Sunday, March 2, 2008

Songs from Isaiah (for home listening; no need to bring to class)

Songs from ISAIAH



The book of Isaiah has been the source of countless Gospel songs as well as the main text source for Handel's Messiah. Here are three of the most famous of the Gospel songs and spirituals inspired by Isaiah. Click on the links to hear the songs (but there are many other versions available). The lyrics are below.
Beulah Land, Down by the Riverside (with Gospel legend, Mahalia Jackson), Peace in the Valley (television performance by Elvis Presley, Peace in the Valley (studio recording by Elvis Presley).

Beulah Land
"No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah*, and your land Beulah*."
Isaiah 62:4

*Note: In Hebrew "Hephzibah" means "My delight is in her" and "Beulah" means "married." Though Bible readers are lucky since most of the great poetry in the Bible (parallelism and concrete images) is easily translated from one language to another, there's also a lot of wordplay based on sounds that is not easily translated.

I'm kind of homesick for a country To which I've never been before.
No sad goodbyes will there be spoken for time won't matter anymore.
Chorus: Beulah Land, I'm longing for you and some day on thee I'll stand. There my home shall be eternal. Beulah Land -- Sweet Beulah Land.
    I'm looking now across the river where my faith will end in sight. There's just a few more days to labor. Then I will take my heavenly flight.


DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
"Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore." Isaiah 2:4
Going to lay down my sword and shield and study war no more. Ain't going to study war no more, etc. I'm going to put on my long white robe down by the riverside, and study war no more. Ain't going to study war no more, etc. I'm going to meet all my friends who are gone, and study war no more. Ain't going to study war no more, etc. I'm going to put on my starry crown, down by the riverside. Ain't going to study war no more, etc.

Peace in the Valley
"The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the claf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them." Isaiah 11:6
Based on Isaiah 11:6, this is is probably the most famous of all Gospel songs.
Oh well, Im tired and so weary But I must go alone Till the lord comes and calls, calls me away, oh yes Well the morning's so bright And the lamp is alight And the night, night is as black as the sea, oh yes There will be peace in the valley for me, some day There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray There'll be no sadness, no sorrow No trouble, trouble I see There will be peace in the valley for me, for me Well the bear will be gentle And the wolves will be tame And the lion shall lay down by the lamb, oh yes And the beasts from the wild Shall be lit by a child And I'll be changed, changed from this creature that I am, oh yes There will be peace in the valley for me, some day There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray There'll be no sadness, no sorrow No trouble, trouble I see There will be peace in the valley for me, for me.

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