This hymn by Damian Boddy was written on 15/16 September 2012 at a Hymns for Healing workshop at Holy Rood House, Thirsk, North Yorkshire. John Bell led workshops on pastoral resources and had noted how difficult it was to write hymns on economics and prostitution. This hymn attempts to do both at once and while it is unlikely to be useful for Sunday worship, I hope it will find a place in group discussion.


Dressed up on the kerbside a punter to find;
with bodies for sale as they numb up the mind.
They’re stoned because that is the way they can bear
anonymous sex for the ones that don’t care.

It’s cold economics to be on the game;
It’s cold prostitution, no love and no name.
Abusers abuse the abused all the night,
with no-one to care if it’s wrong or it’s right.

Those streets are the ones that God left in our care:
we know we should act, and we know we should dare
to tackle the pimping, the fear and the pain;
but can’t beat the guardians of financial gain.

Society’s driven by money and wealth:
who cares if it’s greedy, injurious to health?
“But we are yours Lord, and to you come to pray
that you’ll act as God: make it all go away!”

God asks us to work so that justice is done;
and exploited children of God have begun
to value their bodies and lives, and to see
their worth in the Body of Christ, loved and free.

© 2012 Damian Boddy
Tune: MUELLER (Murray) - also known as MANGER SCENE

May be used freely with appropriate acknowledgement