Keep on, strong heart.

Yesterday, I rescued a bag of old cassette tapes from the floor of my car. On the way to a counseling appointment this afternoon, I pulled out one of them. I listened to this song obsessively ten years ago, and it touches me again. I’m doing serious soul work just now on my own needs and boundaries, and also taking a week-long class on preventing boundary (i.e., sexual) violations in the church. I give this to everyone who needs strength for their own struggle.

“Keep On Strong Heart,” by Libby Roderick. (Turtle Island Records, copyright 1993.)

I know you’re tired, I know you’re weary
I know you want to give up some days
Some days are so hard, some days are too lonely
But I love you so, and there’s no other way.

So keep on, strong heart, don’t fail me now,
We must keep going a little bit longer
Keep on, strong heart, I know somehow
That you will be there when the great new day dawns.

You have been toiling what seems like forever
Sometimes you feel you’re right where you began
Your mind starts to ache, your body, it trembles
It’s only your heart that tells you, you can.

So keep on, strong heart, don’t fail me now,
We must keep going a little bit longer
Keep on, strong heart, I know somehow
That you will be there when the great new day dawns.

And the fight will go on, we’re talking about freedom
We can, so we must, and we must, so we dare.
If your body gives way, I will carry you homeward
When that new day dawns, my love, you will be there.

So keep on, strong heart, don’t fail me now,
We must keep going a little bit longer
Keep on, strong heart, I know somehow
That you will be there when the great new day dawns.

And if you need courage, I’m right here beside you
If I need strength, I will look in your eyes.

And the fight will go on, we’re talking about freedom
We can, so we must, and we must, so we dare.
If your body gives way, I will carry you homeward
When that new day dawns, my love, you will be there.

So keep on, strong heart, don’t fail me now,
We must keep going a little bit longer
Keep on, strong heart, I know somehow
We will be there when the great new day dawns.