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.
-snip-
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.
****
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]"....
****
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
-snip-
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”).
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: LAURYN HILL - To Zion VIDEO HD
HISTORY OF MUSIC, Dec 4, 2012
****
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
****
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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Visitor comments are welcome.
Showing posts with label Zion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zion. Show all posts
Saturday, February 1, 2020
Friday, January 31, 2020
The Melodians - "Rivers Of Babylon" by The Melodians (with a video of Boney M's cover of this song)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases the song "Rivers Of Babylon" that was composed in 1970 by two members of the Jamaican Rastafarian Reggae trio The Melodians.
Information about and lyrics for that song are included in this post along with a sound file of The Melodians performing "Rivers Of Babylon" and a video of the German based group "Boney M" performing a cover of that song.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to The Melodians for their musical legacy. Thanks also to Boney M for their musical legacy and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/02/jamaican-songs-about-river-jordan-part-i.html for this closely related 2013 pancocojams post entitled "Jamaican Songs About The River Jordan (Part I)". The link to Part II of that pancocojams series is found near the beginning of that post.
Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/01/why-zion-and-mt-zion-are-frequently.html for a 2020 pancocojams post entitled "Why "Zion" And "Mt. Zion" Are Frequently Used In Names Of Black (African American) Churches".
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "RIVERS OF BABYLON"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivers_of_Babylon
"Rivers of Babylon" is a Rastafari song written and recorded by Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton of the Jamaican reggae group The Melodians in 1970. The lyrics are adapted from the texts of Psalms 19 and 137 in the Hebrew Bible. The Melodians' original version of the song appeared on the soundtrack album for the 1972 movie The Harder They Come, which made it internationally known.
The song was popularized in Europe by the 1978 Boney M. cover version, which was awarded a platinum disc and is one of the top-ten all-time best-selling singles in the UK. The B-side of the single, "Brown Girl in the Ring", also became a hit.
Background
Biblical psalms
The song is based on the Biblical Psalm 137:1-4, a hymn expressing the lamentations of the Jewish people in exile following the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in 586 BC:[1] Previously the Kingdom of Judah, after being united under Kings David and Solomon, had been split in two, with the Kingdom of Israel in the north, conquered by the Assyrians in 722 BC which caused the dispersion of 10 of the 12 tribes of Israel. The southern Kingdom of Judah (hence the name Jews), home of the tribe of Judah and part of the tribe of Levi, was free from foreign domination until the Babylonian conquest to which Rivers of Babylon refers.
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion ... They carried us away in captivity requiring of us a song ... Now how shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?
The namesake rivers of Babylon (in present-day Iraq) are the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The song also has words from Psalm 19:14:[2]
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight...
[...]
Rastafari
In the Rastafarian faith, the term "Babylon" is used for any governmental system which is either oppressive or unjust. In Jamaica, Rastafarians also use "Babylon" to refer to the police, often seen as a source of oppression because they arrest members for the use of marijuana (which is sacramental for Rastafarians). Therefore, "By the rivers of Babylon" refers to living in a repressive society and the longing for freedom, just like the Israelites in captivity. Rastafarians also identify themselves as belonging to the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The original version specifically refers to Rastafarian belief in Haile Selassie, by changing references to "the Lord" in the Biblical text to "Far-I" and "King Alpha". Both terms refer to Selassie (Selassie's wife Menen Asfaw is known as Queen Omega).[3] In addition, the term "the wicked" replaces the neutral "they" of Psalm 137 in the line "they that carried us away captive required of us a song...".[4] According to David Stowe,
Melodians version
After its release in 1970, the song quickly became well known in Jamaica"....
Boney M. version
"Rivers of Babylon" was covered in 1978 by Germany-based disco band Boney M., with a version that was released as a single. Boney M.'s release stayed at the no. 1 position in the UK for five weeks and was also the group's only significant US chart entry, peaking at no. 30 in the Pop charts. Boney M.'s version of the song remains one of the top ten all-time best-selling singles in the UK, where it is one of only seven songs to have sold over 2 million copies.[6] In Canada, the song was a top 25 hit on the RPM magazine's Top 100 singles chart and reached no. 9 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The song also reached No. 1 on the South African Springbok chart, where it remained for a total of 11 weeks, making it the No. 1 song on that country's year end charts. The song was the first single from the band's equally successful 1978 album, Nightflight to Venus. Some controversy arose when the first single pressings only credited Frank Farian and Reyam (aka Hans-Jörg Mayer) of Boney M.; after an agreement with Dowe and McNaughton, these two were also credited on later pressings.
The Rastafarian language was excised from the lyrics for the Boney M. version. Although the group performed an early mix of the song on a German TV show and sang "How can we sing King Alpha's song" as in the Melodians version, it was changed to "the Lord's song", restoring the original, biblical words, in the versions that were to be released.[3] To fit the meter, "O Far-I" became "here tonight" rather than the original, biblical "O Lord"."....
****
SHOWCASE SOUND FILE - The Melodians - "Rivers Of Babylon" (Official Audio)
Trojan Records Official, May 9, 2014
Original 1970 version by leading Jamaican vocal trio, the Melodians.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO - [Boney M] Rivers of Babylon (1978)
E M.G.M, Jan 23, 2013
****
LYRICS - RIVER OF BABYLON
(The Melodians)
By the rivers of Babylon
Where he sat down
And there he wept
When he remembered Zion
Cause the wicked carried us away in captivity
Required from us a song
How can we sing King Alpha's song
In a strange land?
Cause the wicked carried us away in captivity
Required from us a song
How can we sing King Alpha's song
In a strange land?
Sing it out loud
Sing a song of freedom, sister
Sing a song of freedom, brother (sister)
We gotta sing and shout it!
We gotta jump and shout it!
Shout the song of freedom now, oh
So, let the words of our mouth
And the meditation of our heart
Be acceptable in Thy sight
Oh, Fari
So, let the words of our mouth
And the meditation of our heart
Be acceptable in Thy sight
Oh, Fari
Sing it again!
We've got to sing it together
Everyone (we've got to shout it together)
La la la la la, oh
By the rivers of Babylon
Where he sat down
And there he wept
When he remembered Zion
Cause the wicked carried us away in captivity
Required from us a song
How can we sing King Alpha's song
In a strange land?
Cause the wicked carried us away in captivity
Required from us a song
How can we sing King Alpha's song
In a strange land?
Sing it, sing it, sing it
See you got to sing it, brother
You got to sing it, sing sisters, yeah
Source: https://genius.com/The-melodians-rivers-of-babylon-lyrics
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This pancocojams post showcases the song "Rivers Of Babylon" that was composed in 1970 by two members of the Jamaican Rastafarian Reggae trio The Melodians.
Information about and lyrics for that song are included in this post along with a sound file of The Melodians performing "Rivers Of Babylon" and a video of the German based group "Boney M" performing a cover of that song.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to The Melodians for their musical legacy. Thanks also to Boney M for their musical legacy and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/02/jamaican-songs-about-river-jordan-part-i.html for this closely related 2013 pancocojams post entitled "Jamaican Songs About The River Jordan (Part I)". The link to Part II of that pancocojams series is found near the beginning of that post.
Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/01/why-zion-and-mt-zion-are-frequently.html for a 2020 pancocojams post entitled "Why "Zion" And "Mt. Zion" Are Frequently Used In Names Of Black (African American) Churches".
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "RIVERS OF BABYLON"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivers_of_Babylon
"Rivers of Babylon" is a Rastafari song written and recorded by Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton of the Jamaican reggae group The Melodians in 1970. The lyrics are adapted from the texts of Psalms 19 and 137 in the Hebrew Bible. The Melodians' original version of the song appeared on the soundtrack album for the 1972 movie The Harder They Come, which made it internationally known.
The song was popularized in Europe by the 1978 Boney M. cover version, which was awarded a platinum disc and is one of the top-ten all-time best-selling singles in the UK. The B-side of the single, "Brown Girl in the Ring", also became a hit.
