On “Farthest Field”

by Sarah Way
Brooklyn Meeting

At the campfire on the last evening of Summer Sessions 2024, Friends Greg Kozial and Matt Sunderland brought the call and response song “Farthest Field.” We sang it through once, then sang it again. The song is so beautiful, wistful and sweet, it brought tears to my eyes. I took a photo of the lyrics sheet. The typed-out lyrics follow.

There is a land | high on a hill

where I am going, there is a voice that calls to me

The air is sweet | the grasses wave

the wind is blowing, away up in the farthest field

Oh — walk with me & we will see the mystery revealed

When one day we wend our way up to the farthest field

The sun will rise | the sun will set

across the mountains, & we will live with beauty there

the fragrant flowers | the days & hours

will not be counted, & peaceful songs will fill the air

I know one day | I’ll leave my home

here in the valley, & climb up to that field so fair

And when I’m called | & counted in

that final tally, I know that I will see you there

Oh my dear friends | I truly love

to hear your voices, lifted up in radiant song

Tho through the years | we all have made

our separate choices, we’ve ended here where we belong