Homeward Bound

In the quiet misty morning
When the moon has gone to bed,
When the sparrows stop their singing
And the sky is clear and red,

When the summer's ceased its gleaming
When the corn is past its prime,
When adventure's lost its meaning -
I'll be homeward bound in time

Bind me not to the pasture
Chain me not to the plow
Set me free to find my calling
And I'll return to you somehow

If you find it's me you're missing
If you're hoping I'll return,
To your thoughts I'll soon be listening,
And in the road I'll stop and turn

Then the wind will set me racing
As my journey nears its end
And the path I'll be retracing
When I'm homeward bound again

Bind me not to the pasture
Chain me not to the plow
Set me free to find my calling
And I'll return to you somehow

(softly)
In the quiet misty morning
When the moon has gone to bed,
When the sparrows stop their singing
I'll be homeward bound again.

I wanted to share with you my favorite song we sang last night.  (It was also sung this morning on the spoken word) It's one of those songs that speaks so directly to my heart.  I feel so connected to the song on many levels.  First I think of the first time I heard the song.  I was working at USU in the music therapy program in 2005.  During this year there was a tragic accident that involved several agriculture students.  The teacher who was driving died and I believe 8 students also died.  It was a terrible time for USU.  The Mormon Tabernacle Choir was asked to sing at a memorial services in honor of those involved in the accident.  The choir sang this song and it touched me very deeply.  

When I was learning this song this year I had many other emotions surface.  I thought of my own children who I will need to set free as they grow up.  I also think of family members or friends who have chose to leave the church sometime in their life.  They call out, "Set me free to find my calling and I'll return to you somehow."  Just a beautiful song with symbolism that really sings to me.