Background
Biblical psalms
The song is based on the Biblical Psalm 137:1-4, a hymn expressing the lamentations of the Jewish people in exile following the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in 586 BC:[1] Previously the Kingdom of Judah, after being united under Kings David and Solomon, had been split in two, with the Kingdom of Israel in the north, conquered by the Assyrians in 722 BC which caused the dispersion of 10 of the 12 tribes of Israel. The southern Kingdom of Judah (hence the name Jews), home of the tribe of Judah and part of the tribe of Levi, was free from foreign domination until the Babylonian conquest to which Rivers of Babylon refers.
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion ... They carried us away in captivity requiring of us a song ... Now how shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?
The namesake rivers of Babylon (in present-day Iraq) are the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The song also has words from Psalm 19:14:[2]
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight...
[...]
Rastafari
In the Rastafarian faith, the term "Babylon" is used for any governmental system which is either oppressive or unjust. In Jamaica, Rastafarians also use "Babylon" to refer to the police, often seen as a source of oppression because they arrest members for the use of marijuana (which is sacramental for Rastafarians). Therefore, "By the rivers of Babylon" refers to living in a repressive society and the longing for freedom, just like the Israelites in captivity. Rastafarians also identify themselves as belonging to the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The original version specifically refers to Rastafarian belief in Haile Selassie, by changing references to "the Lord" in the Biblical text to "Far-I" and "King Alpha". Both terms refer to Selassie (Selassie's wife Menen Asfaw is known as Queen Omega).[3] In addition, the term "the wicked" replaces the neutral "they" of Psalm 137 in the line "they that carried us away captive required of us a song...".[4] According to David Stowe,
Brent Dowe, the lead singer of the Melodians, told Kenneth Bilby that he had adapted Psalm 137 to the new reggae style because he wanted to increase the public's consciousness of the growing Rastafarian movement and its calls for black liberation and social justice. Like the Afro-Protestant Revival services, traditional Rastafarian worship often included psalm singing and hymn singing, and Rastas typically modified the words to fit their own spiritual conceptions; Psalm 137 was among their sacred chants.[4]
Melodians version
After its release in 1970, the song quickly became well known in Jamaica"....
Boney M. version
"Rivers of Babylon" was covered in 1978 by Germany-based disco band Boney M., with a version that was released as a single. Boney M.'s release stayed at the no. 1 position in the UK for five weeks and was also the group's only significant US chart entry, peaking at no. 30 in the Pop charts. Boney M.'s version of the song remains one of the top ten all-time best-selling singles in the UK, where it is one of only seven songs to have sold over 2 million copies.[6] In Canada, the song was a top 25 hit on the RPM magazine's Top 100 singles chart and reached no. 9 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The song also reached No. 1 on the South African Springbok chart, where it remained for a total of 11 weeks, making it the No. 1 song on that country's year end charts. The song was the first single from the band's equally successful 1978 album, Nightflight to Venus. Some controversy arose when the first single pressings only credited Frank Farian and Reyam (aka Hans-Jörg Mayer) of Boney M.; after an agreement with Dowe and McNaughton, these two were also credited on later pressings.
The Rastafarian language was excised from the lyrics for the Boney M. version. Although the group performed an early mix of the song on a German TV show and sang "How can we sing King Alpha's song" as in the Melodians version, it was changed to "the Lord's song", restoring the original, biblical words, in the versions that were to be released.[3] To fit the meter, "O Far-I" became "here tonight" rather than the original, biblical "O Lord"."....
****
SHOWCASE SOUND FILE - The Melodians - "Rivers Of Babylon" (Official Audio)
Trojan Records Official, May 9, 2014
Original 1970 version by leading Jamaican vocal trio, the Melodians.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO - [Boney M] Rivers of Babylon (1978)
E M.G.M, Jan 23, 2013
****
LYRICS - RIVER OF BABYLON
(The Melodians)
By the rivers of Babylon
Where he sat down
And there he wept
When he remembered Zion
Cause the wicked carried us away in captivity
Required from us a song
How can we sing King Alpha's song
In a strange land?
Cause the wicked carried us away in captivity
Required from us a song
How can we sing King Alpha's song
In a strange land?
Sing it out loud
Sing a song of freedom, sister
Sing a song of freedom, brother (sister)
We gotta sing and shout it!
We gotta jump and shout it!
Shout the song of freedom now, oh
So, let the words of our mouth
And the meditation of our heart
Be acceptable in Thy sight
Oh, Fari
So, let the words of our mouth
And the meditation of our heart
Be acceptable in Thy sight
Oh, Fari
Sing it again!
We've got to sing it together
Everyone (we've got to shout it together)
La la la la la, oh
By the rivers of Babylon
Where he sat down
And there he wept
When he remembered Zion
Cause the wicked carried us away in captivity
Required from us a song
How can we sing King Alpha's song
In a strange land?
Cause the wicked carried us away in captivity
Required from us a song
How can we sing King Alpha's song
In a strange land?
Sing it, sing it, sing it
See you got to sing it, brother
You got to sing it, sing sisters, yeah
Source: https://genius.com/The-melodians-rivers-of-babylon-lyrics
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Saturday, January 25, 2020
What "Zion" And "Babylon" Mean To Rastafarians
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post presents information about what the words "Zion" and "Babylon" mean to Rastafarians. Because Rastafarians have greatly influenced Reggae music, this information also answers the question "What do the word "Zion" and "Babylon" mean in Reggae music?"
The content of this post is presented for educational, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-melodians-rivers-of-babylon-by.html for a closely related 2020 pancocojams post entitled "The Melodians - "Rivers Of Babylon" by The Melodians (with a video of Boney M's cover of this song)".
Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/01/why-zion-and-mt-zion-are-frequently.html for a 2020 pancocojams post entitled "Why "Zion" And "Mt. Zion" Are Frequently Used In Names Of Black (African American) Churches".
And click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/02/origins-meanings-and-examples-of.html for the related pancocojams post entitled "Origins & Meanings And Examples Of The Male/Female Name "Zion" ".
****
EXCERPTS ABOUT THE MEANING OF "ZION" AND "BABYLON" FOR RASTAFARIANS/IN REGGAE MUSIC
These excerpts are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.
Excerpt #1
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zion#Rastafari_movement
"Rastafari movement
“I say fly away home to Zion, fly away home...One bright morning when my work is over, man will fly away home... ”
— Rastaman Chant, The Wailers
In Rastafari, "Zion" stands for a utopian place of unity, peace and freedom, as opposed to "Babylon", the oppressing and exploiting system of the materialistic modern world and a place of evil.[18]
It proclaims Zion, as reference to Ethiopia, the original birthplace of humankind, and from the beginning of the movement calls to repatriation to Zion, the Promised Land and Heaven on Earth.[19] Some Rastafari believe themselves to represent the real Children of Israel in modern times, and their goal is to repatriate to Ethiopia, or to Zion. The Ge'ez-language Kebra Nagast serves as inspiration for the idea that the "Glory of Zion" transferred from Jerusalem to Ethiopia in the time of Solomon and Sheba, c. 950 BC.
Rastafari reggae contains many references to Zion; among the best-known examples are the Bob Marley songs "Zion Train", "Iron Lion Zion", the Bunny Wailer song "Rastaman" ("The Rasta come from Zion, Rastaman a Lion!"), The Melodians song "Rivers of Babylon" (based on Psalm 137, where the captivity of Babylon is contrasted with the freedom in Zion), the Bad Brains song "Leaving Babylon", the Damian Marley song featuring Nas "Road to Zion", The Abyssinians' "Forward Unto Zion" and Kiddus I's "Graduation in Zion", which is featured in the 1977 cult roots rock reggae film Rockers, and "Let's Go to Zion" by Winston Francis. Reggae groups such as Steel Pulse and Cocoa Tea also have many references to Zion in their various songs.
The Jewish longing for Zion, starting with the deportation and enslavement of Jews during the Babylonian captivity, was adopted as a metaphor by Christian black slaves in the United States.[citation needed][year needed] Thus, Zion symbolizes a longing by wandering peoples for a safe homeland. This could be an actual place such as Ethiopia for Rastafari or Israel for some[citation needed] of the Igbos in Nigeria".
-snip-
Read the comment below about Igbo Jews and Israel.
****
Excerpt #2:
From https://jamaicans.com/believe/
"What Do Rastafarians Believe" by Staff Writer, 2003
"Below are some of the main foundational beliefs of Rastafarians. The other articles will provide some of the other beliefs and standards
Rastafarians believe that God is a spirit and that this spirit was manifested in King H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie I.
