Welcome to Music Friday when we often bring you uplifting songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Canadian recording artist Kelita performs “Tears,” an inspirational song about inner healing and overcoming adversity.
In this song, Kelita compares herself to a sparrow with broken wings. But, instead of accepting her fate of never being able to “fly,” she describes how the Holy One will take away the pain by cradling her teardrops and transforming them into precious stones.
She sings, “Shimmering diamonds, rubies of red / Bright as the blood that my dear Savior shed / Emeralds of green, sapphires of blue / He’ll take away your teardrops / Turn them into jewels.”
“Tears” first appeared in 2000 on Kelita’s Naked Soul album, a work that earned a nomination for a Juno Award (Canada’s version of a Grammy) for Best Gospel Album. Kelita also included the song as the final track of her Heart of a Woman album in 2010.
Born Kelita Haverland in Alberta, Canada, the singer/songwriter/actress/comedian draws her strength from having overcome a series of seemingly insurmountable life challenges. As a child, she suffered sexual abuse at the hands of her sibling. Her alcoholic father committed suicide and then her mother died from cancer. Her abusive sibling later died from a heroin overdose, and Kelita nearly lost her own life in a terrible auto accident.
Kelita’s official website explains that the artist writes, sings and speaks what is gleaned from her own life experiences. From a relentless life of tragedy to triumph, the lessons are shared with a transparency and honesty that engages, encourages and inspires. Her ability to touch and penetrate the hearts of audiences is what drives her success.
Kelita is credited with giving the first break to an aspiring 19-year-old singer name Eileen Twain. The teenager from Timmins, Ontario, sang backup on Kelita’s hit song, “Too Hot to Handle.” Today, that up-and-coming young singer is known as Shania Twain.
We know you will enjoy the audio clip of Kelita singing “Tears.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…
“Tears”
Written and performed by Kelita Haverland.
Tiny little sparrow fell from the tree
Sometimes I feel that little wounded sparrow is me
Tiny broken wings that never will fly
I wonder does her little heart know how to cry
Chorus:
Does her heart know how to cry
Are her tears gently falling inside
Crying tears she’s been trying to hide
Does her heart know how to cry like mine
Warm velvet words poured like sweet honey from his tongue
Until tonight I’d never heard the Holy one
He said that he would cradle every teardrop in His hand
He’d take away their pain and turn them into precious gems
Jesus knows the tears that you’ve cried
And he has seen them falling inside
Crying tears you’ve been trying to hide
Jesus knows the tears that you’ve cried like mine
Bridge:
Shimmering diamonds, rubies of red
Bright as the blood that my dear Savior shed
Emeralds of green, sapphires of blue
He’ll take away your teardrops
Turn them into jewels
Jesus knows the tears that you’ve cried
And he has seen them falling inside
Crying tears you’ve been trying to hide
Jesus knows, Jesus knows, Jesus knows the tears that you’ve cried like mine
Credit: Promotional image via www.kelita.com.