Broadway Blessings 2011

For the past fourteen years, my friend, Retta Blaney, has produced this wonderful concert evening in early September at the beautiful Cathedral of St. John The Divine at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue at 112th Street in Manhattan. This year, it is Monday, September 12th at 7:00 p.m. Retta is an author, an avid theatre lover and a reviewer, whose blog can be found at: uponthesacredstage.blogspot.com She produces this evening to ask God to bless the upcoming Broadway season. I've been to several of her Broadway Blessings concerts, and she always has inspiring speakers, wonderful guest singers, the Broadway Blessings Choir and beautiful dancers. I've heard Frances Sternhagen and Marian Seldes speak, and J. Mark McVey sing. This year, Richard Maltby will speak, Natalie Toro will sing, and Retta asked me to write a song for the fifteenth year anniversary, which I was happy to do--and this song, I'll Carry You, will be sung by Tony Haris.

This year's concert is the day after the tenth anniversary of 9/11 here in NYC. When I was writing the song, I wanted the theme of it to be that artistic endeavors--such a part of the human spirit in nature--are oftentimes collaborations between the human spirit and the Divine spirit, and that ultimately, God carries us. It's not like it's a "magic carpet ride"--but often, the place we arrive at at journey's end is so much richer and greater than we could ever plan ourselves. For those of you who can't be there this Monday evening because you live in other places, and in honor of those who worked tirelessly on behalf of rescue and recovery of 9/11, and in loving memory of those who left this world for what I pray is a more peaceful one, and to my friend, Frank Contursi, this song is dedicated.

I'll Carry You
words and music by Phil Hall

You wonder if you'll ever find the answers
Before you even get the questions out.
You wonder what life means before you live it
But, my child, that's not what living's all about.
You worry things will always come the hard way
And that you'll have to do it all alone.
When you can't find your way
And you look up and say
"Won't somebody help me?
I don't know what to do"

That's when I'll carry you
I'll carry you
Though you think you can't make it.
I'll see you through
There's no place you can go
That I won't be there too
So let's get on with the journey.

You'll find this world needs just what you bring to it
A reaffirming gesture or a smile
And should you come across someone who's lonely
Ask them to come walk with you a while.
In all you do and say--show them what love is
You'll look around and wonder where to start
"God, how can I do
All You want me to?
What You did for Your Son,
Will You do for me too?"

That's when I'll carry you
I'll carry you
Like I carried My Son
I'll see you through
There's no place you can go
That I won't be there too
So let's get on with the journey.

When finally you lay down to sleep
And pray that the Lord your soul will keep
And should you die before you wake
You pray that the Lord, your soul will take

That's when I'll carry you
I'll carry you
When your life's work is ended
I'll see you through
There's no place you can go
That I won't be there too
But there is so much more of the journey.

Ev'ry step we've walked together
You've been something to behold
So let's get on with the journey.