Some solstices have used the Leslie Fish melody. Others have used a different melody which does not seem to be recorded anywhere. Yet another option is to use Fish’s melody, but combine it with darker and simpler harmonies (see 2020 version ). For several years, the Bay Solstice used some version of this abridged arrangement for three voices (note that this is in Bb minor, whereas the original is in A minor).
A recording of this from the 2020 North American Distributed Chorus is available.
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The careful textbooks measure... let all who build be- ware
The load, the shock, the pressure... ma- te-r-i-al can bear
So when the buckled girder... lets down the grinding span
The blame of loss or murder... is la-id upon the man
... ... not on the steel... ... ... the man
interlude (skip)
But in our dail - y dealings... with stone and steel we find
The gods have no such feeling... of justice towards man kind
To no set gauge they make us... to no laid course pre- pare
In time they over take us... with loads we cannot bear
... ... to merci less... ... ... to bear
interlude (skip)
The pru-dent text-books give it... in ta - bles at... the end
The stress that shears a rivet... or makes a tie - bar bend
What traffic wrecks ma- cadam... what concrete should en- dure
But we poor sons of Adam... have no such li - tera - ture
... ... to warn us or... make sure...
interlude (skip)
We hold all Earth to plun der... all time and space as well
Too won-der stale to won-der... at each new mira - cle
Till in the mid ill - lusion... Of Godhood 'neath our hand
Falls multiple con- fusion... On all we did or planned
... ... The mighty works... we planned...
interlude (skip)
We on - ly in crea tion... (how-much luckier the bridge and rail)
A- bide the twin damn- nation... To fail and know we failed
Yet we by which sole token... We know we once were Gods
Take shame in being broken... How- ever great the odds
... ... The bur- den of... the odds...
interlude (skip)
Oh veiled and se - cret power... whose paths we seek in vain
Be with us in our hour... of o-ver-throw and pain
That we by which sole to- ken... we know thy ways are TRUE
In spite of be-ing broken... or be cause of be-ing broken
... rise up and build... a-new...
interlude (skip)
