As I was choosing the next set of hymns, I came across the hymn People, Look East, which uses the Besançon tune. I would really like to sing the tune, but the words are.....funny? Yes, I believe that's the word I'm looking for. My comments are in red.
Verse 1
People, look East.
The time is near
Of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able. As you are able? What if I'm arthritic?
Trim the hearth and set the table. .......and make sure the forks are positioned correctly.
People look East, and sing today: Love, the Guest is on the way.
Verse 2
Furrows, be glad, though earth is bare. In some climates, I suppose.
One more seed is planted there; One more? There were other similar ones before?
Give up your strength the seed to nourish I'm beginning to think I don't know what this seed is to which they refer.
That in course the flow'r may flourish. okay, it's another flower seed, right?
People, look East, and sing today:
Love, the Rose, is on the way. So is Jesus the flow'r? But they didn't capitalize "flow'r" I'm so confused!
Verse 3
Stars, keep the watch when night is dim.
One more light the bowl shall brim. oh-kaaaaaaay........not sure what this means.
Shining beyond the frosty weather, I'm a northern girl, but again methinks the tropical folks should feel slighted!
Bright as sun and moon together.
People, look East, and sing today:
Love, the Star, is on the way. The "Star"? Well, it'd better be a big one, because two lines before this one it says "bright as sun and moon together". Since the moon only reflects the sun's light, we can eliminate it from the equation. So this Star must be bigger than our sun. In fact it should be the biggest doggone star up there, if we need to make a comparison.
Verse 4
Angels, announce on this great feast:
Him who cometh from the East.
Set ev'ry peak and valley humming
With the word, the Lord is coming. She rhymed "humming" and "coming"! Wow!
People, look East, and sing today:
Love, the Lord, is on the way.
And here's the kicker, folks; this was written in 1957!
17 comments:
tehe: there's a 5th verse! (it's actually verse 3, with the last two following it)
3. Birds, though you long have ceased to build,
Guard the nest that must be filled.
Even the hour when wings are frozen
God for fledging time has chosen.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the bird, is on the way.
MCK: No way!! Thanks for typing it here. When I read that third line, I got a sudden craving for hot wings from BW3's.
I can't imagine singing that! I would totally lose composure.
Hey! Luk! Some1 udder dan mee has gradjewemated from dee Dan Braown skool of funkytional literarcy!
In other news, I recently obtained my diploma from the Bill Clinton school of etymology.
It does make me think of chicken wings. Mmm. Honey BBQ anyone? (Ain't no thang but a chicken wang!)
In other news: I'm not sure how/where it would fit especially with this being week 4, but there is a good Advent song (I think it's good - I actually haven't seen it done at Mass though so maybe not...) - Of the Father's Love Begotten:
Of the Father’s love begotten,
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see,
Evermore and evermore!
O that birth forever blessèd,
When the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving,
Bare the Saviour of our race;
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face,
evermore and evermore!
O ye heights of heaven adore Him;
Angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him,
and extol our God and King!
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert sing,
Evermore and evermore!
wait.. maybe that's more Christmas-y? I dunno. I like it regardless!
MCK,that's a fantastic song! I have NOT heard of it, but I'd love to sing it someday.
I wish that St. Paul's would print up music sheets each week instead of subscribing to the OCP package. Then I (or whoever) would have the freedom to choose great music that truly honors God.
Mary: It would be great to see more lyric commentaries like this, except analyze Marty Haugen songs. You would have a field day.
Of the Father's Love Begotten Clip on YouTube at a church in Notting Hill, England! (Also quite the movie!!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-8pRqfl0kg
[I'm not sure which version it is, I could only get through a few seconds before my Internet crashed...]
MCK, you won't believe it, but....IT'S #90 IN THE BLUE BOOK!! We WILL be doing it during Christmas season when you all come back.
TH2, I'm sure I had a perfect cuss-o-meter rating until you typed that name.
Although I'm stuck with doing Mass of Cremation for now, I refuse to do any song by Marty "%%^&!@#$" Haugen. Oops! There went the cuss-o-meter again!
Celestine informs me that she will be doing a song commentary. Perhaps I will follow up with your excellent idea.........
LOVE LOVE LOVE Of the Father's Love!!
Next to Gariel's Message this is one of my all-time FAVS! It's also very nostalgic for me...this was always sung as a prelude to Midnight Mass growing up. yay childhood memories :)
I have *ahem* found one more verse to the "People Look East," attributed to a certain anonymous imposter:
Clappers, be gone, the voice appears,
to Seize guitars with hearty cheers,
Frozen hearts in warmth retire,
With plenty of wood to fuel the fire,
People Look East and sing today!
Love, the Song, is on the way!
troublemaker: Did you write that? If so, I'm commissioning a piece from you! May I make a slight modification, though? Replace "Seize" with "Smash".
I'm not sure why, but "With plenty of wood to fuel the fire" makes me laugh. Celestine says that the wood comes from the guitars.
Carissa: we are DEFINITELY doing this (Of the Father's Love) when you all are back. I have no recollection of it, but apparently my mom has played it plenty of times. The part of my brain that holds those memories must have been taken out during the lobotomy.
yay!! can't wait to sing it! (Of the Father's Love) :)
guilty. i am the author. and i LOVE your idea about replacing "seize" with "smash" Much better visual there :)
With good ideas such as these, perhaps we should collaborate on some song commissioning...? ;)
Troublemaker,
I LIKE your kind of trouble! :)
Our collaboration could be fruitful. Or dangerous. And definitely hilarious.
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