Manly Beatitudes from NorthStream by Christina Nordstrom

Manly Beatitudes

“Beatitudes” refers to “supreme blessedness or happiness.” This song was a reaction to a public radio interview of Harvard professor and author, Harvey Mansfield, who contends in his book, Manliness, that what our “gender-neutral” society is suffering from is the lack of “manly men,” and that we should look to the likes of John Wayne (well, actually the characters played by John Wayne) as the epitome of what it means to be manly. I am using this song to offer an alternative perspective, depicting the actions and values of real people I know – dear friends and family members. And, yes, the word “woman” and feminine references can be used in place of, or in addition to “man” in the song!

Tracklist

4.	Manly Beatitudes	4:06

Lyrics

Manly Beatitudes

Happy is the man who rises with the sun.
And happy is the man who is at peace when day is done.
Happy is the man who has nothing to prove;
happy is the man whose life is love.

Happy is the man who knows his strength is in the Word;
His armor is truth – not tempered steel – a sharper sword.
Happy is the man who knows that, in reality, as long as
one soul is in chains, that no one is free.

Happy is the man who can answer his call
and would rather stand alone than to let another fall.
Happy is the man, when all is said and done, who knows that
Life is “One for all” and we are all one.

Happy is the man who has his work to do,
who earns an honest wage, and when the day is through,
happy is the man who makes his way back home,
and, no matter where he lives, he’s not alone.

Happy is the man who knows just what to say,
and happy is the man who will choose the better way.
Happy is the man who not only does his share,
but who walks the extra mile when he is needed there.

Happy is the man who calls another “friend” –
someone to trust, upon whom he can depend.
Happy is the man when the joy that fills his heart
can be his legacy when he has done his part.

Happy is the man who rises with the Son,
and happy is the man who is at peace when life is done.
Happy is the man, for there is nothing left to prove.
Happy is the man, for all there is, is Love.

Credits

from NorthStream, released January 26, 2017

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