Gospel Live on Public Broadcasting

[Cosmic Wonder]

Watched it last night. Catch it if you can. You can watch the trailer here.

www.pbs.org/video/gospel-extended-trailer/



Mike

[millring]

And they asked me if I would
Do a little number
And I sang with all my might
She said 'Tell me are you a Christian child'
and I said, "ma'am i am tonight'

Gospel music is exciting, and as good as music gets -- whether it's the music portrayed in this PBS special, or the music of Bill Gaither's homecoming series (which I highly recommend, but with the caveat that you listen with the picture turned off ).

I doubt that either music will change any minds or hearts, but they feel as good as any drug.




(Am I the only one here who didn't know that Paul Anka wrote the lyrics to "Walkin in Memphis"?!)

[theevan]

You're not the only one.

That might be my favorite hymn.

O Love, that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee;
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

O Light, that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to Thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in Thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy, that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain
That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross, that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from Thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.

[millring]

Feb 11, 2024 7:47:50 GMT -5 theevan said:

O Love, that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee;
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

O Light, that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to Thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in Thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy, that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain
That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross, that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from Thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.

[drlj]

According to what I read, the song, music & lyrics, is written by Marc Cohn after a trip he had taken to Memphis. Anka covered it and may have adapted the lyrics in his version, but I can’t find anything anywhere that attributes the lyrics to Anka.

There is an interesting interview with Cohn that I read where he talks about visiting Memphis after James Taylor suggested he do so. He talks about attending service at Al Green’s church and being moved to tears by the service and music. He wrote the song about the visit.

[millring]

And try as I may, I couldn't find the alternative, though I assumed it couldn't be so that Anka wrote it. But googling "Who wrote Walking In Memphis" as I should have in the first place instead of following the links that got me there, the first entry sez Marc Cohn. At least I feel better about it. It stretched credibility to believe Anka wrote it.

[John B]

Put on my blue suede shoes
And I boarded the plane
Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues
In the middle of the pouring rain
W.C. Handy, won't you look down over me?
Yeah, I got a first class ticket
What a lovely way of sayin' how much you love me

Then I'm walking in Memphis
Was walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale
Walking in Memphis
Won't you kiss me once, baby?

[james]

Looking for an old Blind boys of Alabama song, I got sidetracked and discovered Vermetta Royster with the Clara Ward Singers.

Blimey!