Words by Thich Nhat Hanh. Music by Sister Hieu Duc. Rap by Born I.
Recorded at Plum Village, France in summer 2022.
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LYRICS
Today the kingdom of Heaven
Held a festival for thousands of stars
I went up to that kingdom
Knelt down and prayed
That the anguish, the killing, the disaster
In our poor land would end.
Where have you been, little star?
I’ve been looking for you everywhere
Out of my window among the dark clouds
Where have you been, little star?
I feel so forlorn
Like a small bird lost on a foggy island
It has been raining for nights
Late night on the sidewalk
I see the silhouettes of lonely, wet forms
I’ve tried to call your image
From deep in my consciousness
While the rain and the wind continue to rage
Tonight as I bend over my desk
My head in my two hands
The wind has carried all the clouds away
The sky is clear
The rain has stopped longing for your call
I’m surprised to see you there
You have returned
Little star!
[Rap]
I’ve been looking at the stars in the distance
I’ve been looking in my heart for resistance
I’ve been searching in the self for existence
all alone by myself Reminiscent
underneath the Bodhi tree but it isn’t only me
you and I collective energy how it’s s’posed to be
I hope to be the ocean tide
With my spirit open wide standing on a mountain top see the world with
open eyes
I was so surprised
to know that I’m a part of this
Sunrise sunset rain clouds all of it
The journey of awakening taking it with one step
one breath
save all beings till there’s none left
Suffering is painful
but I’m still the same fool
searching for the river
while I’m swimming in the same pool
Maybe we can find it
keep the light shining
walking on the path of ancestors behind me
If you could be the person
who you are in your heart
would you grow a little bit
or would you play a bigger part
Love is a paintbrush
life is the biggest art
and I’m still the same kid
wishing on a little star
Where have you been, little star?
I’ve been looking for you everywhere
Out of my window among the dark clouds
Where have you been, little star?
I feel so forlorn
Like a small bird lost on a foggy island
It has been raining for nights
Late night on the sidewalk
I see the silhouettes of lonely, wet forms
I’ve tried to call your image
From deep in my consciousness
While the rain and the wind continue to rage
Dear little star
You have been through such storms, rain, and wind
For how long and on what strange land have you been weeping?
You’ve come back
Your little body, still shivers will cold
With tears in your eyes
You recalled
You’ve been praying for our homeland
Your voice has reached the stars
transformed to teardrops
Trembling in the air
I’m sending deep thanks to
Countless little stars
With diamond-strong faith
You are like flowers, blooming everywhere
My little star, you are back home
With tears in my eyes
I call your name
And feel the warmth in my heart
Thich Nhat Hanh's poem published in Call Me by my True Names: The Collected Poems of Thich Nhat Hanh (Parallax Press, 2022)
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Credits: Lyrics written by: Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh
Rap lyrics written by: Born I
Singer/Songwriter: Sr Hieu Duc
Backing Vocals: Br Phap Huu, Sr Hien Tam, Sr Hieu Duc, Born I
Rap: Br Phap Huu, Born I
Bass: Robbie Campbell
Drums: Br Thien Y
Violin: Sr Trai Nghiem
Cello: Br Phap Linh
Music Production: Br Niem Thuan
Video: Br Duc Tru
Video Editing: Br Duc Tru, Sr Hien Tam, Sr Hieu Duc