is important to realize how Koreans view their seasons. Their winter temperatures go down below zero Fahrenheit (-18 C), and their anticipation of spring is much more eager than most other peoples. That anticipation connects directly with the anticipation for the Messiah.
l. Snow and wind of extremely cold dark nights, Lift your ruthless hand. Soon the spring breeze will chase you away with the fragrance of flowers, And call to life the suffocated hills.
2. Even the most ruthless winter wind can last only a moment, and stands doomed to be calmed Soon the spring breeze will chase you away with the fragrance of flowers, And call to life the suffocated hills.
The powers of winter (powers of Satan) attack us with cold winds and icy snow that hurts like needles. But lift your ruthless hand! (Implied is the threat, "Satan, if you don't lift your hand, I'll cut it off!) No matter how much you can blow around now, soon the spr1ng breeze must come carrying sweet fragrances, and chase you away.
In verse 2 we see the mighty figure of the Lord commanding the spring breeze to come in the midst of imprisonment, torture, and the most cruel punishment of all, the crucifixion of heart.
3. Awake! Butterfly and meadowlark of spring! Too long this wasted land has suffered in this nightmare. Soon the spring breeze will chase you away with the fragrance of flowers, And call to life the suffocated hills. Now awake! and dance, you butterfly of spring; sing, you meadowlark. The Korean peninsula has suffered a long nightmare.
This is a hymn from the established Korean Christian churches. It describes howa dark and lonely soul comes a cross the love of Christ, is resurrected by that love, and is inspired to spread that love to other people.
l. Oh, my little lamb, in the lonely meadow, When you were weak and collapsed from disease, There was none who would embrace you, None who would give you words of love. God is calling out. The first verse is sung with the spirit of a sinner who has looked into his own heart, looked back on his course, and has suddenly discovered that God has been at his side all this time. The lonely sinful life wounds us, "when you fell down on the plain (in our suffering) in need of comfort, and of salvation, nobody could raise you up in their arms." Behind these words we see the figure of Christ standing beside us, saying "I was there! Didn't I heal your wounds, and wrap you in words of love?"
2. Oh, my little lamb, see that man, For he goes carrying the cross for your sake, And is the shepherd who leads you to the path of life. Follow him, for you are too weak to walk alone.
3. Oh, my little lamb, when you thirst (and fall exhausted) Drink his blood and taste his body (make him your blood and body) Heavenly love will overflow within you. (GOd's love will fill your whole self)
4. Oh, my little lamb, with a joyful heart Praise the Lord with all your might. Love all men throughout the world, (Go into the world and love everyone) Oh, my little lambs.
The words rise in intensity through verses three and four. Particularly verse four expresses a determined heart that calls us to "love all men throughout the world." We should sing this song paying close attention to accompaniment and loudness and softness.
This song resounds through the heavens with praises of the Lord's love sung with all one's heart. We sing this song in tears of deep joy of receiving the Lord of the Second Advent.
It is called a "Korean Unification Church Song" without specification of who wrote the words or music, because it is not exactly clear who first began singing it. Let me explain the meaning of the lines through this direct translation.
l. The Lord has come, the Lord has come. To the Eastern country from which the Sun rises; to the shining Han peninsula, The Lord has come from the right hand of God. (i.e. with the authority of God) He cames to lead all men into the accomplishment of His will. Oh, this beautiful land, receive the Lord, dance and sing. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Amen.
The beginning line is so proud and joyful: Externally this is a tragic race that has been stepped on throughout its history. But now it has been chosen as the country to receive the long-awaited Lord of the Second Advent. Profound joy is contained within the line, "the Eastern country from which the Sun rises; the shining Han Peninsula." (tr.'s note --Han Peninsula = Korean Peninsula) "To lead all men" Just as a mother hen gathers all her chicks under her wing, the Lord of the Second Advent leads all men with love.
This verse expresses the strong yearning, "Oh: From one end of the Han Peninsula to the other awake: Receive the Lord: Sing and dance!"
2. The Lord has come, the Lord has come. To the country where white cloth is worn, where the Rose of Sharon blooms, The king of kings has come with his Providence to shatter sin and evil. He has come to build Heaven on this earth. Oh, my three million brothers receive the Lord, sing and dance. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Amen.
"The country where white cloth is worn" As you can tell very well if you see movies set in Korea, they tend to wear bright colors. Men are often seen wéaring white pants.