moonbeaches,
This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series on (White American) Randy Stonehill's 1982 song "Shut De Do" (Keep Out The Debil)" that I categorize as a pseudo Caribbean religious song. "Shut De Do (Keep Out De Debil)" is that composer's attempt to say "Shut The Door" (Keep Out The Devil)" in dialectic Jamaican English Patois) or in other forms of Caribbean English.
This post showcases a YouTube video of that song and presents a complete online reprinted article about that song. This pancocojams post also presents the thirteen comments as of November 16, 2024 from the comment section for the 2014 pancocojams post entitled "Cultural Critique Of The Song "Shut De Do" (Keep Out De Debil).
In addition, this pancocojams post presents selected comments about that song from several YouTube videos' discussion threads. These comments critique the cultural ramifications of the Randy Stonehill song "Shut De Do" (Keep Out De Debil) .
Click
https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/01/a-cultural-crtique-of-song-shut-de-door.html
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
****
A COMPLETE REPRINT OF ARTICLE ABOUT THE SONG "SHUT DE DO (KEEP OUT THE DEBIL"
https://thescottspot.wordpress.com/2018/03/24/shut-de-do-1982/ "Shut De Do" Song
Posted
Randall Evan “Randy” Stonehill (born March 12, 1952) is an American singer and songwriter from Stockton, California, best known as one of the pioneers of Contemporary Christian music. His music is primarily folk rock in the style of James Taylor, but some of his albums would be classified as new wave, pop, pop rock, roots rock, and children’s music.
I bought this cassette tape while attending a Missions Conference at Southwestern Seminary in Ft. Worth, TX. It was my first time to be in a store like Lifeway Bookstore, the seminary bookstore.
For whatever reason, this cassette jumped out to me; I’d never heard of Randy Stonehill before. But, this album would rank as my #2 all-time favorite Christian music album. Every song is a good song!
This song was REALLY popular among Christians in college… and with puppet ministries (figure that combo!). It’s written and sung as a spiritual.
Bible Reference… Ephesians 6:10-17; James 4:7; 1Peter 5:8,9
CHORUS:
Shut de do, keep out de debil. Shut de do, keep de debil in de ni-eet.
Shut de do, keep out de debil; light de candle everything’s alright.
Light de candle everything’s alright.
When I was a baby child (Shut de do, keep out the debil),
good and bad was just a game (Shut de do, keep the debil in de ni-eet).
Many years and many trials (Shut de do, keep out the debil),
they proved to me they not the same (Shut de do, keep the debil in de ni-eet). (CHORUS)
Oh, Satan is an evil charmer (Shut de do, keep out the debil);
he’s hungry for a soul to hurt (Shut de do, keep the debil in de ni-eet).
And without your holy armor (Shut de do, keep out the debil),
he will eat you for dessert (Shut de do, keep the debil in de ni-eet). (CHORUS)
TAG:
Hey, hey, hey, shut de do! Hey, hey, hey, shut de do!
Hey, hey, hey, you gotta shut de do; say a prayer he will be back no more.
My mama used to sing this song (Shut de do, keep out the debil).
Oh, poppa used to sing it, too (Shut de do, keep the debil in de ni-eet).
Jesus called and took them home (Shut de do, keep out the debil),
And so I sing the song for you (Shut de do, keep the debil in de ni-eet). (CHORUS 2x)"
-snip-
That "Shut De Do (Keep Out De Debil" was and still is quite popular in the United States and in some other countries is documented by the large numbers of YouTube videos of that song and by many of those videos' discussion threads. I've read comments of that song being performed in the United States by middle and high school choirs, university choir, during competitions by choral groups, and during summer camps. I've also read that "Shut De Do" was (and) still is sung outside the United States where it was/is sometimes sung in schools and/or in churches.
From these YouTube videos and their comments it appears that in the United States "Shut De Do (Keep Out De Debil" is sung more often by White people than by Black people. For example, I haven't come across any YouTube video thus far of an African American church choir singing "Shut De Do (Keep Out The Debil" and I've only come across one Historically Black university choir performing that song.
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF8YZ1jTJ_o , Dillard University Choir "Shut de Door" (Ke'Imba
Gilmore, soloist), published by tdavidray, Aug 19, 2009
The Dillard University Concert Choir performs the Calypso
Spiritual 'Shut de Door'. The soloist is the phenomenal Ke'Imba Gilmore. The concert was at the Ben Hill United
Methodist Church in College Park, GA.
