A Conversation for Hymn #26: Not in Praise of Praise Songs
Appraisal
Bluebottle Started conversation Nov 28, 2016
I grew up afflicted by the hymn 'Be Bold, Be Strong' which in the churches I attended was sung regularly on the grounds that 'modern' equals 'good'. No-one seemed to notice that the entire congregation would sing along using only one note, sounding like a droning dalek as they monotonously recited,
'Be-bold be-strong for-the-lord-my-God-is-with-you. I-am-not-afraid I-am-not-dismayed. Exterminate Exterminate'
Actually the last two words aren't part of it, but when you get to that point you wish that Daleks would arrive and start exterminating everyone just to relieve the monotony.
I don’t know if you know the hymn 'Over the mountains and the sea' but I'm convinced it's a song about a bloke in love with a pretty who likes dancing and lives in a nice, rural spot with a great view. There doesn't seem to be any theological content except for one mention of a 'healer'.
<BB<
Appraisal
Dmitri Gheorgheni, Post Editor Posted Nov 28, 2016
I don't know either of these ditties, but they sound utterly dreadful.
I empathise with the Dalek fantasy.
Elektra's least-favourite hymn at the Catholic church where she grew up was something that chanted cheerily, 'Gather round the table of the Lord, eat his body, drink his blood...'
No wonder she became a Baptist.
Appraisal
SashaQ - happysad Posted Dec 5, 2016
Reminds me of our "school hymn", which contained the line "lift up your heart, lift up your voice" but the tune went down rather than up - it was really difficult to sing "up" lower, so everyone in the hall found a different note by accident Not the most jolly tune...
Key: Complain about this post
Appraisal
More Conversations for Hymn #26: Not in Praise of Praise Songs
Write an Entry
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a wholly remarkable book. It has been compiled and recompiled many times and under many different editorships. It contains contributions from countless numbers of travellers and researchers."