The Heart of a King

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Story behind the song

"The Heart of a King" grew out of my long-standing interest in Christian and Gnostic traditions, particularly the image of Christ as a figure whose kingdom is not of this world. Rather than approaching the subject through doctrine, I was drawn to the mystery of a presence that is both deeply human and somehow beyond ordinary experience. Unlike many of my songs, this one did not begin with careful planning. The words and melody arrived together with unusual clarity, as though they had simply been waiting to be discovered. My role was less to invent the song than to listen closely enough to write it down. Although rooted in ancient spiritual imagery, I have never thought of "The Heart of a King" as belonging to any single tradition. For me, it is a meditation on transcendence, compassion, and the enduring hope that there is something greater than ourselves calling us toward love.

Lyrics

No tyrant thinks what the righteous know One day the meek will pull off his yoke He spews his lies, forges chains of fear Meanwhile the light of truth is ever near The heart of a king trembles Before the man who wants nothing at all No diamond rings No earthly things Down comes the house of this world All of the king's horses and broken men Can't cause the spirit of freedom to end When nothing is sacred, when all is for sale The king fears the subject he can't curtail The heart of a king trembles Before the man who wants nothing at all No diamond rings No earthly things Down comes the house of this world Down comes the house of this world

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