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Absalom Pt. 1

from Only Human by Sam Steffen

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II Samuel 13:1-29

lyrics

King David and his concubines begat between them several sons
And of the lot, none there were more handsome than the one they called—
Absalom was brother to a younger sister named Tamar
In all the kingdom that was known, none there were more fair than she
Tamar was prized by many men who meant to win her as a bride
Not exempting the king’s firstborn, Amnon was what he was called.
By feigning he was ill one day, Amnon lured Tamar to him
And when she came to nurse his cold, he seized her strongly by the arm
“Why have you taken hold of me? Wherefore this sudden strength of yours?
Do you intend that I should lie with you? What ever do you take me for?”
And what Tamar refused to yield, Amnon cruelly took by force
And hoping he was someplace near, Tamar called out her brother’s name:
A——————Absalom!—where, O where, can you be?
A——————Absalom!—would that you were here to rescue me

When Absalom received the news that Amnon had his sister raped
He was angry but he did not act, he said, “Let us see what the king will do.”
When David did receive the news, bitter and angry did he turn
But no penalty would he dole, for Amnon was his firstborn son.
So Absalom conceived a plan to take revenge upon Amnon
And when two years had run their course, he held a banquet at his house.
And all the while he hid his hate he felt for Amnon and his Sin
Meanwhile caring for Tamar who resolved to show her face no more.
When Amnon was drunk with wine, Absalom shouted, “The time has come!”
And all his servants rose at once and Amnon with their swords did slay.
And as he fell beneath their blades, outnumbered and without defense
And as his spirit left his flesh, these words was Amnon heard to say:
Absalom!—with my last breath, your life I’ll curse
Absalom!—this death is bad; may yours be worse

credits

from Only Human, released March 7, 2019

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Sam Steffen Boise, Idaho

Sam Steffen is a Pennsylvania-bred, Boise-based singer-songwriter whose songs are the torch-wood for a new generation of folk music that has learned from the best stuff in the tradition and aims in spite of everything to keep the human spirit alive and kicking. A versatile musician and skilled finger-picker, Sam is at heart a story-teller, and a prolific one. ... more

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