bryan field mcfarland ₪ sassafrasongs: Listen

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I started this song in the the Walker's backyard in Huntington, WV in April 2005. That coming Sunday I was leading a contemporary worship service at First Presbyterian in Huntington and the text was the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. I've long thought that they were really on the road OUT OF Jerusalem because of all that had recently happened in their lives and to Jesus. I got the first verse there in the Walker's back yard and then my friend, Tommy and I finished the song off before going to Merlefest 2005. I'm grateful to Tommy and to Eugene Peterson's The Message which gave a lot of textual help in writing this song.

The Broken Way (DADGAD - Capo 4, Huntington, WV & Boone, NC ~ 2005)
words - Tommy Brown & Bryan F. McFarland music - BFM

They walked the road off to Emmaus
Any road outta Jerusalem was really what they took
It all had crumbled into chaos
Breaking away meant getting on and getting off the hook

Lost in conversation as they travelled
Surprise and speculation as fear drove them away
Hopes and plans had all but come unravelled
Broken dreams that shattered now scattered them away

They broke away - they broke away - away----
They broke away - they broke away - broke a way

There upon the road they met a stranger
He seemed so unaware of the news back on the street
A King cut down deposed and killed in anger
His Broken tomb - once rumored now starting to repeat

The stranger spoke with calm and clear conviction
Surprised at what they said and what they still just could not see
Pointing out each passage had prediction
Breaking down assumptions their minds began to free

They broke away - they broke away - away----
They broke away - they broke away - broke a way

As they reached the outskirts at the crossroads
They asked if he would join them - at least to come inside and eat
Sitting at the table passing bread loaves
blessed - broken - given - open eyes - sight complete

Suddenly he vanished from their presence
Back and forth they chattered as their hearts beat and burned.
Now that he was gone so was their absence
Breaking for home was all that they could do, so they returned.

They broke away - they broke away - away----
They broke away - they broke away - broke a way

Quickly they returned to the Eleven and their friends
Hearing wild stories - even Simon said me too
Some stories never finish and others have dead ends
This Broken Way continues on and on with me and you (repeat)