TANO MUSIC
Songs by Tom Sperrazzo
Songs by Tom Sperrazzo
"600 Miles to Nagasaki"
Copyright 2012, Tano Music
Words & Music by Tom Sperrazzo
Chorus:
Joyfully we march for Jesus!
Side-by-side, 600 miles.
May we touch the hearts who see us!
Show His spirit in our smiles!
In the days of Takahisha, Francis came to teach the truth;
In the court of Tagoshima, Daimo built our mission church.
Fifty years since Francis landed, out of love our order grow
Hideyoshi's law commanded prison for the Lord's Good News.
(Chorus)
Dressed in chains outside Kyoto, condemned the 26 of us;
March the road to Nagasaki, happy for our martyr's cross.
(Chorus)
From my cross I call you brothers; I forgive and do not blame.
May my blood fall on my neighbors! On all men as fruitful rain.
(Te Deum)
Song facts:
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In tribute to St. Paul Miki, one of the Japanese martyrs, condemned, then forced to march 600 miles to their own crucifixions
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Paul Miki entered the Jesuit order, inspired by the first Christian missionary to arrive in Japan, St. Francis Xavier
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The Te Deum is an ancient Christian hymn ("Thee, O God, We Praise"), often associated with the Jesuits
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Final verse is taken from Paul Miki's words while dying on the cross