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444 The Fire Before The Flame (FBTF CD)

by Mark Shepard

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Grant
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Tracey Rooney
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about

This song was inspired by the writings of Buddhist monk, Thich Nat Hahn...
In it, I ask just a few of the questions that people of all faiths and religious traditions find themselves asking...

If you have ever asked, "Why am I here?"

"Where did I come from?"

"Where do we go when our time is done here on this planet?"

You are asking spiritual questions. Thanks for listening. Please share this song with somebody today ok? Thanks! - Mark

lyrics

The Fire Before The Flame

Song #444 | 2/2/2012 | CD: The Fire Before The Flame

(Capo 2nd fret)
D
When you strike a match on the side of the box
“D/G” (add low G and high E)
And the flame bursts into view
Did it exist a moment before
Or is it something new?
When the flame of the match catches the candle
Is it still the same flame?
Now blow out the match where did the flame go?
Is it here or did it disappear?
Is it still alive if you close your eyes
And imagine its spark against a darkened sky

Refrain:
G D A Bm
Where was the fire before the flame?
G D A Bm A
Where was the river before the rain?
G D A Bm
Where was the pleasure before the pain?
G D A Bm A
Where were the diamonds before the claim?
G D A Bm
Where were the verses before the refrain?
G D A Bm A G
Where was the fire before the flame?

Did you exist before you were this?
Before you dared the air
And where will you go after you’re gone
When you complete your song?
Will something go on like day follows dawn
Like the ripples in the pond move on…
When you breathe a breath from abundance you take
Yet abundance still remains

Refrain:

Where was this song before it came along
And leapt from my guitar?
Was it a hum vibrating from
Some faint and distant star?
Was it a thought here in my head
That danced out through my mouth and hands?
Was it a shout that rang its way out
From some distant time or land?

Refrain:

Copyright 2012 by Mark Shepard

credits

released March 22, 2016

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Mark Shepard Albany, New York

Welcome to my “Life In Song” project.

Since 1976, I’ve been obsessively and compulsively writing songs. Some of them are inspired by my own life, my attempts to understand love, life, spirituality, peace and justice.

While I recently have started to get a little recognition, you’ve probably never heard my songs ANYWHERE.

But now you can hear them... here... Download. Share. Thanks! ... more

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