Jesus, Teach me to Grieve (song lyrics*)
There once was a man.
Story goes that he died and he rose again.
His followers would be
me and the ones who forgot the minor key.
He has risen indeed!
But three days was too short,
I never learned how to grieve.
Teach me to grieve.
Jesus, teach me to grieve.
I am one of the people
who has choked back their tears
underneath the church steeple.
But now I'm shooting mother's sons
forgetting that they all
are chosen ones.
And when my daughters weep
I cover their mouths, I give them
secrets to keep.
Teach me to grieve.
Jesus, teach me to grieve.
I said, "Jesus, teach me how!"
He said, "You're facing the wrong way
you'd better turn yourself around.
On the outside you will see
all the people on the margins,
they will teach you to grieve.
But, the first tear you must cry
is for the other in yourself
that has already died."
* This is an imagined confessional between Jesus and the toxic male, patriarch.
Esau's Blessing (song lyrics)
~after Esau's birthright story in Genesis
Oh Esau, I've got a blessing for you.
Your daddy got it wrong, there is enough for you.
Oh Esau, I've got a blessing for you.
Your daddy got it wrong, you are the chosen one too.
Every night, you would cry
because you weren't the apple of your mother's eye.
Underneath that body, so big and strong
all you wanted was to belong.
Oh Esau, I've got a blessing for you.
Your daddy got it wrong, there is enough for you.
Oh Esau, I've got a blessing for you.
Your daddy got it wrong, you are the chosen one too.
Just a simple boy with a simple goal:
To please your father, fulfill your role.
But we know, easier said than done—
we've all tried and failed to be the perfect son.
Oh Esau, I've got a blessing for you.
Your daddy got it wrong, there is enough for you.
Oh Esau, I've got a blessing for you.
Your daddy got it wrong, you are the chosen one too.
Oh Esau, you live your life with heartache.
You cover shame with hate.
You never got over your mistake,
you never got over your mistake.
I'm here to say you'll be okay
if you can tell your story another way.
You always say that your got duped,
but Esau, what's more holy than a cup of soup?
Esau, what's more holy than a cup of soup?
Oh Esau, I've got a blessing for you.
Your daddy got it wrong, there is enough for you.
Oh Esau, I've got a blessing for you.
Your daddy got it wrong, you are the chosen one too.
Your daddy got it wrong, you are the chosen one too.