-Rastafarians believe that Jesus was a direct descendant of King David and was black.
-Rastafarians believe that the Ethiopian Solomonic Dynasty is a direct representation of King David.
-Rastafarians believe that they are the original Lost Tribes of Israel that were once scattered by Babylon until the appearance of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I.
-Rastafarians believe that God will return them to Zion (Rastafarians refer to Ethiopia as Zion).
-Rastafarians believe that Ethiopia is the Promised Land and that it is Heaven on Earth.
The White Man took them away from the Promised Land (Ethiopia/Zion) as slaves to Babylon and a Babylonian system. (Please note that some Rastafarians will say Pink people vs. White people)"
****
Excerpt #3
From https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-ties-that-bind-reggae-rastafari-judaism-and-israel/ "The Ties That Bind: Reggae, Rastafari, Judaism and Israel" by Masimba Musodza, November 30, 2015
..."For Rastafarians, the physical “Zion” is Ethiopia, the land of the dynasty of Mennelik I, son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. In the Kebra Naghast, the Ethiopian text that narrates in greater detail the story of the union of Solomon and Makeda (the Queen of Sheba), King Solomon predicts that the Psalmic verse Ethiopia shall stretch forth her hands unto the Lord shall be fulfilled through a man, begotten of his bloodline. For Rastafarians, this man is Emperor Haile Selassie I. Because we have our own parallel Zion as it were, we do not claim the land of Israel or the city of Jerusalem as the Muslims do. The closest to a heritage site in Israel that we could call ours would be the house that Empress Manan lived in during the Imperial family’s exile following the Italian invasion in the 1930s. Our beliefs cannot be compared to Christian Replacement Theology, as we do not deny the Jewish people, or their claim to Israel.”...
****
Excerpt #4
From https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8rdew6/eli5_why_does_reggae_music_seem_to_mention_zion/
"Why does reggae music seem to mention Zion and Babylon a lot?
Amoeba, 2018
Reggae is closely tied to the Rastafarian religion. Babylon represents the evils of modern society & oppression while Zion represents the promised land to which they want to escape.
**
cemaphonrd, 2018
In particular, given Jamacia's history of slavery and colonial exploitation, the Rastafarian religion draws a lot of imagery from the parts of the Old Testament that deals with the period when Jerusalem was sacked by the Babylonian Empire, and many of its inhabitants were held as captives/slaves in Babylon.
**
SeriouslyCamel, 2018
Thank you for this concise explanation - suddenly after all these years ‘By the Rivers of Babylon’ finally makes sense to me!"
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This pancocojams post presents information about what the words "Zion" and "Babylon" mean to Rastafarians. Because Rastafarians have greatly influenced Reggae music, this information also answers the question "What do the word "Zion" and "Babylon" mean in Reggae music?"
The content of this post is presented for educational, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-melodians-rivers-of-babylon-by.html for a closely related 2020 pancocojams post entitled "The Melodians - "Rivers Of Babylon" by The Melodians (with a video of Boney M's cover of this song)".
Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/01/why-zion-and-mt-zion-are-frequently.html for a 2020 pancocojams post entitled "Why "Zion" And "Mt. Zion" Are Frequently Used In Names Of Black (African American) Churches".
And click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/02/origins-meanings-and-examples-of.html for the related pancocojams post entitled "Origins & Meanings And Examples Of The Male/Female Name "Zion" ".
****
EXCERPTS ABOUT THE MEANING OF "ZION" AND "BABYLON" FOR RASTAFARIANS/IN REGGAE MUSIC
These excerpts are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.
Excerpt #1
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zion#Rastafari_movement
"Rastafari movement
“I say fly away home to Zion, fly away home...One bright morning when my work is over, man will fly away home... ”
— Rastaman Chant, The Wailers
In Rastafari, "Zion" stands for a utopian place of unity, peace and freedom, as opposed to "Babylon", the oppressing and exploiting system of the materialistic modern world and a place of evil.[18]
It proclaims Zion, as reference to Ethiopia, the original birthplace of humankind, and from the beginning of the movement calls to repatriation to Zion, the Promised Land and Heaven on Earth.[19] Some Rastafari believe themselves to represent the real Children of Israel in modern times, and their goal is to repatriate to Ethiopia, or to Zion. The Ge'ez-language Kebra Nagast serves as inspiration for the idea that the "Glory of Zion" transferred from Jerusalem to Ethiopia in the time of Solomon and Sheba, c. 950 BC.
Rastafari reggae contains many references to Zion; among the best-known examples are the Bob Marley songs "Zion Train", "Iron Lion Zion", the Bunny Wailer song "Rastaman" ("The Rasta come from Zion, Rastaman a Lion!"), The Melodians song "Rivers of Babylon" (based on Psalm 137, where the captivity of Babylon is contrasted with the freedom in Zion), the Bad Brains song "Leaving Babylon", the Damian Marley song featuring Nas "Road to Zion", The Abyssinians' "Forward Unto Zion" and Kiddus I's "Graduation in Zion", which is featured in the 1977 cult roots rock reggae film Rockers, and "Let's Go to Zion" by Winston Francis. Reggae groups such as Steel Pulse and Cocoa Tea also have many references to Zion in their various songs.
The Jewish longing for Zion, starting with the deportation and enslavement of Jews during the Babylonian captivity, was adopted as a metaphor by Christian black slaves in the United States.[citation needed][year needed] Thus, Zion symbolizes a longing by wandering peoples for a safe homeland. This could be an actual place such as Ethiopia for Rastafari or Israel for some[citation needed] of the Igbos in Nigeria".
-snip-
Read the comment below about Igbo Jews and Israel.
****
Excerpt #2:
From https://jamaicans.com/believe/
"What Do Rastafarians Believe" by Staff Writer, 2003
"Below are some of the main foundational beliefs of Rastafarians. The other articles will provide some of the other beliefs and standards
Rastafarians believe that God is a spirit and that this spirit was manifested in King H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie I.
-Rastafarians believe that Jesus was a direct descendant of King David and was black.
-Rastafarians believe that the Ethiopian Solomonic Dynasty is a direct representation of King David.
-Rastafarians believe that they are the original Lost Tribes of Israel that were once scattered by Babylon until the appearance of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I.
-Rastafarians believe that God will return them to Zion (Rastafarians refer to Ethiopia as Zion).
-Rastafarians believe that Ethiopia is the Promised Land and that it is Heaven on Earth.
The White Man took them away from the Promised Land (Ethiopia/Zion) as slaves to Babylon and a Babylonian system. (Please note that some Rastafarians will say Pink people vs. White people)"
****
Excerpt #3
From https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-ties-that-bind-reggae-rastafari-judaism-and-israel/ "The Ties That Bind: Reggae, Rastafari, Judaism and Israel" by Masimba Musodza, November 30, 2015
..."For Rastafarians, the physical “Zion” is Ethiopia, the land of the dynasty of Mennelik I, son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. In the Kebra Naghast, the Ethiopian text that narrates in greater detail the story of the union of Solomon and Makeda (the Queen of Sheba), King Solomon predicts that the Psalmic verse Ethiopia shall stretch forth her hands unto the Lord shall be fulfilled through a man, begotten of his bloodline. For Rastafarians, this man is Emperor Haile Selassie I. Because we have our own parallel Zion as it were, we do not claim the land of Israel or the city of Jerusalem as the Muslims do. The closest to a heritage site in Israel that we could call ours would be the house that Empress Manan lived in during the Imperial family’s exile following the Italian invasion in the 1930s. Our beliefs cannot be compared to Christian Replacement Theology, as we do not deny the Jewish people, or their claim to Israel.”...
****
Excerpt #4
From https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8rdew6/eli5_why_does_reggae_music_seem_to_mention_zion/
"Why does reggae music seem to mention Zion and Babylon a lot?
Amoeba, 2018
Reggae is closely tied to the Rastafarian religion. Babylon represents the evils of modern society & oppression while Zion represents the promised land to which they want to escape.
