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The Flower That Shattered the Stone Lyrics

Artist: John Denver
Album: Calypso

This song appears on five albums - plus twice with a reprise and a duet on the album of the same title. It was first released on The Flower That Shattered the Stone album. It has been released on the Stonehaven Sunrise, A Portrait and The John Denver Collection - Calypso albums.

The Earth is our mother just turning around
With her trees in the forest and roots underground
Our father above us whos sigh is the wind
Paint us a rainbow without any end

As the river runs freely the mountain does rise
Let me touch with my fingers and see with my eyes
In the hearts of the children of pure love still roams
Like a bright star in heaven that lights our way home
Like the flower that shattered the stone

Sparrows find freedom beholding the sun
In the engine and beauty were all joined in one
I reach out before me and look to the sky
Then I hear someone whisper its something pass by

As the river runs freely the mountain does rise
Let me touch with my fingers and see with my eyes
In the hearts of the children of pure love still roams
Like a bright star in heaven that lights our way home
Like the flower that shattered the stone
Like a bright star in heaven that lights our way home
Like the flower that shattered the stone

Words and Music by Joe Henry and John Jarvis

Comments/Interpretations

by janis sim on 5/20/2008 5:54pm
just heard this recently sung by Nottingham Carlton Male Voice Choir. It is the most beautiful, inspirational piece and I can't understand how I've missed it. I was a huge John Denver fan in my younger days! Now a very young 60 year old. I will definitely track down one of John's albums

by Dave Heal on 7/13/2008 8:46pm
"In the engine and beauty"? Do me a favour!

This wasn't written by Edward Lear, you know!

by Braidwood on 11/19/2008 9:11am
The line is "In the intimate beauty we're all joined in one"

by Lawrence Rowley on 2/6/2009 7:46pm
Its a wonderful piece to sing.
The Valleyview Male Chorus of London, Ontario will include it in our June Concert.2009
Does anyone know what is meant by The flower that shattered the stone?

by June Starshine on 2/20/2009 10:29am
I am familiar with this wonderful song. I sing it to my grandson, it's 'his' song. I heard it from Shaina Knoll, didn't know John Denver did it also. The lyrics I know are a little different. For instance "Infinite Beauty", not in the engine and beauty. Other slight variations that give better meaning to the song.

by June Starshine on 2/20/2009 10:30am
Whoops, Shaina's last name is Noll, not Knoll. (smiles)

by Kate on 3/9/2009 7:08pm
It's actually "infinite" not intimate....The flower that shattered the stone....It seems impossible, yet in rocky regions, plants grow on rocks, in crevasses...wherevever they can get a foot hold. Sometimes, the roots sink deep enough where the stone will actually crack. Isn't it inspiring to think that something so delicate could conquer so much?

by ann on 5/10/2009 9:34am
does anyone know who sings this song with john on the reprise at the end

by Dustin Morris on 5/11/2009 10:15pm
This is also a favourite of mine and have sung it to me son everyday of his life, but I sing it him in Japanese because that is the way I first heard John sang it as a duet with a japanese folk guitarist...simply beautiful!

by filma on 6/10/2009 2:37pm
Its simply wonderful..I love most of John Denver songs but this is one of my fave..people think m weird coz i like oldies songs but i dnt care as long as i enjoy listening to this music..

by Tharrin on 10/11/2009 8:23pm
I heard this song for the very first time this morning on my way to church and was amazed! I've always liked John Denver, but I'd never heard this one before. I'm enchanted by how lovely the melody and the lyrics are!

by Cathy on 12/10/2009 9:59am
If anyone has a hard copy of the lyrics to the second verse in Romanji and is willing to share I would really appreciate it. You can send them to nekoashi04@yahoo.com. It is one of my favorite John Denver songs and I would love to learn how to sing the Japanese parts.

by Caity on 1/31/2010 2:18am
ummm, it's not a pure love still roams, its a pure love still grows

by EAGLE-WOLF on 2/11/2010 8:58pm
First, the inquiry about what is the meaning of the line "the flower that shattered the stone". Kate above had a good explanation, and what she wrote is true in nature.

I took a more symbolic meaning from the song lyrics in their totality, knowing John's outlook on the world. I feel the meaning is that kindness, gentleness, forgiving, understanding, and peace CAN OVERCOME the hard-headed stubborn hatred in the world.

As is credited at the end of the lyrics, this song was written by Joe Henry and John Jarvis. Joe Henry was a Colorado cowboy who co-wrote several other songs with John Denver that he recorded. And John Jarvis had alot to do with Olivia Newton-John songs. She has her version of this song on one of her albums, too.

by EAGLE-WOLF on 2/11/2010 9:05pm
I forgot to write a couple other things. This song was one that John Denver made a point of singing in concert in other countries. He wanted to spread the message of peace everywhere. While there, he would record it with a singer from that country. He did this in MANY countries.

That is why he decided to include one of those versions with the original on the album of the same title. The original in the beginning of the album is all in English. The reprise at the end of the album is first half in English, then second half in Japanese with Kosetsu Minami.

by Geo on 7/1/2010 4:36pm
Aside from the fact that it's not "engine and beauty" but "infinite beauty," and pure love still "grows" not "roams" as other people have pointed out...it's also "did I hear someone whisper, did something pass by." Good job kids.

by Dev on 12/9/2010 1:13am
Hey that is such a sweet song i sing it in chior at my school it just souds so beatiful...

by karen hollenbach on 2/25/2011 1:33pm
im looking for a song done by j d and a japanese singer if anyone can help me . thanks

by scifry on 3/10/2011 4:13pm
That would be "The Flower that Shattered the Stone"

by Saoirse on 3/25/2011 12:10pm
One of several JD favourites of mine. I wonder what he would make of the state of the world today?

by Anja on 4/12/2011 8:19am
Am for more than 3 years in Zambia now and miss John Denver's music lots

by Tasha on 3/19/2012 3:27pm
Go to www.theflowerthatshatteredthestone.org for info and links to purchase 3 new recordings of the song. 2 recordings from Bay Area Children's Choirs, and one recording by a young boy, Joseph Peasall Mc Guffey and his grammy award winning older sister Sarah Peasall Mc Guffey. Children's illustrated songbook also offered. Profits go to CCF, Cambodian Children's Fund to benefit kids who dig through toxic trash to survive. Perfect Earth Day gift!!!

by Jonathan Berman on 9/8/2014 4:11pm
It's a shame this song is not available on vinyl at all, it is on Olivia Newton-John's vinyl single "Reach Out For Me", if you want to pay $75 for it! but not the duet either.

by Earlaine Kiel, Muskegon, Michigan. on 4/23/2022 12:09pm
My husband and I have sung this song many times as a duet. I have read the comments of many people here as to the meaning of the song.
Both the natural laws and the spiritual laws of things apply in this song.
There have been times when I am singing this that I get a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes because it’s such a beautiful and meaningful song. For the first time I am about to sing it at a funeral. I so believe that “we’re all joined in one”. Peace to all!