The Waters Have Come up to My Soul

Part 1 is the opening of Psalm 69 — David's cry from the depths. The waters have risen to his neck, his soul sinking in the mire with no place to stand, worn out from endless calling. Around him those who hate him without cause multiply, and he bears reproach and shame, a stranger to his brothers. Yet this is no lament of despair, but a prayer: from the drowning he turns to the LORD and confesses his folly.

The central verse, chosen as the name of the song, is:

"Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul."

The waters have come up to the soul — risen to the neck, the threshold of drowning. In the chorus this cry joins the head of verse 5, "They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head" — flood without, haters within.

This chapter too is part of the journey to compose, with God's help, the entire Book of Psalms in a diverse, emotional, Jewish, uplifting musical language.