Use With Care
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STLT#156, Oh, Freedom
When I started this practice, I intended to talk about what was on my mind, what the song brought up for me. As it has evolved, I have incorporated a lot of history, literary criticism, and musicology, along with my thoughts and feelings. My thought today is that this song, thought to be a response to… Continue reading
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STLT#154, No More Auction Block for Me
Today’s post will be very short, as I have succumbed finally to the respiratory crud going around. But I do have a thing or two to say about this song, which I could not sing, physically or emotionally. First, I am glad we have a chance to see some of the less cheerful, less hopeful… Continue reading
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STLT#153, Oh, I Woke Up This Morning
Oh the things you learn when you challenge your assumptions… In late January, I co-led an interfaith service focused on resistance, which featured the support of the local AME Zion choir; thus, while music came from several sources, we did lean heavily on the gospel genre, and we chose this song as our sending call.… Continue reading
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STLT#152, Follow the Drinking Gourd
Hurrah for the Hymnal Commission, who noted at the bottom of the page that this was a code song used by the Underground Railroad, much like Wade in the Water and Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, to communicate the map to freedom. I won’t go through the whole song – there are plenty of sites that… Continue reading
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STLT#151, I Wish I Knew How
I think I know why white people don’t sing this song well. I may be late to the party on this, but it dawned on me as I was singing: we don’t know what it’s like to NOT be free. Sure, we get close if we’re female, or queer, or live with a disability, or trans.… Continue reading
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STLT#149, Lift Every Voice and Sing
I once almost made a mistake with this hymn. It was spring 2011, and a small committee of Unitarian Universalists from four NY Capital Region congregations were planning our third joint service. We had moved to a new venue, which features an historic tracker organ, and we decided to do a hymn sing before the… Continue reading
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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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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#118, This Little Light of Mine
This is traditionally a cheery piece – one of the few songs Unitarian Universalists feel comfortable clapping to. Everybody knows it and harmonizes to it and it feels sweet and simple and fun. This morning, after a Saturday full of the unreasonable ban against some of our Muslim neighbors – which, despite a stay from… Continue reading
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STLT#116, I’m On My Way
I don’t know where to begin with this one – while it is a joyful song of determination to sing, there are so many layers of complexity, and as a middle-aged white woman, I feel uncomfortable making any assumptions or proclamations about the things that make me go “hmm” here. So I’ll pose some questions and… Continue reading
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links
Learn more about my ministry at The Art of Meaning
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