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Lyrics: What Adam's Done
Meanwhile the heinous and despiteful act Of Satan done in Paradise, and how He in the serpent had perverted Eve, Her husband she, to taste the fatal fruit, Was known in heav’n; for what can escape the eye Of God all-seeing, or deceive his heart Omniscient, who in all things wise and just, Hindered not Satan to attempt the mind Of man, with strength entire, and free will armed, Complete to have discovered and repulsed Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend. For still they knew, and ought to have still remembered the high injunction not to taste that fruit, Whoever tempted; which they not obeying, Incurred, what could they less, the penalty, And manifold in sin, deserved to fall. Up into heav’n from Paradise in haste Th’ angelic guards ascended, mute and sad For man, for of his state by this they knew, Much wond’ring how the subtle Fiend had stol’n Entrance unseen. Soon as th’ unwelcome news from earth arrived at heaven gate, displeased All were who heard, dim sadness did not spare That time celestial visages, yet mixed With pity, violated not their bliss. About the new-arrived, in multitudes th’ ethereal people ran, to hear and know how all befell: they towards the throne supreme Accountable made haste…
(from Book X, Paradise Lost, by John Milton) |
I came as soon as I received the word,
Tell me that it’s not what I have heard,
I could not admit that it was true,
Until I had heard it straight from you,
Is man fallen to the Evil One?
I cannot believe what Adam’s done.
You gave them a more than gracious choice:
Blessed life, if they obeyed your voice,
Turning from that one forbidden tree,
But you always knew what their choice would be–
The curse of death you wanted them to shun,
I cannot believe what Adam’s done.
I cannot believe what Adam’s done,
He’s ruined everything for everyone,
Paradise on earth is lost,
Before it has begun…
Within the blood that flowed through Adam’s veins,
You had placed your own immortal strains,
Ah, the foolish man, the foolish wife,
Poisoning their own eternal life,
And passing it from father to the son,
I cannot believe what Adam’s done.
Does this mean you must invoke the plan
You designed before the world began?
How I wish there were some other way,
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Is it not too high a price to pay?
Must the cost include your only Son?
I cannot believe what Adam’s done.
I cannot believe what Adam’s done,
He’s ruined everything for everyone,
Paradise on earth is lost,
Before it has begun…
This Adam was created from the earth,
But not the one who comes by holy birth,
Must the Son of God be Son of Man,
Just to win back Adam’s life again?
Thinking of the race that he must run,
I cannot believe what Adam’s done.
Even though I know the reasons why
Son of God must go to earth and die,
I do not look forward to the time
When he takes the blame for Adam’s crime,
But I know that he’s the only one
Who can now undo what Adam’s done.
Yet it would be worth waiting for the day
When at last I finally could say:
Glory unto God and unto his almighty Son,
He has now redeemed what Adam’s done.
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©2013 Jim Radford. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
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