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about

My Grandfather passed away this spring at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. September 14th would have been his 81st birthday. As of the time I am writing this we have not yet had a formal service for him. This song is a hymn honoring his memory as well as the loved ones who showed so much compassion to our family in a time of grief.

lyrics

Silent Spring:

When crocus broke the earth this year, they knew something was wrong.
The people who had gawked at them were hiding or gone.
I myself had shut myself right where I belonged.
Caring for my Grandfather who lived 80 years long.

In the silent spring
Silent Spring
In the Silent Spring
When loved ones give the call, we always hear the ring.

Each year the weather turns the wood from brown to green to gold.
My grandpa farm the berries to grow just as their told.
Each year he’d water prune and harvest, but when his bones grew old.
He’d sit and talk with all his heart, his stories filled the cold.

In the Silent Spring
In the Silent Spring
In the Silent Spring
When loved ones call to us, we always hear the ring.

In all your years of ministry you touched so many people.
You’d gather loved ones to your heart underneath steeple.
And so for 7 days this spring as you lay weak and feeble,
We feared that you might pass without a service of your people.

In the Silent Spring
In the Silent Spring
In Silent Spring
When loved ones call to us, we always hear the ring.

On the morning of your death we gathered round in prayer.
Your brothers filled the driveway wind swept through their hair.
We drove you through the blueberries you always loved it there.
We passed the church lot full of cars. Your people really cared.

In the Silent Spring
In the Silent Spring
In Silent Spring
When loved ones call to us, we always hear the ring.
When loved ones call to us, compassion we will bring.

credits

from It Was a Privilege to Know You When You Were Shorter, track released September 14, 2020
Music and lyrics: Jonathan Townley
Sound engineer: Neil Harvey

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Jonathan Townley Kalamazoo, Michigan

Jonathan is a journalist and songwriter.He blends storytelling and gentle acoustic guitar with a casual performance style. Check out his Instagram @jonathan.townley for more music updates.

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