It’s amazing what can happen in the wake of a radio programme! During Sunday Worship on BBC Radio 4 on 21 March, I quoted a grandmother who'd said she had 'hungry arms' because she was pining so much for a hug with her grandchildren.
Well, that phrase, describing a physical sense of loss during lockdown, leapt out at one listener in Snowdonia that morning. Ian Rickard had no sooner heard the words ‘hungry arms’ than his creative imagination started working.
Within a couple of days he had penned a song with lyrics incorporating them. He then sent a sound recording of it to us and, more recently, a video too of him singing the song outdoors accompanied by his son, Liam Rickard, on guitar.
You can watch the film and enjoy the poignant song he's entitled ' Within My Hungry Arms' on YouTube by clicking here.
Many thanks to Ian for sharing his song , the lyrics of which (complete with guitar chords) go like this:
1. (a capella)
I have hungry arms,
My heart is bleeding,
My mind is weakened,
My body needing,
I want to see an end,
To all this grieving,
And hold you all again ~
Within my hungry arms.
2. D
Oh my days & nights~
A7 D
Have been so lonely,
G
A lifetime lingering,
F#m
Thinking, "if only",
G
But there's a sea to cross,
Bm
To sail, so slowly,
D
'till I can hold you all,
G A7 D
Within my hungry arms.
3. D A7 D
Pain punctuates my daily dealings,
G
As I watch and wait,
F#m
And keep my feelings ~
G
All boxed and bottled up,
Bm
My thoughts are reeling,
D
Until I hold you all,
G A7 D
Within my hungry arms.
4. E
When this nightmare ends,
B7 E
That's so elastic,
A
And the daytime dawns,
G#m
With light, fantastic,
A
I won't feel so forlorn,
C#m
So damned, so drastic,
E A
Once I've held you all ~
A B7 E
Within my hungry arms.
5. E
I have hungry arms,
B7 E
My heart is bleeding,
A
My mind is weakened,
G#m
My body needing,
A
I want to see an end,
C#m
To all the grieving,
E A
And hold you all again,
A B7 E
Within my hungry arms.
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