-snip-
Notice that the description of this song as a "Calypso Spiritual" could erroneously be interpreted that this song comes from the Caribbean. ("Calypso" technically refers to folk music from Trinidad and Tobago. However, in the United States "Calypso" has generally been used as a referent for Jamaican folk music and/or most other Caribbean folk music.
Of course, that I haven't come across YouTube videos and comments about Black Americans singing "Shut De Do" doesn't mean that there aren't any Black American church choirs or any other university choirs that sing that song.
****
COMMENTS FROM THE DISCUSSION THREAD FOR THE 2014 PANCOCOJAMS POST ABOUT THIS SONG https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/01/a-cultural-crtique-of-song-shut-de-door.html
(These comments include my replies. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.)
1. Umlud, January 3, 2014 at 9:55 AM
"Shocking.
One place I think you missed the mark is when you wrote the following:
It should also be noted that in the beginning of Randy
Stonehill's singing this song, silhouette images of people dancing [Black
people?] in a Hip-Hop fashion. The people are wearing necklaces. At least one
man is wearing a large chain link necklace, a style that was popular among
African American Hip-Hop music lovers.
The silhouettes are actually from Apple's highly successful iPod commercials from the mid-2000s. Specifically, they ripped off portions of this commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArAmG7On8Ak
There, you can see that the necklaces are actually the white
ear-bud style earphones that were made iconic by the
then-only-available-in-white iPod."
**
Reply
2. Azizi Powell, January 3, 2014 at 1:22 PM
"Greetings, Uumlad.
Thanks for that information about the dancers. Here's the link to that Dance About it iPod Commercial video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArAmG7On8Ak">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArAmG7On8Ak</a>
Yes, I can see the ear plug necklaces that the dancers are wearing better in that original video. But I was specifically referring to the dancer that appears at around 2:02 or 2:03 of that "Shut de Door" video. I think he's wearing a chain link necklaces.
Regardless, it certainly appears to me that those silhouetted dancers are Black and even if they aren't Black they are performing African American originated Hip-Hop dances (and not Caribbean originated dances) though a good case can certainly be made that Hip-Hop in part comes from the Caribbean and some dances that are referred to as Hip-Hop/R&B like the Butterfly are from the Caribbean (but I don't know if those dancers are doing that particular dance).
But the points that I tried to make in this post can stand without those sentences about those dancers.
And, yes, I was surprised by those remarks Randy Stonehill made before he began singing his admittedly very catchy song."
Reply
3.
"Let me try that link again
4.
"Thank you for your research and perspective on this song. I
am not a supporter of Contemporary Christian Music, and I first encountered
this selection quite by happenstance. My interest in this is in its utility and
appropriateness as choral music for church or concert. The points you make are
well taken. Perhaps the real problem here is simply Randy Stonehill himself,
who seems rather naïve in his good-natured if stereotypical characterization of
a culture not his own.
However, your observations raise some serious questions. If, as you seem to suggest, the song is unauthentic because its author seeks to emulate a style outside his own racial and cultural identity, does it follow that only African Americans should compose and arrange spirituals, that only Caribbeans of color should compose calypsos?
If the use of dialect is the problem, then what of the numerous spirituals arranged by William L. Dawson, Jester Hairston, Rosamond Johnson, Moses Hogan, and many others, whose texts use dialect unabashedly? Shall performers, contrary to Mr. Stonehill’s recommendations, “normalize” the pronunciation, lest they give offense?
And does it follow that only the originators of the spirituals or calypsos are qualified to perform the selections in the first place? Have whites any business performing an African American spiritual?
This poses a real artistic quandary. In my profession, we
prepare and perform music in an effort to be life-giving and life-enhancing. In
so doing, we regularly cross cultural borders in a spirit of discovery and an
abiding regard for humanity in all of its facets. We cannot speak all languages
with equal authenticity, but I suggest that, regardless of our limitations, our
desire to do so is a measure of genuine goodwill."
**
Reply
5. Azizi Powell, July 7, 2015 at 11:25 AM
"Thanks, Stephen Mager for your comment.
