Were You There By David Roth © 18 November, 2003 The lone singer took the stage The orchestra stood mute A tiny choir huddled near Intent and resolute The singer paused and took a breath Determined to be heard “Were you there” he asked the audience “When they crucified my Lord?” I’d heard the hymn oft times before And softly sang along Without the deep conviction I felt now within this song A shiver trembled down my spine I drew a shallow breath Tears coursed down in burning streams Envisioning His death The singer pondered, “Were you there?” His eyes gazed into mine And caused me to consider My appointment with the Divine The Psalmist wrote that long before I voiced my newborn cries He knew me in my mother’s womb, He saw me through His eyes And now the image of the song That caught me unaware Reminded me that in His eyes Most surely, I was there For as each nail was driven home As each drop of blood was shed As surely as three days later He rose up from the dead I stood there on the somber day He hung upon the tree Aware that in His grace and love He did it all for me