**
cemaphonrd, 2018
In particular, given Jamacia's history of slavery and colonial exploitation, the Rastafarian religion draws a lot of imagery from the parts of the Old Testament that deals with the period when Jerusalem was sacked by the Babylonian Empire, and many of its inhabitants were held as captives/slaves in Babylon.
**
SeriouslyCamel, 2018
Thank you for this concise explanation - suddenly after all these years ‘By the Rivers of Babylon’ finally makes sense to me!"
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
19th Century Sources For The Religious Songs "Tis The Old Ship Of Zion" And "Take A Trip (On That Good Ole Gospel Ship)"
Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest revision- March 16, 2023
This pancocojams post presents lyrics for some examples of 19th century African American Spirituals with the words "Tis The Old Ship Of Zion"*. These 19th century songs may have also been the source for B. Chase Williams' 1996 Gospel song "Take A Trip" (On That Good Ole Gospel Ship)
The content of this post is presented for historical, religious and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the unknown composers of this song and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
*These 19th century African American religious songs shouldn't be confused with the Christian hymn "Old Ship Of Zion" that was composed around 1889 by Mary J. Cartwright. I don't know whether M. J. Cartwright, the composer of the hymn "Old Ship Of Zion" knew the "Tis The Old Ship Of Zion" Spiritual, but it's certainly possible.
The lyrics for Mary J. Cartwright's hymn "Old Ship Of Zion" are given in the Addendum to this post.
-snip-
Some of these African American songs that are featured in this pancocojams post may be early African American Gospel songs and not Spirituals. (It appears to me that most musicologist don't categorize African American religious songs as "Spirituals" if they were composed after 1865 - the end of the Civil War.
****
EXCERPT FROM A MUDCAT DISCUSSION FORUM THREAD ON THE SPIRITUAL "TIS THE OLD SHIP OF ZION"
I've added numbers to selected comments from this discussion thread for referencing purposes only. Those numbers aren't given in that forum and aren't the same as how those comments are shown in that forum as these are only selected examples of those comments.
1. Subject: Lyr Add: OLD SHIP OF ZION (spiritual) https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=41005
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Nov 01 - 06:24 PM
"OLD SHIP OF ZION I
What ship is this that's landed at the shore?
Oh, Glory Hallelujah!
It's the old ship of Zion, hallelujah!
It's the old ship of Zion, hallelujah!
Is the mast all sure, and the timber all sound?
Oh, Glory, hallelujah!
She's built of gospel timber, hallelujah!
She's built, etc.
What kind of men does she have on board?
Oh, Glory Hallelujah!
They're all true-hearted soldiers, hallelujah!
They're all etc.
What kind of captain does she have on board?
Oh, Glory Hallelujah!
King Jesus is the captain, Hallelujah!
King Jesus etc.
Oh, do you think she will be able to land us on the shore?
Oh, Glory Hallelujah!
I think she will be able, Hallelujah!
I think etc.
She has landed over thousands, and can land as many more,
Oh, Glory Hallelujah! etc.
Written down in 1850, this fragment from Cincinnati is one of the earliest recorded spirituals. In Dena Epstein, 1977, Spiritual Tunes and Spirituals: Black Folk Music to the Civil War, Univ. Illinois Press.
@religion @spiritual
THE OLD SHIP OF ZION II
What ship is that you're enlisted upon?
Oh, Glory hallelujah!
'Tis the old ship of Zion, hallelujah!
'Tis the old ship of Zion, hallelujah!
And who is the captain of the ship that you're on?
My Saviour is the captain, hallelujah! etc.
The above fragment from Maryland, printed 1860, was reproduced in Allen, 1867, Slave Songs of the United States.
@religion @spiritual
THE OLD SHIP OF ZION III
Cho.
Don't you see that ship a-sailin',
Gwine over to the Promised Land?
I asked my Lord, shall I ever be the one,
Shall I ever be the one, shall I ever be the one,
To go sailin', sailin', sailin', sailin',
Gwine over to the Promised Land?
2. She sails like she is heavy-loaded, etc.
3. King Jesus is the captain, etc.
4. The Holy Ghost is the pilot, etc.
The above, from North Carolina, is in Allen, 1867, Slave Songs of the United States.
@religion @spiritual
THE SHIP OF ZION IV
Come along, come along, and let us go home,
O, glory hallelujah!
Dis de old ship of Zion, Halleloo! Halleloo!
Dis de old ship of Zion, Hallelujah!
She has landed many a tousand,
She can land as many more.
O, glory Hallelujah! etc.
Do you tink she will be able,
For to take us all home?
O glory, hallelujah! etc.
You can tell 'em I'm a-coming, Halleloo! Halleloo!
You can tell 'em I'm a-coming, Hallelujah!
Come along, come along, etc.
From T. W. Higginson, 1867
THE SHIP OF ZION V
Dis de good old ship o' Zion, (3 times)
An' she's makin' for de Promise Land.
She hab angels for de sailors (3 times)
An' she's makin' for de Promise Land.
An' how you know dey's angels? (3 times)
An' she's etc.
Good Lord, shall I be de one? (3 times)
An' she's etc.
Dat ship is out a-sailin', sailin', sailin',
An' she's etc.
She's a-sailin' mighty steady, steady, steady,
An' she's etc.
She'll neither reel nor totter, totter, totter,
An' she's etc.
She's a-sailin' away cold Jordan, Jordan, Jordan,
An' she's etc.
King Jesus is de captain, captain, captain,
An' she's making for de Promise Land.
From T. W. Higginson, 1867
THE SHIP OF ZION VI
De gospel ship is sailin', Hosann-sann.
O, Jesus is de captain, Hosann-sann.
De angels are de sailors, Hosann-sann
O, is your bundle ready? Hosann-sann.
O, have you got your ticket? Hosann-sann.
Versions 4-6 from T. W. Higginson, Negro Spirituals, Atlantic Monthly, 1867.
See Fenner, Dett and others for other early versions.
OLD SHIP OF ZION VII
Cho.
It is that old ship of Zion, (3 times)
Get on board! get on board!
It has landed many a thousand, (3 times)
Get on board! Get on board!
Cho.
It has landed my old mother, etc.
It has landed my old father, etc.
Ain't no danger on this vessel, etc.
(Ain't no danger in this water, etc. variant)
She is moving very slowly, etc.
I'm so glad I got my ticket, etc.
My old mother is waiting for me, etc.
It has landed many a thousand, etc.
(Repeat 1st verse at end)
Sung by Gentry Young Bennet, Merryville, LA. In other versions, Zion "stretched," Zi-o-en. Usually sung slowly. "Git on board little children" chorus sometimes added. John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States recording Trip.
@religion @spiritual.
Putting Old Ship of Zion into DT and Forum Search will yield gospel versions."
-snip-
"DT" = Digital Tradition, a listing of titles and lyrics of songs that are shared by members of Mudcat folk music forum.
****
2. Subject: Lyr Add: OLD SHIP OF ZION (DON'T YE VIEW DAT SHIP)
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Nov 01 - 08:36 PM
"OLD SHIP OF ZION VIII
(DON'T YE VIEW DAT SHIP)
Don't ye view dat ship a come a sailin'? Hallelujah!
Don't ye view dat ship a come a sailin'? (3 times)
Don't ye view dat ship a come a sailin'? Hallelujah!
Dat ship is heavy loaded, Hallelujah!
Dat ship is havy loaded, (3 times)
Dat ship is heavy loaded, Hallelujah!
She neither reels nor totters, Hallelujah! etc.
She is loaded with bright angels, Hallelujah! etc.
Oh, how do you know dey are angels? Hallelujah! etc.
I know dem by-a de'r mournin', Hallelujah! etc.
Oh, yonder comes my Jesus, Hallelujah! etc.
Oh, how do you know it's Jesus? Hallelujah! etc.
I know him by-a His shinin', Hallelujah! etc.
Chorus: Indicated as 1st verse plus 1st line of second verse.
From Fifty Cabin and Plantation Songs, 1874, Thomas P. Fenner, Hampton Inst.
@religion @spiritual"
****
3. Subject: Lyr Add: OLD SHIP OF ZION IX
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Nov 01 - 10:58 PM
"OLD SHIP OF ZION IX
What ship is this that will take us all home?
Oh, glory, hallelujah!
And safely land us on Canaan's bright shore?