Here's a link to a pancocojams post that I wrote entitled Comments About Singing Spirituals Using 19th Century Negro Dialect [link: https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/08/why-i-dont-like-use-of-19th-century.html ]
Here's an excerpt from that post:
"I acknowledge that there are different opinions among
African Americans and non-African Americans about the appropriateness of using
19th century "Negro dialect"* while singing Spirituals. For some
people the question is one of preserving the authenticity of these Spirituals
and not "watering them down". However, I'm much more concerned about
how 19th century dialectic words may be interpreted as a reflection of the lack
of respect for the intelligence and the literacy of African Americans in the
past, and in the present. Perhaps if racism wasn't still so very much a factor
in the present, I wouldn't be as concerned about how Black people are depicted
in our songs. "...
I have no problem whatsoever with non-African Americans performing Spirituals or any other genre of Black originated music. After all, Black people perform music from non-Black originated genres. I do have problems with the way any music may be interpreted or performed (for instance blackface and/or stereotypical depictions).
I also have problems with people directly claiming or alluding that they or their racial/ethnic group originated a musical genre or a performing art and failing to give the credit to Black people when that credit belongs to people from that race.
What is considered offensive changes over time. With regard to 19th century Black dialect in Spirituals and secular folk songs [such as "Shortnin' Bread], I believe that it's very important that people consider the negative connotations of so-called Black dialectic words [such as "dem", "Lawd", and "heben" that they previously may not have given a second thought."
**
Reply
6. Unknown, July 1, 2017 at 12:15 AM
"I was taught this song in grade school and led to believe it
was a spiritual. I'm very surprised to learn that this is not the case! Thank
you for sharing your thoughts! I think Stonehill's appropriation and apparent
disdain for Caribbean and/or Black culture is beyond distasteful."
Reply
7.
"Thanks for your comment, unknown.
I don't know if Randy Stonehill is or was disdainful of Caribbean music when he composed "Shut De Door".
I actually like that song and don't really think its appropriation if a person who isn't from one culture composes a song in the manner of another culture. What I think is problematic is if that person believes [or] leads others to believe that what is composed is an authentic folk song from or an authentic cultural product from that culture.
Also, I personally don't like the use of that dialectic English because of the negative connotations that dialect has about Black people.
This subject is complicated and I haven't touched on all its ramifications.
I appreciate your input."
**
8. Anonymous, September 30, 2017 at 2:04 AM
"Hello,
I saw your thoughtful post on this song. I remember this
song coming out as I followed Christian music back then. Though I am not
qualified to speak for anyone, I'll just give my simple opinion. Was Mr.
Stonehill disrespectful or outright racist for writing a song like this. Well,
no. This was during a time when Caribbean- and Africa-influenced music was very
common: the Police, Paul Simon and many more. The subject matter was story from
a certain viewpoint -- a common songwriting motif. The song was playful and
while, according to today's cultural-sensitivity standards, the banter was not
very, shall we say, atuned to 2017, from what I know of the artist, I would not
cast aspersions upon his character or reputation. I can certainly understand
your feelings and concern, however he has been, as far as I can tell, a
reputable entertainer and humanitarian. I looked back at that album and found
it pretty robust for what it was. Some light and some heavy songs. Anyway,
thanks for you post. I enjoyed reading it!"
**
Reply
9. Azizi Powell, September 30, 2017 at 11:21 AM
"Greetings, Anonymous.
I appreciate your comments.
I don't know whether the composer of this song is racist or not. My point was that his "banter" as given in this post wasn't culturally sensitive when he made it, and isn't culturally sensitive now. Whether he meant or didn't mean to be disrespectful, in my opinion he was disrespectful and offensive. And I don't think that trying to be funny excuses that.
Furthermore, I think that a lot of people believe that Randy Stonehill's song "Shut The Door" is older than 1982. This post- and also presumably Randy Stonehill himself- points out that that isn't true.
I certainly understand that people can compose songs in the style of African American Spirituals or traditional Jamaican Spirituals. However, it should be clear that those songs aren't "traditional" (meaning composed in the 19th century)."
**
10. Anonymous, August 2, 2019 at 9:29 AM
"I believe you are missing the point of some of the previous
comments. We (as a society) cannot look at things from 20, 30, 40 (etc) years
ago through the same lenses of today and apply the same judgement to it. I
understand your concerns regarding the introduction, but as previously stated,
was likely a misguided attempt at getting his audience involved in the show.
