He's A Lover

He’s been walking in us all
He’s been seeing through our eyes
He’s been battered by our falls
He’s been gladdened by our rise
and there’s been no body here
that He hasn’t been inside
He’s no secret to our ears
and He’s got nothing to hide

And He’s a lover,
He’s a lover, Babe
Don’t run for cover
Don’t go hiding now, girl
He’s a lover
He’s a lover

Were you walking in the street?
Was it you I saw last night
looking like you couldn’t sleep
and your heart done up too tight
with your painted eyes and face
holding back the tide of fear?
Did you finally find a place
where someone paid to drink your tears?

But He’s a lover,
He’s a lover, Babe
Go, run for cover
Go, run to Him now, girl
He’s a lover
He’s a lover

Where you look it can’t be found
Man, the books just fill the sills
of your mind, you can’t get down
from your bed of selfish will
For the Spirit’s just a clown
who’s been dressed up for the kill
In His letters you may drown,
but He’s waiting for you still

‘Cause He’s a lover,
He’s a lover, Man
Don’t blow your cover
Don’t go crazy now, oh no
He’s a lover
He’s a lover

He’s been counting out our days
He’s been filling in our names
He’s not satisfied with praise
we offer up between our games
He’s so tired that we must sleep
but He offers us a light
as He walks the lonely street
He’s been walking every night

‘Cause He’s a lover,
He’s a lover, Babe
Throw off the cover
Get up and open the door, girl
He’s a lover
He’s a lover

— Romanós

Commentary on this song by the author

What is the meaning of that recurring description of God as mónos philánthropos, "only lover of mankind," that appears in so many prayers and hymns?
In this song I explored this idea of the ‘One Who Alone Loves Us’ in four metaphors:
The first stanza and refrain allude to Adam and Eve, particularly to Eve, on whom was heaped the blame for their common transgression. (Genesis 3:8-13) The second stanza and refrain refer to the woman caught in the act of adultery. The crowd wanted to stone her. Jesus, however, released her without harming her. He was her protector. (John 8:1-11) The third stanza and refrain echo Christ’s indictment of the lawyers and pharisees, though He still loved them and held out the offer of His love. (Several passages in the synoptics and John) The fourth stanza and refrain recounts the all-knowing forebearance of God, the forgiveness Jesus had for the sleepers in Gethsemane, and closes with a paraphrase of a scene from the Song of Solomon. (Song of Solomon 5:2-8)