Dolly Parton - Raven Dove Lyrics
Lyrics
Verse 1
There will come a day when sorrow fades away
And anguish and heartache shall ease
No mothers crying, no soldiers dying
And turmoil and misery shall cease
Verse 2
The hungry shall be fed, the aimless shall be led
And sad eyes will no longer weep
The last shall be first, through heaven he'll burst
With his heavenly host from the East
Chorus 1
Weapons to plowshares, hate turns to love
Descending from heaven, he'll sweep down to us
In radiant splendor, oh won't it be sweet
When the raven of darkness turns into a white dove of peace
Raven dove
Verse 3
Oh, there will come a day when I'll fly away
Forever to be in his keep
Eternal life in the sweet by and by
When raven dove, raven dove speaks
Chorus 2
When lambs walk with lions, a child tames the beast
Nations shall gather and bow at his feet
And loved ones shall rise up from their earthly sleep
And he'll separate all the chaff from the wheat
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, how sweet
When the raven of darkness turns into a white dove of peace
Outro
Raven dove, behold he comes in the clouds
And every eye shall see him
Sweet bird, sweet bird of peace
Raven dove
Video
Dolly Parton - Raven Dove (Audio)
Meaning & Inspiration
Dolly Parton's "Raven Dove," released on April 10, 2020, is a powerful and hopeful testament to a future redeemed, deeply rooted in biblical prophecy and divine promise. This song isn't just a melody; it's a vivid proclamation of the ultimate triumph of peace and righteousness over the sin and suffering that plague our world. Parton paints a picture of a coming day, echoing the eschatological visions found throughout Scripture, where sorrow will cease, and anguish will find its end. The imagery of mothers no longer crying and soldiers no longer dying directly calls to mind Isaiah 2:4, which foretells a time when "nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." This vision of universal peace is further amplified in the second verse, where the hungry are fed and the aimless are guided, mirroring the care and provision promised to the faithful. The notion of "the last shall be first" is a direct echo of Jesus' teachings, particularly found in Matthew 20:16 and Mark 10:31, underscoring a reversal of earthly hierarchies in God's coming kingdom.
The chorus, "Weapons to plowshares, hate turns to love," is the heart of the song's message, a potent distillation of the prophecy of a transformed world. This powerful transformation, where instruments of war are repurposed for sustenance, directly recalls the promise in Micah 4:3. The descent from heaven in "radiant splendor" speaks to the glorious return of Christ, as described in passages like Revelation 1:7, where "every eye will see him." The central metaphor of the raven of darkness transforming into a white dove of peace is a profound symbol of this divine intervention. The raven, often associated with darkness and ill omen in various traditions, is here overcome by the dove, an age-old symbol of peace and the Holy Spirit, referencing the transformative power of God's grace. Verse three then shifts to a more personal perspective, with Parton expressing her own longing for that eternal life and her anticipation of this future spoken into being. The "sweet by and by" is a classic hymnal phrase that resonates with the Christian hope of an afterlife in God's presence.
The second chorus expands on this redemptive vision with even more vivid imagery. The reconciliation of a lamb with a lion, and a child taming a beast, speaks to a complete restoration of creation, a state of harmony that reflects the prelapsarian perfection before the Fall. This speaks to the ultimate fulfillment of God's plan, where even the natural order will be at peace under His reign, a concept alluded to in Isaiah 11:6. Nations bowing at His feet signifies the universal acknowledgment of Christ's sovereignty, a truth found in Philippians 2:10. The resurrection of loved ones from their "earthly sleep" is a direct affirmation of the hope of the resurrection promised in 1 Corinthians 15 and John 11:25. The separation of the "chaff from the wheat" is a clear reference to Jesus' parable of the sower, found in Matthew 13:24-30, which describes the final judgment and the sorting of the righteous from the wicked. The repeated "Hallelujah" serves as a profound expression of praise and thanksgiving for this impending salvation. The outro reiterates the anticipation of Christ's return, emphasizing that "every eye shall see him," echoing Revelation 1:7, and concluding with a beautiful affirmation of the "sweet bird of peace," the ultimate harbinger of God's enduring love and grace. "Raven Dove" is more than a song; it is a sermon in melody, a beacon of hope for a world yearning for the fulfillment of God's perfect promises.