Elegy For Dunkirk
Jeff Beck/Olivia Safe Lyrics


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Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
Forgive our foolish ways!
Re-clothe us in our rightful mind,
In purer lives thy service find,
In deeper reverence praise.

In simple trust like theirs who heard,
Beside the Syrian sea,
The gracious calling of the Lord,
Let us, like them, without a word
Rise up and follow thee.

O Sabbath rest by Galilee!
O calm of hills above,
Where Jesus knelt to share with thee
The silence of eternity,
Interpreted by love!

Drop thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease,
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of thy peace.

Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and thy balm,
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire,




Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still small voice of calm!

Overall Meaning

The song Elegy for Dunkirk by Jeff Beck feat. Olivia Safe is a hauntingly beautiful and deeply contemplative piece that draws inspiration from a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind." The lyrics express a deep sense of humility, repentance, and a desperate yearning for peace and spiritual comfort in the face of the ravages of war. The opening lines, "Dear Lord and Father of mankind, Forgive our foolish ways!" are a plea for divine forgiveness and guidance, while the refrain "In deeper reverence, praise" is a reminder of the importance of giving oneself fully to worship and devotion.


The second stanza of the song reflects on the power of faith and the willingness to answer the call of the Lord, even if it means leaving everything behind without a word. The image of those who heard the call beside the Syrian Sea is an allusion to the story of the apostles being called by Jesus to leave their fishing nets and follow him. The chorus again emphasizes the need for rest and calm in the turmoil of life, with the evocative phrase "O Sabbath rest by Galilee!" The image of Jesus kneeling in prayer in the hills above is a testament to the idea that peace and comfort can be found in the solace of nature.


The final stanza of the song is a plea for spiritual renewal and an end to the strife and stress of daily life. The lines "Breathe through the heats of our desire, Thy coolness and thy balm" suggest a need for divine intervention to soothe the passions and desires of humanity. The apocalyptic imagery of "earthquake, wind, and fire" is tempered by the hopeful idea that amidst the chaos and destruction, there is always a "still small voice of calm" that can bring comfort and hope.


Overall, Elegy for Dunkirk is a powerful meditation on the human condition and the need for spiritual solace in times of war and chaos.


Line by Line Meaning

Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
We humbly ask for your mercy and grace, as we have acted foolishly in the past.


Forgive our foolish ways!
Please forgive us for acting in ways that were not wise.


Re-clothe us in our rightful mind,
Help us renew our minds to think in a way that is pleasing to you.


In purer lives thy service find,
Let us dedicate our lives to serving you with a pure heart.


In deeper reverence praise.
May we praise you with even greater reverence and respect.


In simple trust like theirs who heard,
Just like those who first heard your call, may we trust you simply and wholeheartedly.


Beside the Syrian sea,
As they did by the Syrian sea.


The gracious calling of the Lord,
Receiving the merciful invitation from the Lord.


Let us, like them, without a word
And let us respond without hesitation, just as they did.


Rise up and follow thee.
May we rise and follow you wherever you lead us.


O Sabbath rest by Galilee!
We find peace in the Sabbath rest by Galilee.


O calm of hills above,
The calmness of the hills above brings solace to us.


Where Jesus knelt to share with thee
It was where Jesus knelt to reflect and communicate with you.


The silence of eternity,
The profound and transcendental silence of the eternal universe.


Interpreted by love!
That was interpreted by love.


Drop thy still dews of quietness,
Graciously shower us with the still dews of quietness.


Till all our strivings cease,
Till all our conflicts and struggles come to an end.


Take from our souls the strain and stress,
Remove the tension and stress from our souls.


And let our ordered lives confess
Let our well-organized lives reveal.


The beauty of thy peace.
The beauty of the peace that comes from you.


Breathe through the heats of our desire
Breathe into our passionate hearts.


Thy coolness and thy balm,
To provide relief and healing.


Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire,
Suppressing our sensory and mortal desires.


Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
Instead, speak to us through the natural forces of the world.


O still small voice of calm!
We yearn for your soothing and peaceful voice.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DARIO MARIANELLI

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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