I had never heard of Morton Kelsey until Martyn Joseph mentioned him at a concert a few years back. You have probably ever heard of him either. I still haven’t read any of his more than three dozen books, but I have ordered one from my local library, the only one they have.

To tell the truth, I’m not sure I’m really interested in reading his work, but I have been profoundly impacted by a song Martyn wrote in which Morton plays a starring role. The tune, “Clara,” is the title track for Martyn’s 2012 release Songs For The Coming Home.

You may never have heard of Martyn Joseph, despite his being one of the best songwriters around. He keeps somewhat of a low profile.

After several years of listening to this song, which is a troubadour’s recounting of a true story, I am almost at the point of being able to listen to it without crying. Almost I said.

I’m not sure I can articulate why, except to say this song reaches to the depth of my soul. It is something about how God’s grace is expressed in such miraculous ways, how little things can transcend space and time and how you never know how much impact you can have on another person’s life. It is a true love song.

I’m not going to try and explain more. Read the lyrics below, listen to the song for yourself. I’ve linked to two YouTube versions – the first one explains the story behind the song, but I like the second performance better.

I’m curious as to what you think of the song – feel free to leave some feedback!

She’s born in Palmerton Pennsylvania in 1902
A black girl in a white world, still love gets through
Hired at the age of fourteen, to nanny a baby boy child
Whose parents are disappointed and wish he hadn’t arrived

Through long nights she’ll hold him close and sing gently in his ear
And the day he’s taken from her is her greatest fear
Now ninety-one, she sits in the sun with fading photographs
Had no children of her own, just memories, and wonders if he’s still alive?

Was too young to remember her, so he grows up he doesn’t know
And the scars of rejection that run deep have pierced a soul
So one day a young man walks into the mountains to take his life
Lies down with his face to the stars for one last time

Maybe it’s the breeze on his face or the shadow moon across his eyes
But somehow the ghost of a melody is ushered in, and to his surprise
It raids the landscape and invades his heart
Shines light where there was none, he gets up and walks out alive

Hope we all have a Clara
Singing songs unknown
Songs for the healing
And songs for the coming home

Now it’s his seventy seventh year and he’s made his mark
Helped countless people with writings of wisdom and great love from his heart
Receives a letter from a woman that he doesn’t know
Wondering if he was born in Palmerton a long time ago

The coming home is a blessed reunion, hands on his face ‘it is you’
They talk all day of a lost childhood of which he will now change his view
Before they part she sings gently to him but he knows he’s heard it before
It wasn’t the breeze or the moon across those mountains, it was Clara’s love call

Hope we all have a Clara
Singing songs unknown
Songs for the healing
And songs for the coming home.