Note: This song was intended for a musical theatrical project that I never completed. I wanted four characters to sing about their different ideas of faith – none of which were mutually exclusive. I recorded an original version with just a piano. Then I used by synthesizer and other software to attempt an orchestral version – which does not have vocal … yet … .

Faith – vocal

Faith – vocal – original version: “B no intro”

Faith – instrumental version

Faith – instrumental version – draft: “B enhanced”
Faith     ---    © 1997 Myron Schreck

PART ONE:    Mama Jones is dying of a painful terminal cancer. She's on drugs. It's just a matter of hours or days.  She sings:

God gives me hope  God gives me peace  
God gives me strength when I am weak 
 In the dark of my life when I'm lost & alone 
 God gives me courage to carry on 
 God gives me hope God makes me strong 
 God gives me hope   God is my home.
 
 Faith is the reason I wake up each day 
 Faith is the reason I'm never afraid 
 Nothing can shake the faith in my heart and my soul 
 It will never grow old -- It will never go cold 

And when my suffering's too hard to bear. 
And I can't fight the feverish chill in the air. 
And the drugs that I take can't relieve all my pain
They just tear up my stomach and drive me insane.
And the doctors can't say when I'm going to die. 
And my family can't look without tears in their eyes.
But in spite of this torment I'll never deny – 
My faith in God --  my faith in God.

PART TWO:  Billy is a young song-writer from Idaho: 

 I'm born to the land, warmed by the sun, 
 refreshed by the wind, cleansed by the rain. 
 And when I'm confused, and need to find peace, 
 I run to the mountains, forests and streams,. 
 The earth gives me hope, the promise of growth, 
 the earth gives me hope, renewing my soul. 

PART THREE:   Dierdre Jones – Mama's daughter:
 
 I put my faith in my family and friends. 
 Giving them love, I get love in return. 
 Sharing my dreams and my fears 
 with the ones I love dearly, 
 brings comfort and peace.
 Love's the one thing I need
 Love is what I believe 

PART FOUR:  Mark is a young song-writer who – unknown to his friends – is suffering from a painful mental illness 

 And when the drugs can't relieve all the pain 
 of the darkest delusions that drive me insane. 
 And I can't stop the voices inside of my head. 
 Though they scream and they shout, 
 I can't tell what they've said. 
 And I bite at my nails, and I tear at my flesh, 
 and I hide all my wounds, and I cover the mess. 
 And I lie to my family and friends -- just because -- 
 I don't know who to trust –   I don't know how to trust

PART FIVE:  DUETS:
First Duet:    
Mama: 
------  God gives me 
--------   hope.  God gives me peace.  
----------    God gives me strength when I am weak 
 Billy:      
------   I need the flowers.   I need the trees.  
------   I need the mountains.   I need the streams.   

 Second Duet:    
 Mama: 
------  God gives me 
--------    shelter -- grants me relief    
----------     God gives me sight when I can't see 
 Deirdre:      
 ------    Trusting my friends  Sharing my dreams   
 ------    Knowing my family is there in my need 

PART SIX:   Mama -- alone on stage -- encircled by a bright stage light – she stands singing to the heavens 
 And when my life comes to the end, 
    I'll see God's light slowly descend ...
        Drawing me close, accepting my soul
          God brings me home