Following The Story's breakup, Kimball released her first solo album, the critically acclaimed Veering from the Wave (Imaginary Road/PolyGram), in 1998. She followed this with a 2006 release Oh Hear Us (Epoisse).
Kimball performs regularly with several Boston-based bands including Wayfaring Strangers, Family Affair, and Maybe Baby, a quartet she fronts with her husband Ry Cavanaugh. She is in high demand as a vocalist and has performed on more than 60 releases by Catie Curtis, Jabe Beyer, Kris Delmhorst, Peter Mulvey, Ellis Paul, Lucy Kaplansky, Lori McKenna and Patty Larkin.
Eternal Father
Jennifer Kimball Lyrics
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Whose arm does bind the restless wave
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
It's own apointed limits keep
Oh hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea
Time, like an ever-rolling stream
To fly forgotten as a dream
Dies at the opening of the day
Oh, hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril here with me
Oh let the darkness shine as light
Make endless nightime to be bright
When fear and sorrows all have passed
Then face to face we'll meet at last
Be still when tears are wiped from men
Whose eyes shall never weep again, weep again, weep again.
Jennifer Kimball's song "Eternal Father" is a beautiful hymn that invokes the power and presence of God for protection and solace. The opening lines of the hymn, "Eternal father strong to save, whose arm does bind the restless wave, who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep it's own appointed limits keep" speaks to the power and strength of the Almighty. The ocean with all its majesty and might is no match for God's might, and as such, the hymn acknowledges him as the ultimate protector of all those that go down to the sea in ships.
The verse that follows, "oh hear us when we cry to thee, for those in peril on the sea" is a plea for God's mercy and favor to be upon all those that are in harm's way while going about their business of seafaring. It is a recognition that the sea can be a treacherous place and that only by God's divine intervention can those that venture into its depths be saved.
The final verse of the hymn speaks to the hope that believers have in God. "When fear and sorrows all have passed, then face to face, we'll meet at last. Be still when tears are wiped from men whose eyes shall never weep again" is a reminder that life here on earth is temporary, and though there are trials and tribulations that we all have to endure, ultimately, we will all be reunited with God in eternity, and all will be well.
Line by Line Meaning
Eternal father strong to save
Oh Almighty father, whose might binds the restless wave and keeps the vast ocean under its own appointed limits,
Whose arm does bind the restless wave
Oh God whose power and strength contains the wild and restless waves of the ocean,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
You are the God who commands the mighty depths of the ocean,
It's own apointed limits keep
And keeps it from straying beyond its own appointed limits.
Oh hear us when we cry to thee
We humbly beseech you to hear us when we cry out to you,
For those in peril on the sea
Especially for those who are in danger and distress at sea.
Time, like an ever-rolling stream
Time is an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all it's children soon away
It carries all its children away with great haste.
To fly forgotten as a dream
Soon to be forgotten just like a dream,
Dies at the opening of the day
It ends at the break of day.
Oh, hear us when we cry to thee
Father listen to us and hear our cry,
For those in peril here with me
For us here in danger and distress right now.
Oh let the darkness shine as light
Father, let the darkness be turned into light,
Make endless nightime to be bright
Let the endless night be bright.
When fear and sorrows all have passed
When all the fears and sorrows have passed away,
Then face to face we'll meet at last
We shall see you, our Father, face to face at last.
Be still when tears are wiped from men
In that moment there will be peace and stillness since tears shall be wiped away from every person,
Whose eyes shall never weep again, weep again, weep again.
Their eyes shall never weep again.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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