I Catch on Fire

"I Catch on Fire" is the second song of Jake Heggie's song cycle The Deepest Desire: Four meditations on Love. This song cycle sets the text of Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ.

Date: 2002Composer: Jake HeggieText: Sister Helen PrejeanSong Collection: The Deepest Desire

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Text

I Catch on Fire
by Jake Heggie

Long black dress to my toes–Flowing black sleeves and veil.
A walking bolt of black material.
Fourth grade religion class–Teaching full force:
The Gospel according to…
Lit candle.
Fifty little eyes wide. Twenty-five voices shout:
“Sister! Sister! You’re on fire!”
Flames shooting. Hands beating.
Silence. Breathing.
Children, this teaches us always to be careful with fire.
Now, years later, when I pray
I catch on fire. Amen.

Recordings

The Deepest Desire

(Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland and Jake Heggie)

2006

Flesh and Stone: Songs of Jake Heggie

(Raymond Carver, Emily Dickinson, Jake Heggie, Sister Helen Prejean, Gene Scheer and Anne Sexton)

Sheet Music

The Deepest Desire

Composer(s): Jake Heggie

Song(s): 1. More is Required
2. Love
3. I Catch on Fire
4. The Deepest Desire
5. Primary Colors

Buy via Bill Holab Music

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