Particularly without any history of racism. Also as previously stated, other
artists of this time frame incorporated this genre of music into their albums
and songs and yet no mention of those artists “appropriating” the culture was
made. As far as other people assuming it was an old folklore song, you cannot
hold Mr. Stonehill responsible for what other people assume unless he
specifically made statements alluding to that, which I have been unable to
find. Lastly, this entire article and it’s presumptions are based on one single
video clip, which is not enough to make the assumption that Mr. Stonehill was a
racist who appropriated a culturally specific music genre for the express
purpose of disparaging an entire race/culture."
**
Reply
11. Azizi Powell, August 2, 2019 at 10:30 AM
"Anonymous, thank you for your comment.
I stand by what I have written about this song, but I agree with you that my statements are based on one single video clip.
As to whether Mr. Stonehill "was a racist who
appropriated a culturally specific music genre for the express purpose of
disparaging an entire race/culture", those are your words and not mine."
**
12. Pastor Swope, July 6, 2021 at 4:09 PM
"To be fair I went to a multi-racial, multi-nation and
diverse cultural Christian College. The West Africans really liked this song
and they sang it along with their own regional songs."
**
Reply
13. Azizi Powell, July 6, 2021 at 4:59 PM
"Thanks Pastor Swope for sharing your experience with this
song.
I believe that for the record (no pun intended) it's
important to make sure that people are aware of the provenance of this song,
whether they agree with my criticisms of the song or not."
****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM DISCUSSION THREADS FOR A FEW YOUTUBE VIDEOS OF THIS SONG
These are a small sample of YouTube discussion thread comments about Randy Stonehill's 1982 Christian song "Shut De Do (Keep Out De Debil)". Some of these comments reflect the misinformation and/or confusion about which culture this song is supposed to represent and some examples express the commenter's dislike for the song because of cultural and/or religious reasons.
These discussion threads are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.
YOUTUBE VIDEO DISCUSSION THREAD #1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG91awpZ8H0 [This is the video that is embedded at the top of this post.]
1. @kgreenwood95, 2010
"haha lmao sounds jamaican x"
**
2.@romeofroyalty, 2010
"@romeofroyalty and this is a jamiacan type of song more of
"lite da candell evry tings all rite"
**
3. @BronzeOrwin, 2010
"Don't thumb down him, I like jamakins!!! :D"
**
4. @Diafied, 2015
"WOW. Some of my earliest memories are of
singing this song in Sunday school in Jamaica. Honestly, it's HILARIOUS hearing it from this group
because of the cultural differences, though they definitely did a GREAT job. I
didn't even know that other people knew about this song."
**
Reply
5. @wizzerd229, 2018
"this song was writen by a white dude"
**
Reply
6. @ErikBAnderson, 2019
"@wizzerd229 who wrote it?"
**
Reply
7. @jaynails32, 2020
"@ErikBAnderson Randy Stonehill wrote it."
**
Reply
8. @a.m.7895, 2021
"Really?!"
**
9. @judytripp2908, 2020
"This song was truly meant to be a choir song! And it always
takes me back to 8th grade ,and the deep old southern hyms meets the
classic Caribbean folk songs... LOVE it!!!!!will NEVER forget
it!!!!!!!!"
**
Reply
10. @Ten13Grl, 2020
"It was written by a white dude from California."
**
Reply
11. @judytripp2914, 2021
"@Ten13Grl I know but it has that southern/Caribbean
vibe! Is what I said it reminded me of! Read. Comment carefully !😀"
**
12. @judytripp2914, 2021
"This still really reminds me of southern hyms meets classic
Caribbean folk! Will ALWAYS love it!"
**
13. @jackbuddy2409, 2024
"I got to know this song through American missionaries in
Papua New Guinea in 1991. That was a nice time in Goroka."
****
YOUTUBE VIDEO DISCUSSION THREAD #2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjq1-_RnL-w
1. @dougkneeland, 2018
"Songs that mock have no place in a faith built on love."
**
Reply
2. @fullvelocityx, 2023
"Congratulations your fulfilling the Bible’s prophesy to the
letter. Jesus said in the last days that
men would become easily offended, “And many shall be
shocked/indignant/offended-“ Matthew 24:10
God is saying, “Don’t be so sensitive.
Your taking it to literally."
