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Elizabeth Alexander
Elizabeth Alexander (Seafarer Press)
Cherish Your Doubt (SSAA)
An affirmation of that underrated but vital component of belief: doubt.
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Cherish Your Doubt
SSAA, soloist, piano, opt. bass
This vibrant work affirms a vital but underrated component of belief: Doubt! The soulful opening solo leads to the chorus’ response, a bold declaration alive with full-bodied chords and incisive lyrics.
The solo may be sung in a different octave or with vocal improvisation. And yes, add bass and drums if you wish! (A free downloadable bass part is available on the website of the publisher, Seafarer Press.)
Composer’s Notes
One spring morning during my last year of college I attended a church service just outside of Wooster, Ohio. It was my first experience with what is now my chosen faith, Unitarian Universalism. The congregants sat in folding chairs in a circle in a barn while a soft-spoken layperson gave a thoughtful meditation entitled “Cherish Your Doubts,” inspired by a writing by Robert T. Weston.
Years later I came upon Weston’s writing again and wondered: What if a praise choir were to proclaim not only the awesome power of faith, but also that of its spiritual companion, doubt?
-Elizabeth Alexander
Text
Springtime without winter would enter with a yawn,
Dawn without the night would be a tedium of light.
Reunion follows parting, and rebirth follows death,
And our songs of love have grown
From the very seeds our doubt has sown.
Without a doubt, our hearts and minds would never grow,
Without a doubt, our dreams would have nowhere to go,
Without a doubt, we’d never change the status quo.
Yes, without a doubt, we’d be hanging on
To notions that are better gone,
So try to love the questions,
Those thorny, thorny questions.
Trust your intuition, and cherish your doubt.
Cherish your doubt, don’t throw it out.
That’s what true belief is about.
With a faith both tempered and strong,
Questioning only helps it along,
Use your eyes and ears and hands and heart and mind,
And what you find may change the world,
So don’t throw it out, don’t throw it out —
Cherish your doubt.
Cherish your doubt, don’t throw it out.
Mighty oaks can weather a drought.
Any faith worth taking to heart,
Tested a bit, will not fall apart.
Use your eyes and ears and hands and heart and mind,
And what you find may change the world,
So don’t throw it out, don’t throw it out —
Cherish your doubt.
(Don’t be afraid of what you’ll find.
Leave your darkest fears behind.)
Cherish your doubt, don’t throw it out.
That’s one thing you can’t do without.
When you walk that less-traveled route,
Wonderful new ideas may sprout.
Use your eyes and ears and hands and heart and mind,
And what you find may change the world,
So don’t throw it out, don’t throw it out —
Cherish your doubt.
Call on your reason and compassion,
Although it may not be in fashion.
Don’t be afraid of what you’ll find,
Just leave your fears behind.
Cherish your doubt, don’t you ever refuse it;
You can move a whole mountain if you use it —
Cherish your doubt.
A different drummer you will hear when you cherish your doubt.
You haven’t anything to fear when you cherish your doubt.
That’s what true belief is about — don’t throw it out!
-Elizabeth Alexander
© 2005 by Elizabeth Alexander
$3.00 per licensed PDF
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