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STLT#147, When All the Peoples on This Earth
I am so confused. This is a Kwanzaa hymn. The only one we have, apparently. It is placed in this second source section, between In Time to Come and Freedom. I understand, from a sources point of view, why this isn’t slipped in between the Christmas and Epiphany hymns, but still. Its lyrics (which are… Continue reading
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The Next Big Thing
There are those who know right from the start what their path in life is meant to be. And there are those, like me, who have tried a number of different paths, some successful until they weren’t, some interrupted by crisis or tragedy or failure. I personally got to the point where I stopped thinking… Continue reading
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STLT#146, Soon the Day Will Arrive
I was hoping Jacqui James would bail me out today. I was really hoping there would be some long explanation of the origins of this song – that the lyricist, Ehud Manor, had written this in response to a particular moment/tragedy/event that I could expand upon, or that the composer, Nurit Hirsch, had discovered an… Continue reading
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STLT#145, As Tranquil Streams
The Matriarch hates this hymn. Every time I sing this hymn, I think of the Matriarch of the congregation I serve, a woman who is a seventh generation Universalist, whose family has served the congregation I now serve in lay and ministerial positions for nearly the entire life of the church. In fact, the Matriarch… Continue reading
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STLT#144, Now Is the Time Approaching
I can’t decide if I’m just annoyed by this practice right now, or if the songs in this section are annoying me personally right now, or if really, I have stumbled into a difficult section and hymns like this annoy just about everyone. Suffice it to say, I’m annoyed. First off, I’m not so sure… Continue reading
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STLT#143, Not in Vain the Distance Beacons
It is possible I am about to ruin this hymn for some people. If you can’t bear to read about the context of this lyric that might change how you see it, close this window and go do something else. I say, write a letter to your Congress critter. I say, dive into some good… Continue reading
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STLT#142, Let There Be Light
It is easier to write about things you care deeply about, whether for good or for ill, than it is to write about things that are, well, fine, and don’t really bother you one way or the other. Such is the case here. This is a fine hymn. Sure. It works. It’s got decent lyrics… Continue reading
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STLT#141, I’ve Got a New Name
Y’all, this song brings up the same commentary about aspiration, and the same commentary about cultural appropriation, and the same commentary about gender inclusion, and the same commentary about zipper songs that I’ve offered before and will be compelled to offer again. And the truth is, I’m too tired to make the same arguments again.… Continue reading
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STLT#140, Hail the Glorious Golden City
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO. Holy cow this is a terrible hymn. Technically, it’s not terrible – the tune is a favorite – Hyfrodol, made fresh by Peter Mayer in 1064, Blue Boat Home (which will get its day next January). And the lyrics in terms of rhyme and meter are just fine.… Continue reading
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STLT#139, Wonders Still the World Shall Witness
Is it cheating to just say “ditto”? Yesterday I talked about these aspirational hymns, that by and large (except for some tripping over language – today’s is the binary “sons and daughters”) are pretty good and visionary and all that we hope we, and Unitarian Universalism, and the world, can be. Then I talked about… Continue reading
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links
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