Lyft upp din blick och se

Lyft upp din blick och se
oskuldens ansikte.
När ögat ditt är klart
ser du allt underbart.
Varje din broder bär
en aura lik en skimrande sfär,
varje din syster är
Guds avbild här!

Gläd dig du Kristi brud
och möt din Herre Gud
i varje mänskoson!
Kläd dig i bröllopsskrud,
gläd dig du Kristi brud
och möt din Herre Gud!

Räck ut din hand och känn
värmen i förlåtelsen;
Vet, i din broders hand
väntar förlovat land.
Där kan försoning ske,
"fienden" blir din frälsare
när du befrias från
vrångbilden av Guds Son.

Jag lyfter blicken och ser
oskuldens ansikte.
Nu är mitt öga klart
att se allt underbart;
Varje min broder bär
en aura lik en skimrande sfär,
varje min syster är
Guds avbild här.

Lyrics and Arrangement: Anders Nyberg

Music: "Långdans" from Sollerön in the tradition of Reser Anna Larsson

This song from the folk-mass "Himmelen Inom / Heaven within" comes with a lovely and ancient dance. It also is part of "Hundred Hymns".

The story of how the dance, with roots in medieval if not viking traditions, was preserved is a lovely one. Dunder Karin from Sollerön (1865 -1967) was over 100 years old and lived in an old folks home in Mora when she was approached by two men who had learned that she had experienced the old dancing and that she was the only one still alive to have done so. It took a few cups of coffee and some persuasion but finally Karin stood up with the words "But didn't we do it like this!" and then the 100+ years old legs did the talking and the dance line from the ancients was preserved.

You can learn the steps yourself here. Traditionally the dance was often sung by the dancers if fiddlers weren't available.

As an entrance or an exit to a concert this piece, sung in parts and without words - a "trall" - works well and connects yourself with each other, the audience (invite them!) and the long line of dancers from Dunder Karin back to the old Vikings.

This arrangement is set for SSA, (SAA), there are many other settings available.

Order the SATB full printed score here sent by ordinary mail.

Listen to a recording from Himmelen Inom:

This song is also available with other lyrics, "Räck mig din hand min brud"