The story of Moses and the Israelites' escape from bondage stirred the spirits of the African American slaves. One of the songs it inspired was our hymn today.
Wonderful hymn. I enjoyed the introduction, especially the thought that the hymn is "filled with hope, not optimism". I read, "At Wakefield, Jesus" and wondered, when was Jesus at a place called Wakefield :) It took me a bit, but found that it is referring to the mystery plays in the town of Wakefield. Is there a certain play that the quote is from? And those lines remind me of the hymn, Lift up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates
I learned this wonderful spiritual in public school back when music and singing was seen as essential to human flourishing, and before the anti-Christian elite banished God from the nation’s schools. One could argue that teaching it to students today would be a promotion of diversity and inclusion, however I doubt anyone would understand its meaning. How far we have fallen!
Singing in school was such a joy of my childhood, too. D&I is been sold to people as a civil rights issue, but it is all about political manipulation and has devastated even those it proports to help. How far we have fallen, indeed.
When a young man at Yale, and far from my family in Memphis, my college roommate extended an invitation from his family to participate in their Passover Seder. There were about seven around the table, and the other guest was the family’s maid, who participated in the ritual with them every year. She was an African American and a quiet participant until the end, when she delivered, as a thanksgiving, in a deep melodious Gospel voice, the most beautiful rendition of this song one could ever hope to hear. It gives me tears of gratitude these 50 years later.
That gave me a shiver, Austin, for more reasons that I can put on paper. Such goodness in the simple practice of our mutual ancient faith. It reminds us that God is no respecter of persons, and that we are all of equal dignity in His kingdom.
Ha, that's an "oldie" now, and not a favorite of mine musically speaking, though I like Elton John's music generally. In the era of the protest song and the civil rights movement, great Spirituals such as "We Shall Overcome" were used appropriately and recognized as such in general, even (I suspect) by many on the other side of that battle. But the protest songs in general were, by comparison with the Spirituals, rather lame, and in retrospect read like early examples of what we now call "virtue signaling." I need to cover an Elton John song here one day!
During the recent Covid lockdown, the satirical website, The Babylon Bee, portrayed then-President Trump dressed as Moses urging health authorities to allow people to escape their home-bound bondage by shouting: “Let my people go!”
Wonderful hymn. I enjoyed the introduction, especially the thought that the hymn is "filled with hope, not optimism". I read, "At Wakefield, Jesus" and wondered, when was Jesus at a place called Wakefield :) It took me a bit, but found that it is referring to the mystery plays in the town of Wakefield. Is there a certain play that the quote is from? And those lines remind me of the hymn, Lift up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates
Oops, I see now it's the one about the Harrowing of Hell
I learned this wonderful spiritual in public school back when music and singing was seen as essential to human flourishing, and before the anti-Christian elite banished God from the nation’s schools. One could argue that teaching it to students today would be a promotion of diversity and inclusion, however I doubt anyone would understand its meaning. How far we have fallen!
Singing in school was such a joy of my childhood, too. D&I is been sold to people as a civil rights issue, but it is all about political manipulation and has devastated even those it proports to help. How far we have fallen, indeed.
When a young man at Yale, and far from my family in Memphis, my college roommate extended an invitation from his family to participate in their Passover Seder. There were about seven around the table, and the other guest was the family’s maid, who participated in the ritual with them every year. She was an African American and a quiet participant until the end, when she delivered, as a thanksgiving, in a deep melodious Gospel voice, the most beautiful rendition of this song one could ever hope to hear. It gives me tears of gratitude these 50 years later.
That gave me a shiver, Austin, for more reasons that I can put on paper. Such goodness in the simple practice of our mutual ancient faith. It reminds us that God is no respecter of persons, and that we are all of equal dignity in His kingdom.
I have to admit.....my immediate thought on seeing the subject line was of the Elton John hit, 'Border Song'
Ha, that's an "oldie" now, and not a favorite of mine musically speaking, though I like Elton John's music generally. In the era of the protest song and the civil rights movement, great Spirituals such as "We Shall Overcome" were used appropriately and recognized as such in general, even (I suspect) by many on the other side of that battle. But the protest songs in general were, by comparison with the Spirituals, rather lame, and in retrospect read like early examples of what we now call "virtue signaling." I need to cover an Elton John song here one day!
During the recent Covid lockdown, the satirical website, The Babylon Bee, portrayed then-President Trump dressed as Moses urging health authorities to allow people to escape their home-bound bondage by shouting: “Let my people go!”
Babylon Bee are a hoot. There's a sign of hope in the world when real satire has an audience, at least.