This is a song that is well known in the USA and has been added to Breaking Bread for 2022. The text is by James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938) and it was set by his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson (1873–1954).
It is a song of thanksgiving and has been called the black national anthem of the USA. I’m not sure about it’s applicability in Australia and its ferocious range makes participation an issue. Nonetheless it is a stirring piece with a history that recommends it.
OCP sell the sheet music but it is PD and versions are available on the internet. For once my backing is more restrained than it could be.
Lift every voice and sing
Till earth and heaven ring
Ring with the harmonies of liberty
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the list’ning skies
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea
Sing a song
Full of the faith that the dark past has taught us
Sing a song
Full of the hope that the present has brought us
Facing the rising sun
Of our new day begun
Let us march on till victory is won
Stony the road we trod
Bitter the chast’ning rod
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died
Yet with a steady beat
Have not our weary feet
Come to the place for which our parents sighed?
We have come
Over a way that with tears has been watered
We have come
Treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered
Out from the gloomy past
Till now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast
God of our weary years
God of our silent tears
Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way
Thou who hast by thy might
Led us into the light
Keep us forever in the path, we pray
Lest our feet
Stray from the places, our God, where we met thee
Lest our hearts
Drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee
Shadowed beneath thy hand
May we forever stand
True to our God, true to our native land