Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post presents information about singer/songwriter Lauyrn Hill and her song "To Zion"
This post also showcases a YouTube sound file and a YouTube video for song "To Zion".
This post also includes the lyrics for that song and a few selected comments that demonstrate how inspirational and supportive this song has been, particularly for women who have faced or are facing pregnancy in difficult circumstances.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyright remains with their owners.
Thanks to Lauryn Hill for her musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this sound file and the publisher of this video on YouTube.
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The hymn "Marching To Zion" is referenced in Lauryn Hill's song "To Zion". Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/08/gospel-arrangements-of-were-marching-to.html for a pancocojams post entitled "Gospel Arrangements Of "We're Marching To Zion" "
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INFORMATION ABOUT LAURYN HILL
Excerpt #1
From https://www.lyrics.com/artist/Lauryn-Hill/222973
Lauryn Noelle Hill (born May 25, 1975) is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actress. Early in her career, she established her reputation as an actress in Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit, and then as the front woman of the hip-hop group Fugees. In 1998, she launched her solo career with the release of the critically successful album and the 19m-seller, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The album earned Hill five Grammy Awards, including the coveted Album of the Year and Best New Artist. To date, she has won a total of eight Grammys.
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Excerpt #2
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Miseducation_of_Lauryn_Hill
"Lauryn Noelle Hill (born May 26, 1975) is an American singer, songwriter and rapper, known for being a member of Fugees, and for her solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, which won many awards and broke several sales records. Raised mostly in South Orange, New Jersey, Hill began singing with her music-oriented family during her childhood. In high school, Hill was approached by Pras Michel for a band he started, which his friend, Wyclef Jean, soon joined. They renamed themselves the Fugees and released the albums Blunted on Reality (1994), and the Grammy Award–winning The Score (1996), which sold six million copies in the U.S. Hill rose to prominence with her African-American and Caribbean music influences, her rapping and singing, and her rendition of the hit "Killing Me Softly". Her tumultuous romantic relationship with Wyclef Jean led to the split of the band in 1997, after which she began to focus on solo projects.
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998) remains Hill's only solo studio album. It received critical acclaim showcasing a representation of life and relationships and locating a contemporary voice within the neo soul genre. The album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 and has sold approximately eight million copies there. This included the singles "Doo Wop (That Thing)" (also a number one), "Ex-Factor" (became her biggest solo hit in the UK), and "Everything Is Everything". At the 41st Grammy Awards, the record earned her five awards, including Album of the Year and Best New Artist."... During this time, she won several other awards and became a common sight on the cover of magazines.[1]"....
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Excerpt #3
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Miseducation_of_Lauryn_Hill
..."The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is the debut solo album by American singer and rapper Lauryn Hill. It was released on August 25, 1998, by Ruffhouse Records and Columbia Records.
After touring with her former group Fugees, Hill became involved in a romantic relationship with Jamaican entrepreneur Rohan Marley, and shortly after, became pregnant with their child. This pregnancy, as well as other circumstances in her life, inspired Hill to make a solo album. Recording sessions for the album took place from late 1997 to June 1998 mainly at Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston, as Hill collaborated with a group of musicians known as New Ark in writing and producing the songs.
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is a neo soul and R&B album with some songs based in hip hop soul and reggae. Its lyrics touch upon Hill's pregnancy and the turmoil within the Fugees, along with themes of love and God. The album's title was inspired by the film and autobiographical novel The Education of Sonny Carson, and Carter G. Woodson's The Mis-Education of the Negro.
[...]
"To Zion," among the more introspective tracks on the album, spoke about how Hill's family comes before her career[20] and her decision to have her first child, even though many at the time encouraged her to abort the pregnancy, so as to not conflict with her burgeoning career.[34] In an interview she discussed the song's origin and significance, commenting "Names wouldn't come when I was ready to have him. The only name that came to me was Zion. I was like, 'is Zion too much of a weight to carry?' But this little boy, man. I would say he personally delivered me from my emotional and spiritual drought. He just replenished my newness. When he was born, I felt like I was born again."[39] She further stated: "I wanted it to be a revolutionary song about a spiritual movement, and also about my spiritual change, going from one place to another because of my son."[40]"...
