EXODUS
Songs Week of 17 October 2007
NOAH
A strongly syncopated version of a famous song written by a member of the Golden Gate Quartet:
Well after God told him what to do, Brother Noah then began to cut and hew. The ring of the hammer was judgment. That saw was crying, "Yes, sinner repent!" One hundred years he hammered and sawed, building the ark by the grace of God. Well after the foundation was laid he hewed the timber and the ark was made. He called in the animals two by two, the ox and the camel and the kangaroo. He called Japheth, Ham, and Shem, said, "God begin to flood the land." He raised his hand to heaven on high. He shook the sun and moon from the sky. He shook the mountain and troubled the seas. He hitched the wind to the chariot wheel. He stepped on land and stood on shore, declared that this time would be no more." He cried,"Noah, Noah, God's going to ride on the rain and tide."
SO SAITH HE THE LORD
Hey there Gabriel get your horn and ready it for blowing. So saith He the Lord and you'd better behave. Hey there Noah build your ark and ready it for the raining (3) so saith He the Lord and you'd better behave. Moses teach my Word and preach my Ten Commandments, so saith He the Lord.
MOSES
A song that goes back to slavery, using Bible images to speak of freedom. Moses=those in charge of helping black slaves escape to northern freedom. The song warns the slave, in Bible code, to be careful and not to end up dead "in some lonesome graveyard." "Angels" could refer to "saints" (in the sense of believers) who were caught before escaping. The song is a reminder of the suffering of slavery but also of the use of the Bible to "empower" countless generations to free themselves from social injustice, a use that continues to this day in many countries, such as Jamaica and the Rastafarian movement known through Reggae music.
Moses, Moses, don't you let King Pharaoh overtake you (3) in some lonesome graveyard. I hear the chariot coming (3) in some lonesome graveyard. Moses, Moses, I hear the horses running (3), in some lonesome graveyard. I hear Jordan rolling (3) in some lonesome graveyard. Mother, Mother, don't let your daughter condemn you in some loneseome graveyard. I hear the angels moaning in some lonesome graveyard. Jordan, Jordan, let those children over, in some lonesme graveyard.
MOSES DON'T GET LOST
Another song that goes back to slavery: a plea for leaders of the Freedom movement not to get lost.
O Moses, Moses, don't get lost in that Red Sea. Smite your rod and come across in that Red Sea. Sto and let's talk about your host got lost, glot lost, got lost talking 'bout your host got lost in that Red Sea. Yeah, and old Paraoh and the host got lost, got lost, lost. Talk about your host got lost in that Red Sea.
I'M A SOLDIER IN THE ARMY OF THE LORD
Once again the Bible is used to free slaves both psychologically and physically from the injustice of slavery:
I'm a clean man (in the army) 'cause I don't mind dying (in the army of the Lord), I'm a soldier (in the army of the Lord), I'm a soldier, yes I'm fighting for my rights (in the army of the Lord). Yes, I'm fighting for my rights (in the army).
GO DOWN, MOSES
One of the most af the most famous spirituals, used by Black slaves as Bible code, to encourage escape to freedom in the Northern States of America.
When Israel was in Egypt's land (let my people go). oppressed so hard they could not stand (let my people go). Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt's land. Tell old Pharaoh, to let my people go.Songs Week of 17 October 2007
NOAH
A strongly syncopated version of a famous song written by a member of the Golden Gate Quartet:
Well after God told him what to do, Brother Noah then began to cut and hew. The ring of the hammer was judgment. That saw was crying, "Yes, sinner repent!" One hundred years he hammered and sawed, building the ark by the grace of God. Well after the foundation was laid he hewed the timber and the ark was made. He called in the animals two by two, the ox and the camel and the kangaroo. He called Japheth, Ham, and Shem, said, "God begin to flood the land." He raised his hand to heaven on high. He shook the sun and moon from the sky. He shook the mountain and troubled the seas. He hitched the wind to the chariot wheel. He stepped on land and stood on shore, declared that this time would be no more." He cried,"Noah, Noah, God's going to ride on the rain and tide."
SO SAITH HE THE LORD
Hey there Gabriel get your horn and ready it for blowing. So saith He the Lord and you'd better behave. Hey there Noah build your ark and ready it for the raining (3) so saith He the Lord and you'd better behave. Moses teach my Word and preach my Ten Commandments, so saith He the Lord.
