Lyrics
Upon a winding forest road
Introduction to a forest road setting
I met a soldier, far from home
Encounter with a soldier who is far from his home
I saw he was my enemy
Recognition that the soldier is perceived as an enemy
So I aimed at him and he at me
Both individuals aim their weapons at each other
Prepared was I but loath to shoot
The narrator is hesitant and reluctant to shoot
And he, uncertain what to do
The enemy soldier is uncertain and indecisive
A cold sweat formed upon my brow
Narrator experiences anxiety (cold sweat) but both maintain their positions
But we both kept rank and stood our ground
Despite tension, both soldiers stand their ground
And then a curious thing occurred
An unexpected event occurs as a tiny bird arrives
On wings arrived a tiny bird
The bird is not affected by the conflict
And troubled not by war or peace
The bird sings a melody, indifferent to war or peace
She sang for us a melody
The song brings a moment of peace amid conflict
I dared not move or look away
Narrator is paralyzed by the situation, fearing for their life
Lest my life, my foe would take
Fear of the enemy taking action if the narrator moves
Yet in his eyes I saw his fright
The enemy soldier shows signs of fear in his eyes
Just a boy like me, afraid to die
Realization that the enemy is just a frightened young person
The meadow lark sang on and on
The meadow lark continues to sing, symbolizing hope
Then more arrived and joined the song
Others join the song, signifying unity
And as I held my rival's stare
Narrator and enemy soldier maintain eye contact
A tremendous chorus filled the air
A chorus of birdsong intensifies
Then in my heart, as clear as day
A realization in the narrator's heart
I heard a gentle whisper say
A gentle whisper advises the narrator to show grace and love
"My son, if my disciple be
Reference to being a disciple and following a higher teaching
Show grace and love your enemy"
The advice is to extend grace and love to the perceived enemy
With swell of birdsong all around
The narrator lowers their rifle, influenced by the birdsong
Lowered I, my rifle down
Anxiety as the enemy soldier takes aim
And as my foe took aim at me
The narrator signals surrender on bended knee
I showed him yield on bended knee
The enemy soldier reacts to the surrender
He faltered then and shook with fear
The enemy falters and experiences fear
And from his eye he wiped a tear
The enemy soldier reveals vulnerability by wiping a tear
His gaze was as a brother's bond
A connection is felt between the two soldiers
And then he turned and he was gone
The enemy soldier leaves, indicating a resolution
If I should live to see more days
An expression of a desire for a better future
I pray the Lord to guide my ways
A prayer for guidance from the Lord
With grace to love my enemy
An aspiration to love one's enemy
For grace my Savior showed to me
Reflecting on the grace shown by the Savior
With grace to love my enemy
Reiteration of the desire to love one's enemy
For grace my Savior showed to me
Acknowledgment of the grace received from the Savior
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