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SHOWCASE SOUND FILE: Lauryn Hill - To Zion
JeNnILoVeSmUsIc, Jun 6, 2012
The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill
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From https://genius.com/Lauryn-hill-to-zion-lyrics
One of the most moving tracks from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, “To Zion” is a song that Lauryn wrote about her first son and child, Zion David (born in August 1997). His father is Rohan Marley who is Bob Marley’s son.
In it, Lauryn talks about the uncertainty regarding her pregnancy and the joy she found in her child after the birth.
The song also features acclaimed guitarist Carlos Santana (renowned for such hits as “Black Magic Woman” and “Smooth”).
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SHOWCASE VIDEO: LAURYN HILL - To Zion VIDEO HD
HISTORY OF MUSIC, Dec 4, 2012
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LYRICS: TO ZION
(Lauryn Hill)
"[Intro]
One day, I'm gonna understand...
Zion
[Verse 1]
Unsure of what the balance held
I touched my belly overwhelmed
By what I had been chosen to perform
But then an angel came one day
Told me to kneel down and pray
For unto me a man-child would be born
Woe this crazy circumstance
I knew his life deserved a chance
But everybody told me to be smart
"Look at your career," they said
"Lauryn, baby use your head"
But instead I chose to use my heart
[Chorus]
Now the joy of my world
Is in Zion! (Zion, Zion!)
Now the joy of my world
Is in Zion! (Zion, uhh, Zion!)
[Verse 2]
How beautiful if nothing more
Than to wait at Zion's door
I've never been in love like this before
Now let me pray to keep you from
The perils that will surely come
See life for you, my prince has just begun
And I thank you for choosing me
To come through unto life to be
A beautiful reflection of His grace
See I know that a gift so great
Is only one God could create
And I'm reminded every time I see your face
[Chorus]
That the joy (Joy)
Of my world (World)
Is in Zion (Is in Zion)
Is in Zion (Is in Zion)
Now the joy (Joy)
Of my world (World)
Is in Zion (Is in Zion, is in Zion)
Now the joy (Joy)
Of my world (World)
Is in Zion (Is in Zion, is in Zion)
Now the joy (Joy)
Of my world (World)
Is in Zion (Is in Zion, is in Zion)
[Outro]
Marching, marching, marching, marching (Marching)
To Zion, marching, marching, marching (We gon' march)
Marching, marching, marching, marching
To Zion, marching, beautiful, beautiful, Zion
Marching, marching, marching, marching
To Zion, marching, marching, marching
Marching, marching, marching, marching
To Zion, marching, beautiful, beautiful, Zion
Marching, marching, marching, marching (My joy, my joy)
To Zion, marching, marching, marching (My joy, my joy)
Marching, marching, marching, marching (My joy, my joy)
To Zion, marching, beautiful, beautiful, Zion (My joy, my joy)
Marching, marching, marching, marching (My joy, my joy)
To Zion, marching, marching, marching (My joy, my joy)
Marching, marching, marching, marching (You're the joy)
To Zion, marching, beautiful, beautiful, Zion (Of my life)
Marching, marching, marching, marching (It is in Zion)
To Zion, marching, marching, marching (Zion)
Marching, marching, marching, marching (You're the joy)
To Zion, marching, beautiful, beautiful, Zion (You're the joy of my life)
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion (Is in Zion, Zion)
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion (It is in Zion)
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion
Marching
[Skit]
[Teacher]
Okay, how many people here have ever been in love? I know none of the guys are gonna raise their hand. How many of y'all ever been in love?
[Class]
(Mumbling)
[Teacher]
I know none of the guys been in... we don't get in love, right? Oh! Let this black man right here tell what his idea of love is, 'cause not all the time we hear a young black man talk about love. About your personal definition, don't tell me what Webster thinks. Huh?