MOSES
A song that goes back to slavery, using Bible images to speak of freedom. Moses=those in charge of helping black slaves escape to northern freedom. The song warns the slave, in Bible code, to be careful and not to end up dead "in some lonesome graveyard." "Angels" could refer to "saints" (in the sense of believers) who were caught before escaping. The song is a reminder of the suffering of slavery but also of the use of the Bible to "empower" countless generations to free themselves from social injustice, a use that continues to this day in many countries, such as Jamaica and the Rastafarian movement known through Reggae music.
Moses, Moses, don't you let King Pharaoh overtake you (3) in some lonesome graveyard. I hear the chariot coming (3) in some lonesome graveyard. Moses, Moses, I hear the horses running (3), in some lonesome graveyard. I hear Jordan rolling (3) in some lonesome graveyard. Mother, Mother, don't let your daughter condemn you in some loneseome graveyard. I hear the angels moaning in some lonesome graveyard. Jordan, Jordan, let those children over, in some lonesme graveyard.
MOSES DON'T GET LOST
Another song that goes back to slavery: a plea for leaders of the Freedom movement not to get lost.
O Moses, Moses, don't get lost in that Red Sea. Smite your rod and come across in that Red Sea. Sto and let's talk about your host got lost, glot lost, got lost talking 'bout your host got lost in that Red Sea. Yeah, and old Paraoh and the host got lost, got lost, lost. Talk about your host got lost in that Red Sea.
I'M A SOLDIER IN THE ARMY OF THE LORD
Once again the Bible is used to free slaves both psychologically and physically from the injustice of slavery:
I'm a clean man (in the army) 'cause I don't mind dying (in the army of the Lord), I'm a soldier (in the army of the Lord), I'm a soldier, yes I'm fighting for my rights (in the army of the Lord). Yes, I'm fighting for my rights (in the army).
GO DOWN, MOSES
One of the most af the most famous spirituals, used by Black slaves as Bible code, to encourage escape to freedom in the Northern States of America.
Thus spake the Lord, old Moses said, "Let my people go. If not I'll smite your first-born dead" (Let my people go). Go down Moses, way down in Egypt's land. Tell old Pharaoh to let my people go.
No more shall they in bondage toil (let my people go), let them come out in Egypt's spoil (let my people go). Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt's land. Tell old Pharaoh to let my people go.
EXODUS
This Reggae (Jamaican) song is an example of how the Bible, especially the book of Exodus, has continued to be used for what has been called Liberation Theology, or a belief in God as a power to insure social revolution. "Jah" here is Jehovah, as in HalleluJAH, which means "praise the Lord." "Jah" in this form appears once in the King James bible. "Babylon" refers to the kingdom that defeated Israel in 586 and forever after became a symbol of evil in both Jewish and Christian writings (Rome later became the "Whore of Babylon"). Exodus, movement of Jah people, Oh yeah. And one more time, so let me tell you this. Men and people will fight you down, tell me why? (When you see Jah light) Ha-ha-ha-ha. Let me tell you, if you're not wrong, then why? (everything is alright), Soon we gonna walk, alright, uh. Through the roads of creation, We're the generation, tell me why? (Trod through great tribulation) Trod through great tribulations. Exodus, all right, movement of Jah people, Oh yeah, oh yeah, all right. Exodus, movement of Jah people, Oh yeah,Yeah, yeah, yeah, well, open your eyes (And look within) Are you satisfied (With the life you're livin'?) Huh. We know where we're goin', uh. We know where we're from. We're leavin' Babylon , We're goin' to our Fatherland, two, three, four. Exodus, movement of Jah people, Oh yeah. (Movement of Jah people) Send us another Brother Moses. Gonna cross the Red Sea Send us another Brother Moses. Gonna cross the Red Sea. Exodus, alright. Ooh, ooh, Movement of Jah people.
HONOUR YOUR MOTHER AND YOUR FATHER
Another Reggae tune that became a hit. It shows that the Bible still sells today. It's based on the Ten Commandments in Exodus and on verses in Deuteronomy.