**
Reply
3. @amapparatistkwabena, 2018
"Disgusting"
**
Reply
4. @dierdriu, 2022
"I am personally disgusted that this song was part of my
"Christian upbringing." The caricature it makes of black vernacular,
of Caribbean culture, of human freaking decency is shameful.
It should never have enjoyed such prominence. The fact that it's still being shared and marketed as a "spiritual" or "old Caribbean hymn" is a big part of why my multiracial family has nothing to do with evangelical Christianity and why we don't listen to the right-wing, mediocre garbage promoted by Contemporary Christian Music or whatever Nashville plagiarists call their wares these days."
Reply
5.
"Shut the door on this kind of insulting, demeaning,
dishonoring nonsense!! This is the kind of Christian "ministry" that
is causing genuine, educated believers to run towards the doors to the kind of
Biblical ministry that truly respects God's creation of humanity in all it's
colors."
Reply
6.
"Dude he was just poking fun not being serious. Randy Stonehill has given to people of all
colors through Feed the Children since the 80’s. Does that sound dishonoring or lacking in
Godliness to you? The dudes mega
compassionate and has one of the biggest hearts I’ve ever seen. Give the guy some slack. You’re fulfilling the Bible’s prophesy of
Jesus to the letter. He said in the last
days that men would become easily offended, “And many shall be
shocked/indignant/offended-“ Matthew 24:10
Relax dude it’s just a song.
I am a mutt of many countries and I poke fun at all of my heritage. Who cares, it’s all in good fun. If you take offense perhaps you need to take
a steep back and realize that that is really how they sound to those not of
that country. If jokes are made it’s
only harmless banter. God is saying,
“Don’t be so sensitive.”
**
Reply
7. @fullvelocityx, 2023
"This is what an actual person bellow in the text said who is
from the Caribbean, named @archados
“Hello all, Im from the Caribbean. This is not offensive at all. Americans need to lighten up. Disa bwoy ben
do good tings fi Jesus and culture na belong ta nobody, ya understan?”
See dude. Now take a
freakin’ shill pill and relax. He’s a
good man."
-snip-
@archados’ comment (as fully quoted above) was posted in that discussion thread
in 2023
****
YOUTUBE VIDEO DISCUSSION THREAD #3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rsi1UVE3_Q0 "Shut De Do", published by MUSIC OF HOPE, Nov 19, 2015 HOPE
CHANNEL SOUTH PHILIPPINES STUDIO
"I love to see these children singing a Negro Spiritual, and gaining an
appreciation for African American culture... Which is of course American
Culture. ❤️"
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor's note: Randy Stonehill's 1982 song "Shut De Do" isn't an African American Spiritual (formerly referred to as "Negro Spirituals".)
****
YOUTUBE DISCUSSION THREAD VIDEO #4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvyjqRptRrU "Shut De Do'", published by TheGuiltyOnesx,
Nov 17, 2007; 2007 VCDA District VII Mixed Chorus
1. @JRod527763, 2012
"Am I the only one who does a bad Jamaican accent
when I sing this?"
**
2. @somethingmoreprofessional, 2016
"I'm in band and usually I don't associate with choir
kids, but the director came to me and a couple of my fellow percussionist
friends and I to ask us if we could come up with a nice African drum beat for
this song. We said yes, being nice
people and all. Then he told us that the
concert is 4 days away.So my friends and I have to make, learn, and practice
with the choir an entire percussion part to this song in four days."
****
YOUTUBE VIDEO DISCUSSION THREAD #5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmJZrJ2aEYM "Shut De Do- Randy Stonehill (Lyrics)", published by McFiesty, Jul 3, 2014
1. @MrSirwolf2001, 2021
"Oh wow, I remember this being big in the 80's and while the
tune is catchy, even then I remembered thinking that was little more that was
anywhere close to being as cringeworthy as a church choir of upper middle
class, suburban, WASP, middle school aged,
preteens singing this song in church."
**
2. @josipbroz8250, 2023
"i sang this song at camp as a kid. We did it the same way.
Maybe he gets a partial pass for being from another time. But the way he sings
this song is blackface pure and simple."
**
Reply
3. @a-s-greig, 2024
"Well, I mean...."
-snip-
This comment was written in bold font and in italics, perhaps to express some skepticism about the previous comment.
*****
This concludes Part II of this two part pancocojams series.
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