[Boy]
Willingness to do everything for that person
[Teacher]
Okay, everything like what? Explain. Let him talk c'mon. If I asked him to talk about a fancy car, he'd be right on point. But we wanna talk about love. You can do it. (To another pupil) What do
you think? You said you love somebody, you should know why you love them right?
[Boy 2]
The way they act
[Teacher]
Uh-huh
[Boy 2]
The way they carry themselves, stuff like that
[Teacher]
Okay
[Girl]
The way that they hang with they boys, and they just stand out. It's like sometimes it don't even matter like what they wear or what they look like. It's like, that way, you know?
[Girl 2]
Yeah
[Girl]
It's like you know you want to talk to him, because he stands out, it's like he got a glow or something
[Teacher]
That's deep
[Boy 2]
That's what I'm talking about
[Teacher]
I thought that was a beautiful point. Anyone else want to deal with that?
[Girl 2]
It's sometimes, like when they try to act funny in front of they boys, like when they get around say they love you. They can't love you. 'Cause love-love-love wouldn't do that
[Girl 3]
Love is not phony!
[Class]
(Laughter)"
Source: https://genius.com/Lauryn-hill-to-zion-lyrics
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SELECTED COMMENTS ABOUT HOW INSPIRATIONAL AND SUPPORTIVE THIS SONG HAS BEEN FOR WOMEN
Numbers added for referencing purposes only.
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sQjh261rU8
1. whit, 2016
"such a heartfelt song. I'm currently 7 months pregnant with my first child. the road was hard for me to get here. I was told I would have a slim chance of getting pregnant. But in 2 months I will be holding my baby boy. I listen to this song and cry tears of joy. GOD IS GOOD!!!"
**
2. Sednette, 2016
"I suffered 5 miscarriages. But in July I had my son. He came at 33weeks and 2 days, and spent 15 days in the NICU. But he's here and he's perfect. This song says all the words I struggle to say!"
**
3. ReallyReddm 2018
"I found out I was pregnant 4 months ago and the father walked out on us unfortunately, it was so many times that I wanted to give up and just have an abortion, I even thought of killing me and my unborn child because I was severely depressed. But everytime I heard this song I kept pushing on , and the doctor finally told me I was having a beautiful baby boy ! I am now 6 months pregnant and I sing this song for Zion everyday ♥️ he is destined for greatness with or without a father ✨ February 2019 . Mommy can’t wait to finally meet you Zion 👩👦🥰"
**
REPLY
4. blackbeauty love, 2019
"You can do it, it's hard but, but that precious little one is going to be your living reassurance that everything will be okay. I dedicated this song to my son, Zyon. I was approached with a lot of options by friend who couldn't understand why I wanted to give birth, but I dont regret a minute of it. This son[g] was writing [written] for me.."
**
5. Angela Dean, 2019
"Back in 1999, I listened to this song a lot after finding out I was pregnant at the beginning of my career as an attorney. Even though the father and I didn't work out. My son is an amazing gift and I named him Johari (Swahili for Jewel) after the musician on the acoustic guitar strings in the intro. My son Johari was a gift and joy to parent. He is a amazing young man (Eagle Scout, Morehouse College Biology Major and Honors Student with 4.0 GPA, Future Doctor). I've been a lawyer for over 20 years and have done well. God had a greater plan."
**
6. Overcomer, 2019
"Chills an tears I was pregnant at 14, and someone wanted me to abort my son,but when I saw that screen I couldn't do it( I didn't want to anyways) got up off the table medicated and all. me and my friend use to sing this song. I'm now 33 and I Bless God, it is a heck of a story behind my pregnancy but God 😠Gloryyyyyyyy tears of joy,because God is good and real"
**
7. Official Kiana Doll, 2020
"The chills I feel when I listen to this song. God bless my beautiful son my Zion my prince 🥺♥️ "
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