Original Song Premiere: Eclipse

For the April 12 virtual Easter service for Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church I decided to re-visit a song I had written and recorded previously with the GIPC band for the Sunday Morning Live, Vol. 2 Album.  

​Eclipse was inspired by Matthew 27:45, which describes the moment of the death of Jesus:

  From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.

The song tackles the hours of the eclipse as a time of uncertainty and worry - fears that seem very relevant to me in the midst of this pandemic.  This arrangement is not of a full band but a more stripped-down acoustic performance, along with some droning effects and sitar-like sounds to intensify the mystery of the lyric.  

I was joined on this recording by my brother, bassist Jeffrey Martin.  His groove helped inspire the direction of this arrangement. 

Note: This video will premiere at 11:30am on 4/12/2020, immediately following the virtual service which airs at 10:30am at Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church's Facebook page.  

Eclipse
Music and Lyrics by Dave Martin

First, a shadow falls across the sun,
A tiny sliver stolen from the star.
Oh, soon, all eyes cast heavenly,
The wailing thieves ask why has the sun forsaken me?

Lost in the halo,
Obscured by the moon,
Dark divides the day.
My God, what have we done?

What wickedness has brought this shadow upon us?
Is there some great sadness we commit?
Why are the righteous in this world always so quick to dim?
Will this day of darkness never end?

Lost in the halo,
Obscured by the moon,
Dark divides the day.
My God, what have we done?

I choose to trust
The dark is just a shadow of the sun.
More gracious than just
In this life a new light will ascend.

After the eclipse, I choose to trust.