Press On

Billy Sprague has been vagabonding around Christian music and youth ministry for a few decades (you'll notice the decidedly-dated duds in the attached video). This song is a fun, upbeat encouragement to keep on keepin' on, no matter what happens. The amazing thing is that it was born, I believe, out of the pain of Billy's fiance's death. 

I was down in the valley of the shadow of death 
Where the passion for life drained like blood from my chest 
And it took more than my will just to take a step 
When the compass of hope was gone 

In a silence so black that I wished for the blues 
every desperate prayer seemed like heaven refused 
and some days I found faith meant just tying my shoes 
and it was all I could do to press on. 

Press on, mi amigo; press on, mon ami; 
walk on in the face of the mystery. 
Though the night hides the light through the darkness til dawn, 
tie your shoes, my dear friend, and press on. 

On the ocean so lonesome I was not left alone-- 
had some heavyweight friends when my heart was a stone, 
And they carried the heartache and made it their own 
When the currents of sorrow were strong. 

One said, "I pray your memories will not drag you down, 
not be anchors but treasures of the love that you've found," 
and his kind words turned hurt into comfort somehow 
and a wind in my sail to press on. 

Press on, mi amigo; press on, mon ami; 
walk on in the face of the mystery. 
Though the night hides the light through the darkness til dawn, 
lean on me, my dear friend, and press on. 

Though the days seem like years--there may be giants in our fears-- 
Ah, but they who sow in tears--they shall reap in joy; 
They shall run and leap for joy. 

Press on, mi amigo; press on, mon ami; 
walk on in the face of the mystery. 
Though the night hides the light and the journey is long, 
tie your shoes, my dear friend, and press on.

PRESS ON  -  Billy Sprague & Jim Weber
c.1993 Paragon Music Corp / Skin Horse, Inc.

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Truth is...I've never met anyone suffering from being over-encouraged. So bookmark this and use it to your advantage the next time you get the short end of the stick.