monday music: pescador de hombres

This Central American hymn is also known as "Tú Has Venido a la Orilla" (or in English as "Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore"). In February 2000 I was in the Ixil village of San Juan Cotzal, in the Guatemalan highlands, working with a team of Volunteers In Mission to help rebuild a church that had been destroyed in that country's civil war. On Thursday evening of that week, we attended a worship service in the partially-built church, and we sang this song. The VIM team began in English, and as the locals recognized the melody they joined us, singing in Spanish and Ixil. That worship service gave me one of the most profound experiences of the presence of God that I've ever had.

Here's the song done all formal and proper:



Here's a rock version:



And the English translation of the lyrics:

1. Lord, you have come to the lakeshore
looking neither for wealthy nor wise ones.
You only asked me to follow humbly.

Refrain: O Lord, with your eyes you have searched me,
and while smiling, have spoken my name.
Now my boat's left on the shoreline behind me;
by your side I will seek other seas.

2. You know so well my possessions;
my boat carries no gold and no weapons;
But nets and fishes -- my daily labor.

3. You need my hands, full of caring,
through my labors to give others rest,
and constant love that keeps on loving.

4. You, who have fished other oceans
ever longed-for by souls who are waiting,
my loving friend, as thus you call me.