Oh, glory hallelujah!
Cho.
'Tis the old ship of Zion, hallelujah!
The winds may blow and the billows may foam,
Oh, glory, hallelujah!
But she is able to land us all home.
Oh, glory, hallelujah!
Cho.
She landed all who have gone before,
Oh, glory hallelujah!
And yet she is able to land still more,
Oh, glory hallelujah!
Cho.
If I arrive there before you do,
Oh, glory hallelujah!
I'll tell them that you are coming up, too.
Oh, glory, hallelujah!
Cho.
Sacred Harp version, tune Thomas W. Carter, 1844. From http://fasola.org/index/L/079.html
@religion @gospel"
****
3. Subject: Lyr Add: DE OLE SHIP OB ZION
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 08:35 PM
"DE OLE SHIP OB ZION
De day did break an' de sun did rise,
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb!
An' I seen dem angels up in de skies,
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb.
O de ole ship ob Zion is a-gwine to sail,
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb.
An' she's only waitin' for de Gospel gale,
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb.
Cho.
Yes, I'se done quit all my worldly ways,
Done quit all my worldly ways,
Yes, done quit all my worldly ways,
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb.
De anchor's weighed an' de sails are set,
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb!
An' soon we're a-gwine to sail, don' you fret,
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb!
De Keptin an' crew dey am comin' on board,
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb,
De chorus am a-singin' an' praisin' de Lord.
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb.
Cho.
Let's stop a moment befo' we go,
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb.
Tro' out a plank, gib de sinners a show,
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb.
Gospel band am a-gwine to play,
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb.
As soon as de ship am a-sailin' away,
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb.
Cho.
Composed by Sam Lucas (b. 1848) and published 1881?, in Ethiopian Jubilee and Minstrel Songs along with 19 others by various composers. From African-American Sheet Music Collection, 1850-1920, Brown University; American Memory, Library of Congress website. Whether the song was arranged for minstrelsy or for gospel use is not clear. Only the birth date of the composer is given.
@religion @gospel? @minstrel"
****
4. Subject: RE: Lyr Add: OLD SHIP OF ZION (spiritual)
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 08:47 PM
"Sam Lucas was Afro-American. He formed a minstrel troupe that toured widely in the 1860s and 1870s. He was the first Afro-American to play Uncle Tom in Uncle Tom's Cabin and toured with the play Out of Bondage."
****
5. Subject: RE: Lyr Add: OLD SHIP OF ZION (spiritual)
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 08:53 PM
"Sam Lucas played Uncle Tom in the 1914 silent film, Uncle Tom's Cabin. The video is available from Grapevinevideo.com."
****
6. Subject: RE: Lyr Add: OLD SHIP OF ZION (spiritual)
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Dec 01 - 12:17 AM
"Newman L. White, in American Negro Folk Songs, 1928 (rep. 1965) says the earliest mention of the song that he found is in: Sarah Josepha Hale, 1853, "Liberia, or Mr. Peyton's Experiment," "where it is sung by both white people and Negroes as a familiar camp-meeting song." In white songbooks, it appears in the Zion Songster, 2ed., 1827."
****
7. Subject: Lyr Add: THE OLD SHIP OF ZION
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Aug 07 - 10:40 PM
"Lyr. Add: THE OLD SHIP OF ZION (XIII)
Oh! eb'rything's ready,-
De wind is steady,
An' de folks keep a-crowdin' to the gospel ship;
'Tis the best time to ride
On de Jordan tide-
Dar's no use o' waitin' for de 'scursion trip!
Dey's a-loosenin' de line,
An' soon she'll be gwine,
For yonder come de deck-hands to push her off de bank;
She's a-puffin'! she's a-puffin'!
An' she nebber waits for nuffin'-
Better git abode, sinners, 'fo' dey pull in de plank!
Another of the many versions of this old song. From The Century Magazine, March 1882, vol. 23 no. 5, p. 797.
No information published with the poem.
http://cdl.library.cornell.edu/gifcache/moa/cent/cent0023/00815.TIF6.gif"
****
ADDENDUM - THE LYRICS FOR M. J. CARTWRIGHTS' 1899 HYMN "OLD SHIP OF ZION"
I was drifting away on life’s pitiless sea,
Latest revision- March 16, 2023
This pancocojams post presents lyrics for some examples of 19th century African American Spirituals with the words "Tis The Old Ship Of Zion"*. These 19th century songs may have also been the source for B. Chase Williams' 1996 Gospel song "Take A Trip" (On That Good Ole Gospel Ship)
The content of this post is presented for historical, religious and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the unknown composers of this song and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
*These 19th century African American religious songs shouldn't be confused with the Christian hymn "Old Ship Of Zion" that was composed around 1889 by Mary J. Cartwright. I don't know whether M. J. Cartwright, the composer of the hymn "Old Ship Of Zion" knew the "Tis The Old Ship Of Zion" Spiritual, but it's certainly possible.
The lyrics for Mary J. Cartwright's hymn "Old Ship Of Zion" are given in the Addendum to this post.
-snip-
Some of these African American songs that are featured in this pancocojams post may be early African American Gospel songs and not Spirituals. (It appears to me that most musicologist don't categorize African American religious songs as "Spirituals" if they were composed after 1865 - the end of the Civil War.
****
EXCERPT FROM A MUDCAT DISCUSSION FORUM THREAD ON THE SPIRITUAL "TIS THE OLD SHIP OF ZION"
I've added numbers to selected comments from this discussion thread for referencing purposes only. Those numbers aren't given in that forum and aren't the same as how those comments are shown in that forum as these are only selected examples of those comments.
1. Subject: Lyr Add: OLD SHIP OF ZION (spiritual) https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=41005
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Nov 01 - 06:24 PM
"OLD SHIP OF ZION I
What ship is this that's landed at the shore?
Oh, Glory Hallelujah!
It's the old ship of Zion, hallelujah!
It's the old ship of Zion, hallelujah!
Is the mast all sure, and the timber all sound?
Oh, Glory, hallelujah!
She's built of gospel timber, hallelujah!
She's built, etc.
What kind of men does she have on board?
Oh, Glory Hallelujah!
They're all true-hearted soldiers, hallelujah!
They're all etc.
What kind of captain does she have on board?
Oh, Glory Hallelujah!
King Jesus is the captain, Hallelujah!
King Jesus etc.
Oh, do you think she will be able to land us on the shore?
Oh, Glory Hallelujah!
I think she will be able, Hallelujah!
I think etc.
She has landed over thousands, and can land as many more,
Oh, Glory Hallelujah! etc.
Written down in 1850, this fragment from Cincinnati is one of the earliest recorded spirituals. In Dena Epstein, 1977, Spiritual Tunes and Spirituals: Black Folk Music to the Civil War, Univ. Illinois Press.
@religion @spiritual
THE OLD SHIP OF ZION II
What ship is that you're enlisted upon?
Oh, Glory hallelujah!
'Tis the old ship of Zion, hallelujah!
'Tis the old ship of Zion, hallelujah!
And who is the captain of the ship that you're on?
My Saviour is the captain, hallelujah! etc.
The above fragment from Maryland, printed 1860, was reproduced in Allen, 1867, Slave Songs of the United States.
@religion @spiritual
THE OLD SHIP OF ZION III
Cho.
Don't you see that ship a-sailin',
Gwine over to the Promised Land?
I asked my Lord, shall I ever be the one,
Shall I ever be the one, shall I ever be the one,
To go sailin', sailin', sailin', sailin',
Gwine over to the Promised Land?
2. She sails like she is heavy-loaded, etc.
3. King Jesus is the captain, etc.
4. The Holy Ghost is the pilot, etc.
The above, from North Carolina, is in Allen, 1867, Slave Songs of the United States.
@religion @spiritual
THE SHIP OF ZION IV
Come along, come along, and let us go home,
O, glory hallelujah!
Dis de old ship of Zion, Halleloo! Halleloo!
Dis de old ship of Zion, Hallelujah!
She has landed many a tousand,
She can land as many more.
O, glory Hallelujah! etc.
Do you tink she will be able,
For to take us all home?
O glory, hallelujah! etc.
You can tell 'em I'm a-coming, Halleloo! Halleloo!
You can tell 'em I'm a-coming, Hallelujah!
