Carrying On Under The Hostile Eyes

Written during the most painful chapter of our adoption story. How ironic that the year was 1984, the title of George Orwell’s dystopian novel! The repeated call to “lift our eyes up” evokes the opening line of Psalm 121, our wedding text and travelling prayer.

Carrying On Under The Hostile Eyes

We’re gonna make it to the top of the hill
We’re gonna make it if it kills us
We’re gonna make it to the top of the hill
We’re gonna make it if it kills us
And it probably will (repeat 1x)

No guarantees that our love will be returned
We may look back at how they burned us
No guarantees that our love will be returned
We may look back at how they burned us
But at least we’ll have tried (repeat 2x)

We haven’t loved until we’ve given our lives
Carrying on under the hostile eyes
We haven’t loved until we’ve given our lives
Carrying on under the hostile eyes
That’s the measure of love (repeat 3x)

No-one can do it in their strength alone
Not enough stamina in marrow and bone
No-one can do it in their strength alone
Not enough stamina in marrow and bone
We have to lift our eyes up (repeat 3x)
We have to lift our eyes up (repeat 3x)

No-one can do it in their strength alone
Not enough stamina in marrow and bone
No-one can do it in their strength alone
Not enough stamina in marrow and bone

[ Instrumental ]

We have to lift our eyes up (repeat 3x)
We have to lift our eyes up (repeat 3x)

‘Cause no one can do it in their strength alone
Not enough stamina in marrow and bone
No one can do it in their strength alone
Not enough stamina
Not enough stamina
Not enough stamina in marrow and bone

© Peter Slofstra • 1984 • London, Ontario