'Common Ground' Song 55 ‘I’ve waited long’
Words: Douglas Galbraith / Music: traditional
Featured image: Presentation window in St Peter’s church, Bramley © Stephen Craven

‘Common Ground’ is a Scottish publication, and this is one of several songs in it that are set to traditional Scots tunes, in this case one called ‘Tam Lane’ or ‘Tam Lin’. Strangely, I was unable to find an online performance of either the song, or even the tune: all the renditions of the ‘Tam Lin’ ballad that I found were not to the tune set in this book.

Turning to the words, the song is loosely based on the story in Luke chapter 2 of the prophet Simeon blessing Jesus and his parents when they presented him in the Temple, forty days after his birth. The more traditional Christian churches observe this as the feast of ‘Candlemas’ on 2 February, which is why I chose this song for the slot leading up to it.

The essence of the story is that Simeon, who himself had received a prophecy that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah, recognises him in the baby Jesus. He realises also that Jesus is not only ‘the glory of your people Israel’, that is, the saviour of the Jewish people (if they choose to accept him). He is also a ‘light to the Gentiles’. This is the moment in history when God’s offer of grace and restoration is extended to all humanity. And that is the basis of Douglas Galbraith’s words.

In five verses, he tells the story from Simeon’s viewpoint: a long wait has been rewarded with fulfilment, the Jewish law becomes ‘ancient history’ (I would beg to disagree, but allow poetic licence), God’s covenant with Israel is shared with the Gentiles, enmity between the two shall cease (if only!), and finally Simeon himself can die in peace, or in the traditional wording of Luke 2:29, ‘Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word’.

The last line of each verse is the same: ‘The old has gone, the new has come’. The birth of Jesus is the turning point in human history. Before him, closeness to God was achieved by performing religious rituals and obeying religious laws. From now on, it is about a relationship of obedient love.