Come along, come along, etc.
From T. W. Higginson, 1867
THE SHIP OF ZION V
Dis de good old ship o' Zion, (3 times)
An' she's makin' for de Promise Land.
She hab angels for de sailors (3 times)
An' she's makin' for de Promise Land.
An' how you know dey's angels? (3 times)
An' she's etc.
Good Lord, shall I be de one? (3 times)
An' she's etc.
Dat ship is out a-sailin', sailin', sailin',
An' she's etc.
She's a-sailin' mighty steady, steady, steady,
An' she's etc.
She'll neither reel nor totter, totter, totter,
An' she's etc.
She's a-sailin' away cold Jordan, Jordan, Jordan,
An' she's etc.
King Jesus is de captain, captain, captain,
An' she's making for de Promise Land.
From T. W. Higginson, 1867
THE SHIP OF ZION VI
De gospel ship is sailin', Hosann-sann.
O, Jesus is de captain, Hosann-sann.
De angels are de sailors, Hosann-sann
O, is your bundle ready? Hosann-sann.
O, have you got your ticket? Hosann-sann.
Versions 4-6 from T. W. Higginson, Negro Spirituals, Atlantic Monthly, 1867.
See Fenner, Dett and others for other early versions.
OLD SHIP OF ZION VII
Cho.
It is that old ship of Zion, (3 times)
Get on board! get on board!
It has landed many a thousand, (3 times)
Get on board! Get on board!
Cho.
It has landed my old mother, etc.
It has landed my old father, etc.
Ain't no danger on this vessel, etc.
(Ain't no danger in this water, etc. variant)
She is moving very slowly, etc.
I'm so glad I got my ticket, etc.
My old mother is waiting for me, etc.
It has landed many a thousand, etc.
(Repeat 1st verse at end)
Sung by Gentry Young Bennet, Merryville, LA. In other versions, Zion "stretched," Zi-o-en. Usually sung slowly. "Git on board little children" chorus sometimes added. John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States recording Trip.
@religion @spiritual.
Putting Old Ship of Zion into DT and Forum Search will yield gospel versions."
-snip-
"DT" = Digital Tradition, a listing of titles and lyrics of songs that are shared by members of Mudcat folk music forum.
****
2. Subject: Lyr Add: OLD SHIP OF ZION (DON'T YE VIEW DAT SHIP)
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Nov 01 - 08:36 PM
"OLD SHIP OF ZION VIII
(DON'T YE VIEW DAT SHIP)
Don't ye view dat ship a come a sailin'? Hallelujah!
Don't ye view dat ship a come a sailin'? (3 times)
Don't ye view dat ship a come a sailin'? Hallelujah!
Dat ship is heavy loaded, Hallelujah!
Dat ship is havy loaded, (3 times)
Dat ship is heavy loaded, Hallelujah!
She neither reels nor totters, Hallelujah! etc.
She is loaded with bright angels, Hallelujah! etc.
Oh, how do you know dey are angels? Hallelujah! etc.
I know dem by-a de'r mournin', Hallelujah! etc.
Oh, yonder comes my Jesus, Hallelujah! etc.
Oh, how do you know it's Jesus? Hallelujah! etc.
I know him by-a His shinin', Hallelujah! etc.
Chorus: Indicated as 1st verse plus 1st line of second verse.
From Fifty Cabin and Plantation Songs, 1874, Thomas P. Fenner, Hampton Inst.
@religion @spiritual"
****
3. Subject: Lyr Add: OLD SHIP OF ZION IX
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Nov 01 - 10:58 PM
"OLD SHIP OF ZION IX
What ship is this that will take us all home?
Oh, glory, hallelujah!
And safely land us on Canaan's bright shore?
Oh, glory hallelujah!
Cho.
'Tis the old ship of Zion, hallelujah!
The winds may blow and the billows may foam,
Oh, glory, hallelujah!
But she is able to land us all home.
Oh, glory, hallelujah!
Cho.
She landed all who have gone before,
Oh, glory hallelujah!
And yet she is able to land still more,
Oh, glory hallelujah!
Cho.
If I arrive there before you do,
Oh, glory hallelujah!
I'll tell them that you are coming up, too.
Oh, glory, hallelujah!
Cho.
Sacred Harp version, tune Thomas W. Carter, 1844. From http://fasola.org/index/L/079.html
@religion @gospel"
****
3. Subject: Lyr Add: DE OLE SHIP OB ZION
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 08:35 PM
"DE OLE SHIP OB ZION
De day did break an' de sun did rise,
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb!
An' I seen dem angels up in de skies,
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb.
O de ole ship ob Zion is a-gwine to sail,
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb.
An' she's only waitin' for de Gospel gale,
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb.
Cho.
Yes, I'se done quit all my worldly ways,
Done quit all my worldly ways,
Yes, done quit all my worldly ways,
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb.
De anchor's weighed an' de sails are set,
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb!
An' soon we're a-gwine to sail, don' you fret,
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb!
De Keptin an' crew dey am comin' on board,
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb,
De chorus am a-singin' an' praisin' de Lord.
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb.
Cho.
Let's stop a moment befo' we go,
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb.
Tro' out a plank, gib de sinners a show,
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb.
Gospel band am a-gwine to play,
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb.
As soon as de ship am a-sailin' away,
I'se gwine to lib wid de Lamb.
Cho.
Composed by Sam Lucas (b. 1848) and published 1881?, in Ethiopian Jubilee and Minstrel Songs along with 19 others by various composers. From African-American Sheet Music Collection, 1850-1920, Brown University; American Memory, Library of Congress website. Whether the song was arranged for minstrelsy or for gospel use is not clear. Only the birth date of the composer is given.
@religion @gospel? @minstrel"
****
4. Subject: RE: Lyr Add: OLD SHIP OF ZION (spiritual)
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 08:47 PM
"Sam Lucas was Afro-American. He formed a minstrel troupe that toured widely in the 1860s and 1870s. He was the first Afro-American to play Uncle Tom in Uncle Tom's Cabin and toured with the play Out of Bondage."
****
5. Subject: RE: Lyr Add: OLD SHIP OF ZION (spiritual)
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 08:53 PM
"Sam Lucas played Uncle Tom in the 1914 silent film, Uncle Tom's Cabin. The video is available from Grapevinevideo.com."
****
6. Subject: RE: Lyr Add: OLD SHIP OF ZION (spiritual)
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Dec 01 - 12:17 AM
"Newman L. White, in American Negro Folk Songs, 1928 (rep. 1965) says the earliest mention of the song that he found is in: Sarah Josepha Hale, 1853, "Liberia, or Mr. Peyton's Experiment," "where it is sung by both white people and Negroes as a familiar camp-meeting song." In white songbooks, it appears in the Zion Songster, 2ed., 1827."
****
7. Subject: Lyr Add: THE OLD SHIP OF ZION
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Aug 07 - 10:40 PM
"Lyr. Add: THE OLD SHIP OF ZION (XIII)
Oh! eb'rything's ready,-
De wind is steady,
An' de folks keep a-crowdin' to the gospel ship;
'Tis the best time to ride
On de Jordan tide-
Dar's no use o' waitin' for de 'scursion trip!
Dey's a-loosenin' de line,
An' soon she'll be gwine,
For yonder come de deck-hands to push her off de bank;
She's a-puffin'! she's a-puffin'!
An' she nebber waits for nuffin'-
Better git abode, sinners, 'fo' dey pull in de plank!
Another of the many versions of this old song. From The Century Magazine, March 1882, vol. 23 no. 5, p. 797.
No information published with the poem.
http://cdl.library.cornell.edu/gifcache/moa/cent/cent0023/00815.TIF6.gif"
****
ADDENDUM - THE LYRICS FOR M. J. CARTWRIGHTS' 1899 HYMN "OLD SHIP OF ZION"
I was drifting away on life’s pitiless sea,
And the angry waves threatened my ruin to be,
When away at my side, there I dimly descried,
A stately old vessel, and loudly I cried:Ship ahoy! Ship ahoy!
And loudly I cried: Ship ahoy!
’Twas the old ship of Zion,
thus sailing along,
All aboard her seemed joyous,
I heard their sweet song;
And the captain’s kind ear, ever ready to hear,
Caught my wail of distress, as I cried out in fear:Ship ahoy! Ship ahoy!
