Come Home, My Love

In my hospice work, I share the wonderment of family members at the dying process and its surprises.  One familiar experience of the dying seems to be that loved ones who have already "gone on" tend to appear at their bedside to encourage them or perhaps to accompany the dying along their way.  In fact, I have had hospice patients try to introduce me to their visitors who remain hidden from my sight. By and large, these appearances seem to calm and delight the dying patient as the look on their face reveals a mystical serenity that seems to slow the pace of their breathing, even as they seem to "look through" their earth-bound family members and caregivers who likewise stand at their bedside.

Following the writing of "I've Gone Away," which was meant as a folk anthem to give voice to the comfort and hope that a dead young man sings to ease the grief of his intended bride, I began a process of writing lyrics for the actual dying process.  "Come Home, My Love" is the first such piece.  The tune may be familiar to you. It is adapted from a folk melody sung in the Appalachians, a variant of the earlier tune, Barbara Allen.  Now, you might hear it as the voice of Jesus, calling his disciple to enter at last into their rest.  Or, perhaps it could be heard as the song of a long dead parent or spouse who returns at the end of life to sing peace into the heart of their beloved.  

Our thanks goes again to Jeff Bush who sings with us in this death bed hymn that affirms our belief in the life that awaits us in God's keeping.

Click below to view the lyrics.