© 2024 Christopher R. Owens (ASCAP) [Music: Traditional]

The folk tradition is one that encourages lyric creativity with known melodies. In this case, Chris Oledude took a Christmas Carol that he loves — “O Come! O Come! Emmanuel” — and wrote new lyrics while also adding a new musical section as well.

The lyrics first came to Oledude while he was on a train trip from New York City northwards up the Hudson River. It was a beautiful day and he was mesmerized by the beauty of the river's blue against the green trees and the white rocks of The Palisades ... all of which contrasted with the train technology itself and all the bustling energy in the riverside towns. Shortly before this trip, the horrific Hamas October 7th terror attack on Israeli young people took place. That was followed by Israel's horrific response in Gaza. All of the contradictions -- the beauty and the horror -- were overwhelming.

Voila! THE CHOICE!

This piece was first performed at the 2024 Martin Luther King Holiday concert held at the Peoples’ Voice Cafe in Manhattan (NYC).

STANZA 1:

Come close, my loves, hear tales I wish to tell
of desert valleys and of ocean swells…
the trials and triumphs of our history…
the moments when truth frees both you and me.
The choice!  Our choice!  To heaven or through hell.
Open your heart, choose wisely and choose well!

STANZA 2:

Behold two people who will share a life,
with ev’ry joy now seasoned with some strife.
They work to build a future that is strong
enough to lend their voices to this song!
The choice!  Our choice!  Let love repel the knife!
Open your heart and choose the sweeter life.

STANZA 3:

Behold the tribes who populate this earth!
Embrace God’s blessings or taste Satan’s worst …
Can we shed ancient ideologies?
Can we survive the inequalities?
The choice!  Our choice!  Be better or be cursed.
And ask yourself what peace is really worth.
The choice!  Our choice!  To heaven or through hell.
Open your heart, choose wisely and choose well!
The choice!

BREAK:

I love you, oh!  I hate you so! 
No, I love you! No, I hate you!
I want your land!  Let’s share this land! 
I’ll take your land!  Share all the lands!
Yahweh!  Yahweh!  Yahweh!  Yahweh! 
Can we live in peace?

STANZA 4: 

Behold our Mother Earth in so much pain!
Her breath is shallow, hair and veins aflame.
We crawl across and through her parched skin
and wonder how and what’s amiss within.
The choice!  Our choice!  Fight for our future’s days!
Protect this earth, don’t let her burn away! 
(Find out for yourself!)
The choice!  Our choice!  To heaven or through hell.
Open your heart, choose wisely and choose well!
The choice!

CLOSING:

The choice! The choice!
Make the right choice! Our choice!
You have a choice! Make the right choice!

SWIISPA 4/3/26 — “Chris Oledude – ‘THE CHOICE’ Turns Nature Into a Powerful Message: Thing is if you’ve ever sat by a river and started thinking about the state of the world, you’ll probably get exactly where Chris Oledude is coming from. He just released a new single called “THE CHOICE” on March 29, 2026, and it’s honestly one of the most interesting “experiments” I’ve heard in a long time. ...

If you’re into music that has a bit of a backbone and a lot of heart, “THE CHOICE” is definitely worth a spin. It’s a powerful reminder that the choices we make today are the ones that shape the world for everyone else later.”
Full review at https://swiispa.net/chris-oledude-the-choice-turns-nature-into-a-powerful-message/