Feb 2022 girl-with-piano piano prayer contemplative
Looking through past journal entries, and came upon this prayer I wrote a few years ago. About the longing, and struggle, to hear from God in prayer.
Wrote a contemplative/meditative setting tonight, and whipped together a first draft recording. Tempted to add some oboe over it, but no time right now... also want a better musical transition into the bridge.
Holy one
Why do you whisper so
Is it so
That I will lean in close
Yet often
The whisper
To silence dies
Who are you?
Where are you?
My soul it cries
Grasping through
Darkness I reach for you
You seem a
Phantom who still eludes
How can I
Get water
From this hard stone
I’m longing
And weary
And tired to the bone
How do I
Pull apart truth from lies
How to leave
Darkness and follow light
Teach me to hear
Not with ears but with soul
Teach me the way
To give up and let go
Teach me the way
Only your Spirit knows
Holy One
Why do you whisper so
Is it so
That I will lean in close
@donna Mar 2022
How beautiful this is. Absolutely moving on every level: lyrics, music, vocals. The first verse is riveting.
Thank you for this. :)
@sheslin Mar 2022
I love the slow beautiful vocals over the rolling keyboard. Those vocals are truly gorgeous and so emotive. Oh wow harmonies too. Love the melody. This is such a special song. BTW, I love Nickel Creek and really miss them.
@tukayandryan Mar 2022
This is really beautiful. Lovely piano and your voice is gorgeous. Heartfelt and authentic. Love the harmonies too. Stellar performance.
@skibum1066 Feb 2022
Lovely. A prayer indeed. Thank you for the lyrics, the voice, the piano accompaniment
@drewhottmann Feb 2022
This is stunning. The amount of feelings you pull from a two-part harmonies in the second and third verse is shocking.
This could give a Lady Gaga ballad a run for her money:
Vocals: Tie
Piano: Hannah
Overall Production: Gaga, but it shouldn’t be this close given her resources.
This is one I’ll listen to quite a bit.
@fonte Feb 2022
Oof my days. Your VOICE!!! Again. Just incredible. Incredible tone. Control. Beautiful melody. Just everything actually. Ahhhh just got to the harmonies. Blimey.
@sunnymae Feb 2022
You have the voice of an Irish Spring. This piece stirs the Soul in the most contemplative and beautiful of ways. Your musicianship is amazing and the piano flows like a river. I hope you put this song out in to the world where it belongs.
I could listen to this song a million times over.
@scottlake Feb 2022
Yes it is the still small voice of the One who is outside of time who does want us close.
@cleanshoes Feb 2022
I don't know what I can say that hasn't already been said. This is moving, heartfelt, and simply gorgeous.
@richaaaay Feb 2022
Wow...Well, you sing this with soul...Such a stellar vocal performance. So soft yet so penetrating. Truly spectacular. Piano accompaniment is perfect.
@liz561 Feb 2022
The vocals are so stunning. The keyboard sounds like flowing water.
@serene123 Feb 2022
Love this so much . Really the best thing I've heard on Fawm.. the subject matter was something I could relate to and honestly it made me choke up.. it's breathtaking
@kadmad202 Feb 2022
Beautiful, Hannah. There’s much to say about this song, both musically and lyrically - how both reach in deep and touch the soul. Others have expressed it so well, so no need to say more.
@katestantonsings Feb 2022
Utterly stunning! At a loss for words...beautiful job!
@theicylakes Feb 2022
What everybody else said. Wow! This was stunningly beautiful and emotive! I believed every single word!
@mariekevinkmusic Feb 2022
I am totally speechless. This is so, so perfect.
@kenmattsson Feb 2022
Wow. Just wow. Somewhat speechless at the beauty of this. Lyrics, vocals, piano. Sets me onto another play. Wow......
@standup Feb 2022
This is lovely. The vocal sounds great, beautiful. Harmonies are about perfect.
But the story here is even more interesting. Reaching for something bigger, and it's distant, and quiet, hard to understand. Communication is a whisper or fading to nothing.
The questions of truth/lie and darkness/light are big ones. But asking questions is hard, met with silence.
I feel like these are huge questions. Looking for a way to hear that is not hearing, interesting.
@colgoo Feb 2022
This is so beautiful!!! I love this so much.
@tseaver Feb 2022
Lovely write. "How can I..." / "How do I..." followed by "Teach me..." is a great device. The melody and subtle harmonies are beautiful.
@skibum1066 Feb 2022
Lovely. Prayer Poetic Lyrics. Nice harmonies. Piano meditation
@wrenarcher Feb 2022
This...
This is SO lovely.
Just stunning.
Your vocals deliver such an accurate desperate yearning I suspect many believers (and perhaps those who question) have felt, to experience through the senses... Providence.
I think what I love about this is that we KNOW exactly what you're singing of yet it is vague enough so that even those who believe in different ways can find immense beautiful meaning in your lyrics.
The production and mix is amazing.
Your playing delicate yet precise and your voice... beautiful.
The whole thing is just.... *sigh*
beautiful.
Well, done.
@jonmeta Feb 2022
I listened as I was falling asleep last night and in the morning the melody was in my head, so it’s got staying power. I can see why you were drawn back to this. The opening couplet is very strong emotionally and rings true. The bridge is a standout, as are the harmonies, a sweet, vulnerable soprano that’s really effective transmitting the feelings of “doubting trust”.
@nahlej381 Feb 2022
This is beautiful. The beauty of this piece, to me, is that God seems to be showing themself here.. like you journaled this prayer and tucked it away and when you came back to it, it was a beautiful and moving song…like your prayer was a seed that grew into a tree with a bit of time. God lives in between the lines and in between the seconds…always there. Well done!
@kahlo2013 Feb 2022
This is absolutely gorgeous and so contemplative and prayerful inviting God’s guidance and being open to His wisdom. The lyrics are so beautiful and your vocal delivery with the lovely piano and your vocals is stunning. It is truly a intimately transformative piece. Thank you for sharing this. What a lovely way to start my work day to remind me about the spiritual importance of my work, words, and actions.
@davidtaro Feb 2022
Agreeing with @majordanby, this transports you. Listening at my desk on a Monday morning and had to stop what I was doing to take it all in. The playing is delicate and classy, your voice is just stunning, and then the harmonies kick it up a notch when they come in. I was getting some Sarah Mclachlan vibes - so nice. Good job, Hannah!
@geoff61 Feb 2022
Apart from your obvious talent the subject here is very apt and poignant, for those of faith it can be difficult when your life is hard, bad things are happening in the world and you have to question, why.
@majordanby Feb 2022
Blown away by how good this is. Your vocals and piano are just perfect. The production is so crisp and I was transported away listening to this. This has to be up there with one of my favourites this year. Superb.