Biography:
Talbot was born into a Methodist family with a musical background in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and started learning to play the guitar at an early age. At age 15 he dropped out of school and was performing as a guitarist for Mason Proffit, a country folk-rock band formed with his older brother Terry.
Talbot embarked on a spiritual journey that led him through Native American religion and Buddhism to Christianity. At this point he and his brother, Terry, joined the Jesus Movement, recording the album Reborn which was re-released by Sparrow Records (originally released as The Talbot Brothers on the Warner Brothers label).
Two solo albums followed for Talbot: John Michael Talbot (1976) and The New Earth (1977). Both of these were produced by Billy Ray Hearn.
Reading the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, he was inspired to begin studying at a Franciscan center in Indianapolis. He became a Roman Catholic and joined the Secular Franciscan Order in 1978. He started a house of prayer, The Little Portion.
Talbot moved The Little Portion to Eureka Springs, Arkansas on land he had purchased during his Mason Proffit days. He founded his own community, the Brothers and Sisters of Charity, at Little Portion Hermitage as an "integrated monastic community" with celibate brothers and sisters, singles, and families. By 1989, Talbot had married Viola Pratka (with the permission of the Catholic Church). Pratka was a former Incarnate Word Sister who had come to the community in 1986.
Per the community's General Constitutions, Talbot's title is "General Minister and Spiritual Father". For many years, he has promoted the work of Mercy Corps.
The hermitage suffered a fire in April 2008 in which the chapel, library and many common areas were destroyed.
On April 10, 2010 the Bishop of Little Rock, Anthony Taylor, dedicated the new buildings. On October 2, 2010 the Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage celebrated the opening of the new monastery church and common center.
City of God
John Michael Talbot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Arise from your sleep
A new day is dawning
For all those who weep
The people of darkness
Have seen a great light
The Lord of our long morning
Has conquered the night
Let us build the city of God
May our tears be turned into dancing
For the lord our light and our love
Has turned the night into day
Let us build the city of God
May our tears be turned into dancing
For the lord our light and our love
Has turned the night
Turned the night into day
We are sons of the morning
And dauthers of the day
The one who has loved us
Has brightened our way
The Lord of all kindness
Has called us to be
A light for the nations
To set captures free
Let us build the city of God
May our tears be turned into dancing
For the lord our light and our love
Has turned the night into day
Let us build the city of God
May our tears be turned into dancing
For the lord our light and our love
Has turned the night
Turned the night into day
Let us build the city of God
May our tears be turned into dancing
For the lord our light and our love
Has turned the night into day
Let us build the city of God
May our tears be turned into dancing
For the lord our light and our love
Has turned the night
Turned the night into day
John Michael Talbot's song, City of God, is a call to action for Christians to awaken from their slumber and rise from their sleep. The lyrics declare that a new day is dawning for all those who weep, and the people of darkness have seen a great light. This light is the Lord of our long morning, and He has conquered the night. The song invites us to build the city of God and let our tears be turned into dancing because the Lord, our light and love, has turned the night into day.
The lyrics of City of God are a reminder to Christians that they are sons of the morning and daughters of the day. The Lord who has loved us has brightened our way, and His kindness has called us to be a light for the nations and to set captives free. We are encouraged to build the city of God by using our gifts, talents, and resources to serve others and spread the gospel. We are called to turn our tears into dancing and celebrate the transformation that the Lord has brought into our lives.
Overall, John Michael Talbot's City of God is a song of hope, joy, and action. The lyrics remind us of the power of God's love to bring light into darkness and transform lives. The song invites us to build the city of God by partnering with God in His mission to reconcile the world to Himself.
Line by Line Meaning
Awake from your slumber
It is time to wake up from your spiritual slumber
Arise from your sleep
Rise up from your spiritual sleep and awaken to new possibilities
A new day is dawning
A new era of spiritual awakening is upon us
For all those who weep
For those who are mourning their current spiritual state
The people of darkness
Those who are lost and lacking divine light
Have seen a great light
The Lord has shone his light upon them
The Lord of our long morning
The Lord who has always been present in the morning of creation
Has conquered the night
The Lord has overcome spiritual darkness and ignorance
Let us build the city of God
Let us work together to create a community that honors God and His values
May our tears be turned into dancing
May our sorrows be replaced with joy
For the lord our light and our love
God is the source of our spiritual energy and love
Has turned the night into day
God has transformed our spiritual darkness into light
We are sons of the morning
We are children of the light created in God's image
And daughters of the day
We are daughters of the light and bearers of its goodness
The one who has loved us
God has shown us His love through His mercy and blessings
Has brightened our way
God has illuminated the path before us
The Lord of all kindness
God is the source of all benevolence and kindness in the world
Has called us to be
God has summoned us to do His will and glorify His name
A light for the nations
We must be examples of God's grace to others around us
To set captives free
Our mission is to release those in bondage to sin and ignorance
Contributed by Zoe Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.