Had the special honour of hearing Mr. Shirley sing this very same spiritual live at the Brevard Music Festival this year with the incomparable Lara Downes. I had never heard of the song before... I was not expecting to be so utterly moved. The text cuts deep into your soul, and Mr. Shirley's vocal power is a force to behold. It was a moment of profound emotion... It is not often I tear up during performances, but that concert was an exception. We need to hear pieces like this far more often- they are criminally neglected pieces of music history that tell stories of the utmost importance and elevate the listener's consciousness. And- Mr. Shirley, wherever you are, thank you a thousand times for sharing your musical visions with the world. You are a wonderful man and musician.
The song is clearly an expression of pain and despair as it conveys the hopelessness of a child who has been torn from their parents. Under one interpretation, the repetitive singing of the word "sometimes" offers a measure of hope, as it suggests that at least "sometimes" I do not feel like a motherless child.[3] Although the plaintive words can be interpreted literally, they might alternatively be metaphoric. The “motherless child” could be a slave separated from and yearning for his or her African homeland, his or her spouse, parents, siblings or child(ren) (from all or any of which he or she may have been separated in the trafficking process) or a slave suffering “a long ways from home”-home being heaven-or most likely all.
No its not about Africa. Most of the people who were singing these songs in the mid 1800s knew NOTHING of Africa. They felt like motherless children because they lived lives not worth living because of slavery
Had the special honour of hearing Mr. Shirley sing this very same spiritual live at the Brevard Music Festival this year with the incomparable Lara Downes. I had never heard of the song before... I was not expecting to be so utterly moved. The text cuts deep into your soul, and Mr. Shirley's vocal power is a force to behold. It was a moment of profound emotion... It is not often I tear up during performances, but that concert was an exception. We need to hear pieces like this far more often- they are criminally neglected pieces of music history that tell stories of the utmost importance and elevate the listener's consciousness.
And- Mr. Shirley, wherever you are, thank you a thousand times for sharing your musical visions with the world. You are a wonderful man and musician.
I love this so much. This needs to come back into our churches worship I think
I'm moved... Crying...
This song is expressing the deep pain of our ancestors!
What for a great interpretation with so wonderful harmonies!
Much love for this post! Powerful!
Amazing voice. Wonderful
Thanks for posting this!
The song is clearly an expression of pain and despair as it conveys the hopelessness of a child who has been torn from their parents. Under one interpretation, the repetitive singing of the word "sometimes" offers a measure of hope, as it suggests that at least "sometimes" I do not feel like a motherless child.[3]
Although the plaintive words can be interpreted literally, they might alternatively be metaphoric. The “motherless child” could be a slave separated from and yearning for his or her African homeland, his or her spouse, parents, siblings or child(ren) (from all or any of which he or she may have been separated in the trafficking process) or a slave suffering “a long ways from home”-home being heaven-or most likely all.
No its not about Africa. Most of the people who were singing these songs in the mid 1800s knew NOTHING of Africa.
They felt like motherless children because they lived lives not worth living because of slavery
Agree..can be seen several ways..all of which are valid