Bernstein - "A Simple Song" from MASS (Josh Markley, baritone)

SOLO A Simple Song, from MASS (words and music by Leonard Bernstein, 1971)
Josh Markley, baritone; Dale Morehouse, piano
St. John's Methodist - Kansas City, MO
November 8, 2020
Actually a theatre work written for the opening of the Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, Leonard Bernstein's "MASS" includes this captivating melody that has emerged as the stand-out song from this monumental production. It urges us to leave the complexities of the world behind and to “Sing God a simple song,” even including a light-hearted vocalise on the Latin word for “Praise.”
Sing God a simple song, Lauda, laude (praise)
Make It up, as you go along, Lauda, laude
Sing, like you like to sing. God loves all simple things
For God, is the simplest of all.
I will sing the Lord a new song
To praise him, to bless him, to bless the Lord.
I will sing his praises, while I live all of my days.
Blessed is the man who loves the lord.
Blessed is the man who praises him
Lauda, lauda, laude,
And walks in his way.
I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help.
I will lift my voice to the Lord, singing lauda laude,
For the lord is the shade, is the shade upon my right hand.
And the sun shall not smite me by day nor the moon by night.
Blessed is the man who loves the Lord, Lauda, lauda, laude.
And walks in his ways.
(words from Psalm 121 and by Leonard Bernstein)