Friday, November 13, 2020

The Rev. Anne Williamson

Woke up this morning

Good morning all,

I heard this song yesterday when I 'went' to South Church with my sister - it so resonated for me with Rob's sermon - a rework of Woke Up this morning with my mind stayed on Jesus - from the civil rights movement in the 1960's

Woke up this morning with my mind stayed on freedom
I said I woke up this morning with my mind stayed on freedom
Well I woke up this morning with my mind stayed on freedom
Hallelu, hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, hallelujah

It ain't no harm in keep'n' your mind
-Your mind stayed on freedom
Ain't no harm in keep'n' your mind
-Your mind stayed on freedom
-It ain't no harm in keeping your mind stayed on freedom
Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah

Walking and talking with my mind
-My mind stayed on freedom
Singing and praying with my mind
-My mind stayed on freedom 2•
Hallelu, hallelu, halleu, hallelu, hallelujah

You've got to walk, walk
You've got to walk, walk
You've got to walk with your mind on freedom
You've got to talk, talk
You've got to talk, talk
You've got to talk with your mind on freedom
Oh, oh, oh you got to walk walk, talk talk

Reverend Wesby of Aurora, Illinois, created this revamp of an old gospel song "I woke up this morning with my mind stayed on Jesus" while spending time in Hinds County jail during the freedom rides. The song spread and became part of the civil rights movement as did many others during the time, this song being one of the more notable pieces. The song has been printed more recently by Pete Seeger in his book Everybody Says Freedom. Songs such as these were used as a means of protest propaganda, uniting together those with causes to demonstrate for. This song falls under the folk music genre, which was popular in the 1930s and 1940s but lost momentum. The genre was revived in the 1960s during the civil rights movement. Music and singing were an integral part of the movement, many of them being adapted from earlier religious songs. (Wiki info!)
John Legend singing 'Woke up this morning' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pOVElQFNMs&list=RDTsziXdKfOsE&index=3

A Gospel Choir version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsziXdKfOsE&list=RDTsziXdKfOsE&start_radio=1&t=30