Here I Stand

The crowd was at the edge of seats, their ears were straining forth
“Do you repent, you foolish monk, retract your evil words!”
Von Eck then paused, and said again, “My sir, you must recant”
Then Luther said, “To Christ I’m bound, and to His Holy Writ”

Chorus:
Here I stand, I can do no other
Here I stand, I can do no other
I stand in Christ, through His blood
By His grace, in His Love
I Trust the Word of God above
Here I stand, I can do no other

They bundled stacks of wood around as she stood at the stake
And doused her with a putrid fuel that soon would rise in flame
The flame leapt up and all could see how close she was to death
“Recant”, they screamed, she shook her head, and said with final breath:

Chorus

He stood before an angry crowd, the lions growled and roared
If he’d deny his God above they’d kill him quick, with sword
He shook his head, the lions charged, he did a strangest thing
For as they charged his waiting frame, the man began to sing:

Chorus

The gun was pressed against her head, the metal harsh and cold
“Deny your God” the gunman spat “Or I will shoot your skull”
As thoughts of Christ her sovereign Lord were filling up her head
She looked into the gunman’s eyes and then with boldness said:

Chorus

Lord, when I’m asked what I believe, or when they ask me why
Or when they tell me to recant and to Your Truth deny
Lord when the gun’s pressed to my head, or when I feel the flames
Please give me strength to boldly speak, and with Your courage say: