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Saturday, December 7, 2024

Florida A&M University's Chapter Of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority' Singing An Adaptation Of The African American Spiritual "I Know I've Been Changed"


Jay3bk, May 29, 2009

The Lovely Ladies of the Beta Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha at Florida A&M University

Shouts out to Monique Mitchell, Monique Wilkes, and Janise Austin Holiday....yall did that!

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Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest December 9, 2024

This pancocojams post showcases three YouTube videos of members of the Beta Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. at Florida A&M University singing their* adaptation of the African American Spiritual "I Know I've Been Changed".

The lyrics for this Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority adaptation of "I Know I've Been Changed" is  included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural and inspirational purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the composer/s of this adaptation of this African American Spiritual. Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. 

*This adaptation 
"I Know I've Been Changed" may be sung by all chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. 

For the cultural record, please confirm or correct this statement in the pancocojams discussion thread that is found below. Thanks!     

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LYRICS - ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA ADAPTATION OF I KNOW I'VE BEEN CHANGED

Refrain #1
Group - I know I’ve been changed
[Soloist- I know I been changed]
Group - I know I’ve been changed
[Soloist- I know I been changed]
Group- I know I’ve been changed
All - The day that Alpha Kappa Alpha called my name

Verse 1
All- Day and night we devoted our time
Just to be a part of that ivy line
Worked so hard to cross the sand
To open up the gate to alpha land

Refrain #1

Verse #2
Group- It was sisterhood that brought us through
Loyalty and honor in all we do
[Soloist - In all we do]
Group - We could never settle for less
[Soloist - settle for less]
All -The Beta Alpha chapter is the best.

Refrain #2

Group -You know that
I love AKA
[Soloist - I love AKA]
Group - I love AKA
[Soloist- Oooo I love AKA]
Group - I love AKA
All -Alpha Kappa Alpha till my dying day.

[humming]

 All - Alpha Kappa Alpha till my dying day.
-snip-
Additions and corrections are welcome.
-snip-
The refrain and the lyrics from what is given above as Verse #2 on are given as captions in this tik tok video:  
https://www.tiktok.com/@themayaellison/video/7324461538285440302 
published by Maya Faith Ellison [publishing date?] 

"I Know I’ve Been Changed Here’s to my beautiful sorors of Alpha Kappa Alpha. The 116th Founders Day honors the years of sisterhood, love and service. #alphakappaalpha #foundersday #aka #1908"
-snip-
After they end that song, the AKAs say their signature call "Skeeweeee!" 

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WHAT HISTORICALLY BLACK GREEK LETTER ORGANIZATIONS ADAPTATIONS OF "I KNOW I'VE BEEN CHANGED" MEAN

The African American Spiritual "I Know I've Been Changed" states that a person who accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior has changed his or her life and has their name written in Heaven's rolls (i.e. the book in Heaven that has the names of all Christians).

In historically Black Greek letter organizations adaptations of "I Know I've Been Changed", a person who completes the process of becoming a member of their organization also has changed his or her life and has their name written in that organization's membership list. .

In some religious songs, a person who is baptized is said to have been reborn. A new name is given to a new Christian in recognition that he or she is beginning a new life. In other Christian songs such as "I Know I've Been Changed", t
he new Christian may not be given a new name and he person's old name is the name that is written in the Heavenly rolls.. 

Refrain #1 of the lyrics for this Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.'s adaptation of the African American Spiritual "I Know I've Been Changed" is composed of the same lyrics as the Spiritual ("I know I've been changed" except that "Alpha Kappa Alpha" replaces the word "angels" and the term "alpha land" replaces that term "heaven" and "called my name" replacing the lyrics "signed my name".

The remaining lyrics for this adaptation's verses and for refrain #2 either replaces or adds to the lyrics for "I Know I've Been Changed" with secular references. For example, "ivy" is a term for a woman pledging AKA (going through the process of becoming a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority). Also,  the lyrics "crossing the sand*" replaces the religious lyrics "went to the water". 

* "Crossing the burning sands" is a reference in historically Black Greek letter organizations for the ritual completion of the process to be a member of that specific organization.   

The remainder of this Alpha Kappa Alpha adaptation of "I Know I've Been Changed" is composed of references that are unique to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, praises for their specific Alpha Kappa Alpha chapter, and affirmations about how they love that sorority.   

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.: FAMU's Beta Alpha Chapter Singing After Graduation in Spring 2012


UpCloseAndLovely, May 1, 2012

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.: FAMU's Beta Alpha Chapter Singing After Graduation in Spring 2012

© 2012 Leslie Moore

10BA09

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Beta Alpha Chapter from FAMU 2016 Graduation Songfest


Sharayne, MFT,  Jun 18, 2016

Alpha Kappa Alpha Beta Alpha Chapter from FAMU Singing After Spring 2016 Graduation
-snip-
"I Know I've Been Changed" is the last song in this video (beginning at 11:32).

This adaptation of "I Know I've Been Changed" appears to be sung when new members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority enter their probate. (A probate is a formal program that marks the first time they are introduced to the public as members of that sorority.)

Other adaptations of "I Know I've Been Changed appear to be sung for the same reason by some other historically Black Greek letter sororities. I've come across one example of that song by members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and one adaptation by members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. The links for those videos are found in this post's discussion thread that is found below.

Please add to this cultural record by sharing your memories of historically Black Greek letter  fraternities' and sororities' adaptations of this Spiritual. Also, please share any links that you have come across for historically Black Greek letter organizations'  adaptations of "I Know I've Been Changed" in the pancocojams discussion thread below. Thanks!

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2 comments:

  1. 1998 is the oldest date for a YouTube video that I've come across so far for an Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority ,Inc. chapter singing an adaptation of the African American Spiritual "I Know I've Been Changed."

    Here's the link to that video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDDFKuPq_kY "Sp98Probate_I Know I've Been Changed", published by IJCALDWELL29, Sep 8, 2021
    Sp98Probate_I Know I've Been Changed
    UAPB AKA
    -snip-
    UAPB= The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is a public historically Black university in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

    The members of that chapter of AKA sing the "I Know I've Been Changed" refrain together (without a soloist responding) and then merges that song with the Step, Step, Step/Soul stepping Sorors Of AKA" song.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Here are two more links to online videos that I've come across of AKA singing their adaptation of "I Know I've Been Changed":

    https://www.tiktok.com/@gbreezy8/video/7109906405112532270
    i Know I Been Changed AKA Probate (TikTok)
    gbreezy8 2022-6-16
    I know I’ve been changed 💚💗 #aka #1908 #14 #alphakappalpha #AmazonMusicProudHeroes [pulishing date?}

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD9UgpKxtDI&t=317s "AKA Probate Tau Theta Chapter FA 2013 "I know I been changed" published by Jasmine Norton, Nov 24, 2013

    ReplyDelete