As I cried out in fear: Ship ahoy!
The good captain commanded a boat to be low’red,
And with tender compassion He took me on board;
And I’m happy today, all my sins washed away
In the blood of my Savior, and now I can say:Bless the Lord! Bless the Lord!
From my soul I can say: Bless the Lord!
O soul, sinking down ’neath sin’s merciless wave,
The strong arm of our captain is mighty to save;
Then trust Him today, no longer delay,
Board the old ship of Zion, and shout on your way:Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Shout and sing on your way: Jesus saves!
http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/o/l/d/s/oldshipz.htm
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
[A midi for this song is included in that post and its tune isn't the same as the "Old Ship Of Zion" hymn that is well known in the United States now [in 2022.]
****
Visitor comments are welcome.
Why "Zion" And "Mt. Zion" Are Frequently Used In Names Of Black (African American) Churches
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post provides information about the word "Zion". That information suggests why "Zion" is frequently used in the names of historic and present day Black (African American) churches.*
The Addendum to this post also provides information about the African Methodist Episcopal Zion denomination, a historically African American Christian denomination.
This is the second post in a pancocojams series about frequently used Black (African American) church names.
*The church names given in these posts are also given to churches that aren't historically African American or aren't presently predominately African American.
The church names featured in these pancocojams posts were selected from articles such as "10 Historic Black Southern Churches to Visit" https://blacksouthernbelle.com/10-historic-black-southern-churches-visit/ and "Historic African American Churches" https://www.blackpast.org/special-features/historic-african-american-churches/. In addition, the church names that I've selected for this series are based on my experience as an African American noticing the same church names in a number of cities I lived in or visited.
These pancocojams posts on frequent names used by African American churches don't include names whose association with religion are widely known (such as "Calvary" and "Emmanuel" or names whose meanings are generally understood such as "First [followed by a denomination]", "Second [followed by a denomination]", "Union [followed by a denomination]", or "a Saint's name [followed by a denomination]".
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/02/origins-meanings-and-examples-of.html for the related pancocojams post entitled "Origins & Meanings And Examples Of The Male/Female Name "Zion" ".
****
The content of this post is published for education, religious, and cultural purposes.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Click the "common Black church names" tag to find other posts in this series.
Also, click the closely related tag "American religious songs with Zion in their title".
A pancocojams post with the title "Reggae songs that have Zion in their title" will be published soon.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORD "ZION"
Excerpt #1
https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/what-is-the-meaning-of-zion-in-the-bible.htmlhttps://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/what-is-the-meaning-of-zion-in-the-bible.html
"What Is the Meaning of Zion in the Bible? by Candice Lucey
The ancient Hebrew word Tsiyon (Zion) is “a Canaanite hill fortress in Jerusalem captured by David and called in the Bible ‘City of David.’" Zion can refer to one of three places: the hill where the most ancient areas of Jerusalem stood; the city of Jerusalem itself; or the dwelling place of God.
[...]
Zion in the Bible
Old Testament
The Bible’s first reference talks about “the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.” (2 Samuel 5:7).
Plenty of Psalms mention Zion, the Lord’s “holy mountain” (Psalm 2:6), the place where the Lord is “enthroned” (Psalm 9:11), and from which David yearns for salvation to emerge (Psalm 9:14).
Isaiah is another prolific source: “Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy” (Isaiah 4:3); “gifts will be brought to Mount Zion, the place of the Name of the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 18:7)
Zion appears numerous times in other books of the Old Testament including Lamentations, Jeremiah, and Micah.
New Testament
New Testament writers Matthew, John, and Paul quote what has already been written in the Old Testament when they speak of Zion.
“In Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.” (Romans 9:33) 1 Peter 2:6 says this stone in Zion is Jesus, “a chosen and precious cornerstone.”
In his vision of end times, John saw “on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,0000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.” (Revelation 14:1)
Commentators indicate that “Daughter of Zion” from Isaiah 1:8 means “the daughter of God’s people.” David Kowalski explains how this verse is “expressive of the tenderness with which the Lord had regarded the relation [...] he had established between Jerusalem (as representing His people) and Himself.” "...
****
Excerpt #2
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zion
"Zion (Hebrew: צִיּוֹן Ṣîyōn, LXX Σιών, also variously transliterated Sion,[2] Tzion, Tsion, Tsiyyon[3]) is a placename in the Hebrew Bible used as a synonym for Jerusalem[4][5] as well as for the Land of Israel as a whole (see Names of Jerusalem).
The name is found in 2 Samuel (5:7), one of the books of the Hebrew Bible dated to before or close to the mid-6th century BCE. It originally referred to a specific hill in Jerusalem (Mount Zion), located to the south of Mount Moriah (the Temple Mount). According to the narrative of 2 Samuel 5, Mount Zion held the Jebusite fortress of the same name that was conquered by David and was re-named the City of David. That specific hill ("mount") is one of the many squat hills that form Jerusalem, which also includes Mount Moriah (the Temple Mount), the Mount of Olives, etc. Over many centuries, until as recently as the Ottoman era, the city walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt many times in new locations, so that the particular hill known as Mount Zion is no longer inside the city wall, but its location is now just outside the portion of the Old City wall forming the southern boundary of the Jewish Quarter of the current Old City. Most of the original City of David itself is thus also outside the current city wall.
The term Tzion came to designate the area of Davidic Jerusalem where the fortress stood, and was used as well as synecdoche for the entire city of Jerusalem; and later, when Solomon's Temple was built on the adjacent Mount Moriah (which, as a result, came to be known as the Temple Mount) the meanings of the term Tzion were further extended by synecdoche to the additional meanings of the Temple itself, the hill upon which the Temple stood, the entire city of Jerusalem, the entire biblical Land of Israel, and "the World to Come", the Jewish understanding of the afterlife.”...
****
ADDENDUM- INFORMATION ABOUT THE "AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION" DENOMINATION
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Methodist_Episcopal_Zion_Church
"The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, or the AME Zion Church or AMEZ, is a historically African-American Christian denomination based in the United States. It was officially formed in 1821 in New York City, but operated for a number of years before then.
History
The origins of this church can be traced to the John Street Methodist Church of New York City. Following acts of overt discrimination in New York (such as black parishioners being forced to leave worship), many black Christians left to form their own churches. The first church founded by the AME Zion Church was built in 1800 and was named Zion; one of the founders was William Hamilton, a prominent orator and abolitionist. These early black churches still belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church denomination, although the congregations were independent. During the Great Awakening, the Methodists and Baptists had welcomed free blacks and slaves to their congregations and as preachers.
The fledgling Zion church grew, and soon multiple churches developed from the original congregation. These churches were attended by black congregants, but ministered to by white ordained Methodist ministers. In 1820, six of the churches met to ordain James Varick as an elder, and in 1821 he was made the first General Superintendent of the AME Zion Church. A debate raged in the white-dominated Methodist church over accepting black ministers. This debate ended on July 30, 1822, when James Varick was ordained as the first bishop of the AME Zion church, a newly independent denomination. The total membership in 1866 was about 42,000.[1] Two years later, it claimed 164,000 members, as it sent missionaries to the South after the American Civil War to plant new churches with the newly emancipated freedmen.[2] The A.M.E. Zion Church had been part of the Abolitionist movement and became known as the Freedom Church, because it was associated with the period after emancipation of the slaves.
Black churches were integral in helping build communities and develop leadership among the freedmen in the South. Later they played an increasingly powerful role in the civil rights movement of the mid-20th century. AMEZ remained smaller than the AME (African Methodist Episcopal Church, a denomination started in Philadelphia in the early 19th century) because some of its ministers lacked the authority to perform marriages, and many of its ministers avoided political roles. Its finances were weak, and in general its leadership was not as strong as that of the AME. However it was the leader among all Protestant denominations in ordaining women and giving them powerful roles in the church.[3]
An influential leader bishop was James Walker Hood (1831–1918) of North Carolina. He not only created and fostered his network of AMEZ churches in North Carolina, but he also was the grand master for the entire South of the Prince Hall Freemasonry, a secular black fraternal organization that strengthened the political and economic forces inside the black community.[4] Hood Theological Seminary in Salisbury, North Carolina is named in this bishop's honor.[5]
In 1924 Cameron Chesterfield Alleyne became the church's first resident bishop in Africa.[6]
Notes
The AME Zion Church is not to be confused with the similarly named African Methodist Episcopal Church, which was officially formed in 1816 by Richard Allen and Daniel Coker in Philadelphia. The denomination was made up of AME churches in the Philadelphia region, including Delaware and New Jersey."...
