Initiatives of Change - Action For Life Songs

1. It's better to light one candle than to curse the darkness
2. Go, go with an answer!
3. Images
4. The voice in your heart
5. Listen to the heartbeat
6. When I point my finger at my neighbour
7. Be the change

1. It's better to light one candle than to curse the darkness

How many times I've backed away, so often afraid
Told others I'd be counted on and left them all betrayed
I've said there's nothing I can do in a world that's turned so sour
Where the hope of freedom is fading by the hour. But..

Chorus:
It's better to light one candle than to curse the darkness,
Better to let its bright light show where you stand:
For its glow will melt the dark night like the coming of a new dawn
And hope will be born from that small flame in your hand.

There are many echoes in the world but few voices,
Many roads for us to take but few make choices;
Will we always wait till it's too late and things seem all but lost,
Afraid to leave the shadows, afraid to face the cost.

But if you stand up and leave your fears behind,
You'll show a light for all those who are blind:
It will spread around the world, a light that cannot be ignored,
For the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord.

(Words and music: Chris Gill)



2. Go, go with an answer

Oh, I went on a journey not far away;
I went on a journey at break of day;
I went on a journey, and what did I see?
A host of hungry children, crying out to me:

Oh go, go with answer! Run faster than you've run before,
Throw away your burdens, you won't need them any more;
Go, go with an answer! Do things you've never done before,
Shout: "We are your brothers and sisters!"
Till the world begins to care once more.

Oh, I went on a journey not far away;
I went on a journey at break of day;
I went on a journey, and what did I see?
The homeless and the hating ones, crying out to me:

Oh, I went on a journey not far away;
I went on a journey at break of day;
I went on a journey, and what did I see?
People from every nation, crying out to me:

(Words and music: Kathleen Johnson)

3. Images

There are images I hide behind
So the real me is hard to find
The delusion begins in my mind;
Caught between the real and make believe
I know I'm the one I most deceive
But I guess that is the way life has to be.

Lots of friends think that there's nothing wrong
'Cos when I'm with them my mask is on
I can only keep pretending for so long;
Deep inside I'm yearning to be free
To have done with my hypocrisy
And become the person I am meant to be.

Looking into the mirror, I see the real me:
It may not be what I want to see,
But its truth can set me free.

Now I choose to live transparently
You can turn the searchlight in on me
'Cos there's nothing I don't want the world to see;
Instead of fearing what my friends might say
I've a peace no one can take away
I can face the future boldly from today.

(Words and music: Rob Wood)

4.The voice in your heart

Along with the bullock-carts, buses and people you'll see in the town,
Or even alone in the countryside under the stars shining down,
There's a voice in your heart, if you willingly listen you'll hear
That voice with its wisdom and peace for each one of us,
Speaking directly and clear.

All over the place you'll find people are searching for ways to make peace,
They long for an end to the worries, corruption and pain and disease,
There's a voice in their heart, if they willingly listen they'll hear
That voice with its wisdom and peace for each one of us,
Speaking directly and clear.

Each person that's living on earth has been given the will to decide,
To obey and rely on the power that controls all our feelings and pride,
It's that voice in your heart, could you willingly listen and hear
That voice with its wisdom and peace for each one of us,
Speaking directly and clear.

(Words and music: Elaine Gordon)


5. Listen to the heartbeat

Listen to the heartbeat of humanity,
Rhythm of the life we're born to share:
Young and old, from every nation,
Calling us to care.
Listen with your heart and answer with your life,
Share in the heartbeat of humanity.

Listen to the voice of those who are different,
Giving us a broader mind and heart:
Will our world have room for everyone
To play their part?
Listen with your heart�

Listen to the pain of those who have suffered,
Needing to be loved and heard and known:
From the hurt can seeds of healing
And hope be sown?
Listen with your heart...

Listen to the silence deep within you
Speaking new wisdom day by day:
Source of purpose and direction,
Let it show the way.
Listen with your heart�

Listen to the heartbeat of humanity,
Where is it calling you and me?
To a world with hope for all of us,
To our destiny.
Listen with your heart�

Listen to the heartbeat, (Listen to the heartbeat)
Listen to the heartbeat, (Listen to the heartbeat)
Listen to the heartbeat, (Listen to the...)
... listen!

(Words and music: Chris Lancaster)


6. When I point my finger at my neighbour

Oh when I point my finger at my neighbour
There are three more pointing back at me;
The little one says, "You're not so hot,
If you blame the other fellow then you're on the spot!"
Oh when I point my finger at my neighbour
It just ain't honesty,
'Cos in my heart I feel that I first must deal
With the three that are pointing at me.
Oh when I point my finger at my neighbour
There are three more pointing back at me;
The second one says, "Go easy, mate!
You ain't cleaned the rubbish from your own back gate!"
Oh when I point my finger at my neighbour
It just ain't honesty,
'Cos I realise I must first get wise
To the three that are pointing at me. Oh when I point my finger at my neighbour
There are three more pointing back at me;
The third one says, "Supposing you
Had to run the country, what would you do?
Oh would you point your finger at your neighbour?
Where would this nation be?"
Well I couldn't wait so I soon got straight
With the three that are pointing at me. Oh when I point my finger at my neighbour
There are three more pointing back at me
They seem to say, "See here my lad,
Maybe you are just about three times as bad!"
Oh when I point my finger at my neighbour
It just ain't honesty,
'Cos in my heart I feel that I first must deal
With the--"What'll I do?" "What'll I do?"
What are we going to be doing about the
One, two, three that are pointing back at me?

(Words and music: Cecil Broadhurst)

7. Be the change

I'm so glad to know I'm not alone,
You are here with me, by my side;
We will show the world how to live, and how the world was meant to be,
We will be the change we want the world to be:

Chorus:
When change starts within my heart
I can show the world the way to go;
When we look past our needs and live beneath our will
We will be the change we want the world to be!

(Words and music: Obas Ukoko)