O FOR A VOICE LIKE THUNDER
Poem by William Blake
Music by Loreena McKennitt
Composed for the Stratford Festival
production of BLAKE by Elliot Hayes.

Loreena McKennitt, recitation by Douglas Campbell



O for a voice like thunder, and a tongue
to drown the throat of war! - When the senses
are shaken, and the soul id driven to madness,
who can stand? When the souls of the oppressed
fight in the troubled air that rages, who can stand?
when the whirlwind of fury comes from the
throne of GOd, when the frowns of his countenance
drive the nations together, who can stand?
when Sin claps his broad wings over the battle,
and sails rejoicing in the flood of Death;
when souls are torn to everlasting fire.
and fiends of Hell rejoice upon the slain,
o who can stand? O who bath caused this?
o who can answer at the throne of God?
the Kings and Nobles of the Land have done it!
hear it not, Heaven, thy Ministers have done it!




(Contributed by =Ae= - November 2008)