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This pancocojams post provides information about the word "Zion". That information suggests why "Zion" is frequently used in the names of historic and present day Black (African American) churches.*
The Addendum to this post also provides information about the African Methodist Episcopal Zion denomination, a historically African American Christian denomination.
This is the second post in a pancocojams series about frequently used Black (African American) church names.
*The church names given in these posts are also given to churches that aren't historically African American or aren't presently predominately African American.
The church names featured in these pancocojams posts were selected from articles such as "10 Historic Black Southern Churches to Visit" https://blacksouthernbelle.com/10-historic-black-southern-churches-visit/ and "Historic African American Churches" https://www.blackpast.org/special-features/historic-african-american-churches/. In addition, the church names that I've selected for this series are based on my experience as an African American noticing the same church names in a number of cities I lived in or visited.
These pancocojams posts on frequent names used by African American churches don't include names whose association with religion are widely known (such as "Calvary" and "Emmanuel" or names whose meanings are generally understood such as "First [followed by a denomination]", "Second [followed by a denomination]", "Union [followed by a denomination]", or "a Saint's name [followed by a denomination]".
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/02/origins-meanings-and-examples-of.html for the related pancocojams post entitled "Origins & Meanings And Examples Of The Male/Female Name "Zion" ".
****
The content of this post is published for education, religious, and cultural purposes.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Click the "common Black church names" tag to find other posts in this series.
Also, click the closely related tag "American religious songs with Zion in their title".
A pancocojams post with the title "Reggae songs that have Zion in their title" will be published soon.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORD "ZION"
Excerpt #1
https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/what-is-the-meaning-of-zion-in-the-bible.htmlhttps://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/what-is-the-meaning-of-zion-in-the-bible.html
"What Is the Meaning of Zion in the Bible? by Candice Lucey
The ancient Hebrew word Tsiyon (Zion) is “a Canaanite hill fortress in Jerusalem captured by David and called in the Bible ‘City of David.’" Zion can refer to one of three places: the hill where the most ancient areas of Jerusalem stood; the city of Jerusalem itself; or the dwelling place of God.
[...]
Zion in the Bible
Old Testament
The Bible’s first reference talks about “the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.” (2 Samuel 5:7).
Plenty of Psalms mention Zion, the Lord’s “holy mountain” (Psalm 2:6), the place where the Lord is “enthroned” (Psalm 9:11), and from which David yearns for salvation to emerge (Psalm 9:14).
Isaiah is another prolific source: “Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy” (Isaiah 4:3); “gifts will be brought to Mount Zion, the place of the Name of the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 18:7)
Zion appears numerous times in other books of the Old Testament including Lamentations, Jeremiah, and Micah.
New Testament
New Testament writers Matthew, John, and Paul quote what has already been written in the Old Testament when they speak of Zion.
“In Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.” (Romans 9:33) 1 Peter 2:6 says this stone in Zion is Jesus, “a chosen and precious cornerstone.”
In his vision of end times, John saw “on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,0000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.” (Revelation 14:1)
Commentators indicate that “Daughter of Zion” from Isaiah 1:8 means “the daughter of God’s people.” David Kowalski explains how this verse is “expressive of the tenderness with which the Lord had regarded the relation [...] he had established between Jerusalem (as representing His people) and Himself.” "...
****
Excerpt #2
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zion
"Zion (Hebrew: צִיּוֹן Ṣîyōn, LXX Σιών, also variously transliterated Sion,[2] Tzion, Tsion, Tsiyyon[3]) is a placename in the Hebrew Bible used as a synonym for Jerusalem[4][5] as well as for the Land of Israel as a whole (see Names of Jerusalem).
The name is found in 2 Samuel (5:7), one of the books of the Hebrew Bible dated to before or close to the mid-6th century BCE. It originally referred to a specific hill in Jerusalem (Mount Zion), located to the south of Mount Moriah (the Temple Mount). According to the narrative of 2 Samuel 5, Mount Zion held the Jebusite fortress of the same name that was conquered by David and was re-named the City of David. That specific hill ("mount") is one of the many squat hills that form Jerusalem, which also includes Mount Moriah (the Temple Mount), the Mount of Olives, etc. Over many centuries, until as recently as the Ottoman era, the city walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt many times in new locations, so that the particular hill known as Mount Zion is no longer inside the city wall, but its location is now just outside the portion of the Old City wall forming the southern boundary of the Jewish Quarter of the current Old City. Most of the original City of David itself is thus also outside the current city wall.
The term Tzion came to designate the area of Davidic Jerusalem where the fortress stood, and was used as well as synecdoche for the entire city of Jerusalem; and later, when Solomon's Temple was built on the adjacent Mount Moriah (which, as a result, came to be known as the Temple Mount) the meanings of the term Tzion were further extended by synecdoche to the additional meanings of the Temple itself, the hill upon which the Temple stood, the entire city of Jerusalem, the entire biblical Land of Israel, and "the World to Come", the Jewish understanding of the afterlife.”...
****
ADDENDUM- INFORMATION ABOUT THE "AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION" DENOMINATION
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Methodist_Episcopal_Zion_Church
"The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, or the AME Zion Church or AMEZ, is a historically African-American Christian denomination based in the United States. It was officially formed in 1821 in New York City, but operated for a number of years before then.
History
The origins of this church can be traced to the John Street Methodist Church of New York City. Following acts of overt discrimination in New York (such as black parishioners being forced to leave worship), many black Christians left to form their own churches. The first church founded by the AME Zion Church was built in 1800 and was named Zion; one of the founders was William Hamilton, a prominent orator and abolitionist. These early black churches still belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church denomination, although the congregations were independent. During the Great Awakening, the Methodists and Baptists had welcomed free blacks and slaves to their congregations and as preachers.
The fledgling Zion church grew, and soon multiple churches developed from the original congregation. These churches were attended by black congregants, but ministered to by white ordained Methodist ministers. In 1820, six of the churches met to ordain James Varick as an elder, and in 1821 he was made the first General Superintendent of the AME Zion Church. A debate raged in the white-dominated Methodist church over accepting black ministers. This debate ended on July 30, 1822, when James Varick was ordained as the first bishop of the AME Zion church, a newly independent denomination. The total membership in 1866 was about 42,000.[1] Two years later, it claimed 164,000 members, as it sent missionaries to the South after the American Civil War to plant new churches with the newly emancipated freedmen.[2] The A.M.E. Zion Church had been part of the Abolitionist movement and became known as the Freedom Church, because it was associated with the period after emancipation of the slaves.
Black churches were integral in helping build communities and develop leadership among the freedmen in the South. Later they played an increasingly powerful role in the civil rights movement of the mid-20th century. AMEZ remained smaller than the AME (African Methodist Episcopal Church, a denomination started in Philadelphia in the early 19th century) because some of its ministers lacked the authority to perform marriages, and many of its ministers avoided political roles. Its finances were weak, and in general its leadership was not as strong as that of the AME. However it was the leader among all Protestant denominations in ordaining women and giving them powerful roles in the church.[3]
An influential leader bishop was James Walker Hood (1831–1918) of North Carolina. He not only created and fostered his network of AMEZ churches in North Carolina, but he also was the grand master for the entire South of the Prince Hall Freemasonry, a secular black fraternal organization that strengthened the political and economic forces inside the black community.[4] Hood Theological Seminary in Salisbury, North Carolina is named in this bishop's honor.[5]
In 1924 Cameron Chesterfield Alleyne became the church's first resident bishop in Africa.[6]
Notes
The AME Zion Church is not to be confused with the similarly named African Methodist Episcopal Church, which was officially formed in 1816 by Richard Allen and Daniel Coker in Philadelphia. The denomination was made up of AME churches in the Philadelphia region, including Delaware and New Jersey."...
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