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By David Berkeley

Singer-songwriter David Berkeley used to live in Atlanta and is a friend of CBH. Here’s how he introduced “This Be Dear to Me” in a return appearance at Eddie’s Attic at the end of 2018 (lightly edited): “I wanted to write a political love song, a song that could potentially try to unite people who don’t agree with me on policy, or a lot of things. I was in a pretty low place, because I was so frustrated and frightened by so many things going on in the world. I didn’t want to write another angry song, so I started writing things I that love and things that I find beautiful. I wrote a lot of words down, 20 or 30 verses, and then I painstakingly whittled it down. What is left are things I would find it hard for other people not to also love and care about. It might not be their top list, but at some level, in their best self, on their best days, they would remember that these things are dear to them, too. Maybe, if we can relate on that level, then we can slowly get back up to the surface and start to make decisions that protect those things and keep them dear. That’s my hope.”

Will Robertson, who had produced and arranged David’s beautiful original recording, created this full version for us, and chorus member Howard Winer fashioned a video from congregants’ photographs.

lyrics

Oh, the water in the stream
Flowing through the centuries
Through the canyons, through the trees
This be dear to me
And the breezes as they blow
From ’cross the seas through your window
Where they come from, where they go
This be dear to me

Chorus:
Ah, oh, I believe this is what’s worth fighting for
Ah, oh, help us see that there is so much more
Adonai

On the desert, vast and wide
Silent under endless skies
And then you put your hand in mine
This be dear to me
Or when you wake still warm from sleep
Half a dream your soft lips speak
Safe and near me you I’ll keep
This be dear to me

Chorus

Oh, the autumn, rust and gold
Winter mornings, crisp and cold
Then in spring, the world unfolds
This be dear to me
Oh the whole world’s whispering
The morning rains, the prayer bells ring
The eagle cries, the great whales sing
This be dear to me

Chorus

If I leave this world too soon
Far beyond the silver moon
Live your life with love and truth
This be dear to me
Look, there’s love in all that’s true
This be dear to me
Feel the love surrounding you
This be dear to me
Yes, you are dear to me

credits

from Red Thread, released December 10, 2020

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Congregation Bet Haverim Atlanta, Georgia

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