Down to the River to Pray

"Down to the River to Pray," (1867), sung by Alison Krause, was posted on a Facebook page that I like. I'd heard the song, have known of it since seeing the movie "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou," (2000), and subsequently learned of Alison Krause as well.  But there are two things I like about this post.  One is that I really liked this particular production of the song with the terrific scenes of tent revivals, baptisms in local rivers versus the kind we're used to seeing inside a church.  

Two, I really liked the comment by Geoff Braun,

Though I’ve left the evangelical fold and joined the RC Church, I maintain great respect and admiration for the contribution non-sacramental Christian churches made to the developing culture of the USA. American Christianity has blessed us with the most singable hymns of the church, especially those that sprung out of camp meetings and revival tents. 

If you want to read the lyrics to the song, they're here. 

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, 1972

The music and her voice will bring you into the presence of the person you've loved most in life.  

What a voice. 1972's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face." The first time I ever heard this song played on a record player may have been at Chuck and Sally Pullman's place in Glendora.  Chuck and Sally had great taste in music and had a terrific stereo console.  I loved these lines from the song

The first time ever I saw your face

I thought the sun rose in your eyes

And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave

To the dark and the [end of the skies] endless skies

And the first time ever I kissed your mouth

I felt the earth move in my hand, like the trembling heart of a captive bird that was there at my command, my love

And the first time ever I lay with you,

I felt your heart so close to mine

And I knew our joy would fill the earth

And last 'til the end of time, my love. 

The first time ever I saw your face . . . your face . . . your face.

One commenter wrote 

When I marry I would choose this song as my dance song with my wife.  

How interesting.  

The song was written in 1957 by British political songwriter Ewan MacColl for Peggy Seeger, who later became his wife.

About the song, Roberta Flack said

It's a perfect song. Second only to "Amazing Grace, I think...^[5] "It's the kind of song that has two unique & distinct qualities: it tells a story, & it has lyrics that mean something....Because of [its meaningful lyrics] the [song] can be interpreted by a lot of people in a lot of different ways: the love of a mother for a child, for example, or [that of] two lovers."^[6]"I wish more songs I had chosen had moved me the way that one did. I've loved [most] every song I've recorded, but that one was pretty special."^[5] 

HOW CAN I KEEP MY HEART FROM SINGING?

Thanks to Jesse’s Café Americain.  Jesse likes Audrey Assad, whose video productions are quite beautiful.  Some background on Assad.