Into the Light —2008

Into the Light, with lyrics by Mary Liz McNamara, was premiered on the opening concert of Equality Forum, the largest annual LGBT civil rights symposium and festival in the U.S. It was commissioned and premiered by a consortium of three Philadelphia choirs: the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia, Alan Harler, Music Director, The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus, Joseph J. Buches, Artistic Director, and the Anna Crusis Women’s Choir, Jacqueline Coren, Artistic Director.

We are here
Walking beside you
Do you see?

We are here
Walking together
Finally free

Once you looked in our direction
And we saw you seeing nothing
Saw you stop and look right past us
Standing alone, so still and alone

All of us
Huddled in shadow
Did you see

We are here
Walking together
Finally free

When we walked out from the shadow
Did you see us coming near you?
Could you see us when we started
Walking together into the light?

Open your eyes
We won’t disappear anymore
Open your eyes
And see who you couldn’t see before

Sisters, brothers, fathers, mothers
No more strangers
No more others
Only sisters, brothers, fathers, mothers
Open your eyes

Hear these voices start to gather
Feel these hands upon your shoulder
See these shadows turn to family
Walking together into the light

All of us
Walking beside you
Do you see?

We are here
Walking together
Finally free

Mary Liz McNamara