Each Coming Night

Several people have asked me about a song that I performed at Jim's service.

The song is called "Each Coming Night" and it was written by Sam Beam, the front man from a band called "Iron and Wine".

It's written in the first person and is basically about a man who is asking about how he will be remembered by his loved ones; i.e. his lover, parents and children. The last line offers hope that each night's passing brings a new day.

A new day will bring us closer to the time when we will be reunited in Heaven, with our loved ones who have passed away before us.

Whether intended or not, I think that there is some symbolism within the text (references to "sturdy arms" -- perhaps Christ on the cross, diving into the "riverside" -- perhaps baptism, etc.), The author hasn't confirmed that, that's just my interpretation.


"Each Coming Night"

Will you say when I'm gone away
"My lover came to me and we'd lay
In rooms unfamiliar but until now"

Will you say to them when I'm gone
"I loved your son for his sturdy arms
We both learned to cradle then live without"

Will you say when I'm gone away
'Your father's body was judgement day
We both dove and rose to the riverside"

Will you say to me when I'm gone
"Your face has faded but lingers on
Because light strikes a deal with each coming night"


It's a favorite song of mine, however many times I hear it or play -- I tear up. I hope that you will enjoy it as well.


If you would like to hear the song, I have posted a link to a live version of Sam performing it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtP8DnsPozk

Precious words from Jim's daughter

Lauren (Jim's daughter) read this at the memorial service:


My name is Lauren. My sister Dana and I would like to share a few of our favorite memories with our Dad….


Every Saturday morning we would make Aunt Jemina pancakes and sausages for breakfast. Then it was time for chores. We called this “Dump and Donuts” because we would always take our trash to the dump, stop and deposit our allowance money at the bank, and then get a Dunkin Munch-kin for a treat!


We loved playing with Dad. He was the best Scrabble and Monopoly player we knew! He could make really cool snow forts and snowmen, and it was SO fun to go sledding with him. All winter long we couldn’t wait for summer so we could go tubing with him behind Grampie’s big blue banana boat! In the Spring, Dad passed down his family tradition of the Ehrlich Easter Egg Smashing Contest, which we look forward to every year.


Our father taught us many great things, like how to fish, how to solve tricky math problems on our homework, how to swim and dive, and how to properly decorate a Christmas tree with globs and globs of tinsel! Most importantly, Dad taught us how much God loves us, and wants us to be like His Son Jesus.


We are going to miss doing lots of our favorite things with Dad, like snuggling together and reading books, dancing to silly songs and watching our favorite movies “Jungle Book” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, and vacationing at the Cape and the lake. We will miss his hugs goodnight and his big smile.


But we know that Dad’s in Heaven, probably stuck somewhere on the back-nine looking for his golf ball, and that he wouldn’t want us to be sad--just remember him and love him forever. And we will…