Ballad of the Women

This is a ballad based on the parable of the ten wise and foolish women (bridesmaids) as told in Matthew 25:1-13.

This song was originally written in 1968  by by American Roman Catholic, Medical Mission Sister, song-writer, liturgist and feminist-academic Miriam Therese (MT) Winter (b 1938).  A revised version was released in 2003.

The song was originally included on the Medical Mission Sisters 1971 album "In Love" which was released under the Avant Garde label (ref).    It was later included in the Keepsakes collection, and CDs of this can be ordered directly from Winter's website.

No sources of sheet-music have been found.

Downloads

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Examples

Original recording - singer with guitar:

Singers with piano, professionl recording (remastered?)

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on the athor's website. A rough outline is:

Chorus:
Hurry and light your lamps, for the
day is done and the dark is falling.
Watch and wait. It’s getting late.
Pretty soon now you’ll hear the bridegroom calling.

Verses
1 Ten women. We surmise: ...

2 At midnight came a shout: ...

3 “Give us oil from your supply.” ....

4 The five who were caught off guard ...

5 Keep watch and be prepared ...

Final chorus:
Hurry and light your lamps.
Soon the Promised One will be returning.
Watch and wait. It’s getting late.
Be sure, very sure, that your lamps are burning!

See more ...

• Feminist hymns
• Hymns based on scripture.

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY
- Hurry and light your lamps, for the day is done and the dark is falling. Watch and wait. It’s getting late. Pretty soon now you’ll hear the bridegroom calling. 1 Ten women. We surmise: five were foolish and five were wise. With a job to do and a watch to keep, all ten fell fast asleep. 2 At midnight came a shout: The bridegroom’s coming and the lamps are out! The women rose to make the lanterns strong, but five had brought no oil along. 3 Give us oil from your supply. Not enough, they were told. You go and buy. The bridegroom came while they were gone. The rest joined the party and the feast went on. 4 The five who were caught off guard returned to find that the door was barred. It is us, they Cried, look what we’ve got. Go away, he said, I know you not. 5 Keep watch and be prepared. There are some things that must be shared. You will be ready when Christ returns, if the love you have is a love that burns. Final chorus: Hurry and light your lamps. Soon the Promised One will be returning. Watch and wait. It’s getting late. Be sure, very sure, that your lamps are burning!