Honour your mother and your father that your days may be long on the land. Children obey your parents in the Lord: This is the law and the prophets. Honour your mother and your father that your days may be long on the land. Children obey your parents in the Lord. This is the law and the prophets. Love your parents as though you love yourself. Do unto others as they would do to you. Honour your mother and your father that your days may be long on the land. Children obey your parents in the Lord. This is the law and the prophets. {Break} Love your parents as how you love yourselfAnother Reggae tune that became a hit. It shows that the Bible still sells today. It's based on the Ten Commandments in Exodus and on verses in Deuteronomy.
Do onto others as they would do to you. Honour your mother and your father that your days may be long on the land. Children obey your parents in the Lord: This is the law and the prophets.
BROTHER MOSES
Notice that the water in this Gospel song is used typologically, as a type of Baptism, the way it's used in the Christian scripture, (the Letter to the Hebrews, chapter 11). Exodus, a Jewish text, is used to preach a Christian message. In a typological reading of the Crossing of the Red Sea, the crossing becomes a baptism and the "exodus" (exit) is from a state of sin to a state of grace ("redeemed"). Freedom is spiritual instead of physical.
Well Brother Moses smote the water and the children all passed over, Brother Moses smote the water and the seas give away. (2) Well now sister ain't you glad ???, when the seas give away. Brother Moses smote the water and the children all passed over, Brother Moses smote the water and the sea give away. (2) Well my brother ain't you glad ???, that the seas give away. Brother Moses smote the water and the children all passed over, Brother Moses smote the water and the sea give away. (2) Well now God called Moses on that mountaintop, he placed those stones right there in Moses' arm, he stamped the Commandments in Moses' mind. He said, "Moses you better not leave my lambs behind." If you don't believe that I've been redeemed you follow me down by the Jordan stream. The Jordan River, it's chilly and cold, it chilled my little body but it didn't chill my soul. Well one of these old mornings, it won't be long, you'll look for me and my poor soul will be gone. Well, well, well. Brother Moses smote the water and the children all passed over, Brother Moses smote the water and children all passed over, Brother Moses smote the water and the seas give away.Notice that the water in this Gospel song is used typologically, as a type of Baptism, the way it's used in the Christian scripture, (the Letter to the Hebrews, chapter 11). Exodus, a Jewish text, is used to preach a Christian message. In a typological reading of the Crossing of the Red Sea, the crossing becomes a baptism and the "exodus" (exit) is from a state of sin to a state of grace ("redeemed"). Freedom is spiritual instead of physical.
DEEP RIVER
Go Down, Moses; Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child; and this song are probably the three most famous Black spirituals. Once again we see how a Old Testament images have been used for a Christian message. Here the river is the river of death and sin, into the "Promised Land," but seemingly not a real place but the Heavenly feast preached in the Christian Gospel. Sam Cooke's phrasing on this song turns it from Gospel into Soul music and is an example of how Soul music is simply a secular (worldly) form of Gospel music.
I want to cross over into camp ground. Deep river, my home is over Jordan. Deep river, Lord, I want to cross over into camp ground. Oh don't you want to go to that Gospel feast, that Promised Land where all is peace. Oh, deep river, Lord. I want to cross over into camp ground. I want to cross over into camp ground, into camp ground.Go Down, Moses; Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child; and this song are probably the three most famous Black spirituals. Once again we see how a Old Testament images have been used for a Christian message. Here the river is the river of death and sin, into the "Promised Land," but seemingly not a real place but the Heavenly feast preached in the Christian Gospel. Sam Cooke's phrasing on this song turns it from Gospel into Soul music and is an example of how Soul music is simply a secular (worldly) form of Gospel music.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
2: I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3: Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4: Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6: And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
7: Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
8: Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9: Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
12: Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
13: Thou shalt not kill.
14: Thou shalt not commit adultery.
15: Thou shalt not steal.
16: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
17: Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
SHABES (SABBATH)
A Jewish song honoring the meaning of the Sabbath. The Yiddish words for Sabbath and Peace (Sholem) should be clear.
Sabbath! Fellow Jews, let there be Sabbath! Let there be Sabbath throughout the world! A feast day! Fellow Jews, let there be a feast day! Let there be a feast day throughout the world! Peace! [Sholem/Shalom] Fellow Jews let there be peace! Let peace reign throughout the world!
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