Couple of resources on that song.
Originally the song was composed by Ruth Bebermeyer, after she saw the power of giraffe ears. She was present when Marshall supported sisters of a spiritual community to connect beyond their differences in a conflict. The conflict had been ongoing for 15 months. Through empathic hearing, through mutually telling what the other side in the conflict truly needed in a way that touched them, the sisters were able to re-connect with each other and move forward together in a peaceful, cooperative way.
Seeing the moment when this miracle happened was very impressive and Ruth Bebermeyer in the same night composed this song.
Ruth performing her song on a recording from 1970.
Lyrics
I feel so sentenced by your words,
I feel so judged and sent away,
Before I go I’ve got to know
Was that what you mean to say?
Before I rise to my defense,
Before I speak in hurt or fear,
Before I build that wall of words,
Tell me, did I really hear?
Words are windows, or they’re walls.
They sentence us, or set us free.
When I speak and when I hear,
Let the love light shine through me.
There are things I need to say,
Things that meant so much to me,
If my words don’t made me clear,
Will you help me to be free?
If I seemed to put you down,
If you felt I didn’t care,
Try to listen through my words
To the feelings that we share.
Words are windows, or they’re walls.
They sentence us, or set us free.
When I speak and when I hear,
Let the love light shine through me.
Marshall performing it.
Lyrics
I feel so sentenced by your words,
I feel so judged and sent away,
Before I go I’d like to know
Is that what you meant to say?
Before I rise to my defense,
Before I speak in hurt or fear,
Before I build that wall of words,
Tell me, did I really hear?
Words are windows, or they’re walls.
They sentence us, or set us free.
When I speak and when I hear,
Let the love light shine through me.
There are things that I need to say,
Things that mean so much to me,
If my words don’t make me clear,
Will you help to make me free?
If I seem to put you down,
If you felt that I didn’t care,
Try to listen through my words
To the feelings that we share.
Words are windows, or they’re walls.
They sentence us, or set us free.
When I speak and when I hear,
Let the love light shine through me.
Giraffe Ears and History of the Song
Marshall tells about the magic of giraffe ears and then recounts an emblematic moment in the history of NVC, when he mediated in a church community and after three days of work empathy become possible.
Ruth Bebermeyer was present and inspired to write the song ‘Words are windows or they’re walls’
