Hi all,
I've been reading 'Black Hymnody: A Hymnological History of the African-American Church' by Jon Michael Spencer and came across a quote from Rev. Rubin Lacey I thought I'd share. Hopefully it hasn't been shared before, apologies if it has.
I'll start with the preceding text for context:
"The piece in the hymnbook titled 'When I Take My Vacation in Heaven' included the very sort of claims to which blues people took exception: 'I will spend my vacation with Jesus/In the place He went on to prepare.' Former blues singer Rev. Rubin Lacey felt not only that blues songs and church songs were similar, but moreover that the blues were truthful, while church songs were often untruthful. With reference to this hymn, he admonished the congregation he pastored:
'Sometimes I preach now and I get up and tell the people now that...I used to be a famous blues singer and I told more truth in my blues than the average person tells in his church songs...The blues is just more truer than a whole lot of the church songs that people sing. Sometimes I think the average person sings a church song just for the tune, not for the words...But the blues is sung not for the tune. It's sung for the words mostly...Now you get out here to sing a church song about 'When I take my vacation in Heaven.' That couldn't be the truth. That's a lie in the church, because a vacation means to go and come. You don't take a vacation in heaven. But now if you're playing the blues, you say 'I never missed my water 'til my well went dry.' That's the truth...That's the difference in a church song and the blues.'"
For those interested the book is available here on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Black-Hymnody-Hymnological-History-African-American/dp/087049760X
I wouldn't say it's an exciting read but I have learned quite a bit. The bulk of the book is based on research into hymn books and church literature and so direct quotes from those involved in the various denominations discussed are unfortunately a rare occurrence.
I've been reading 'Black Hymnody: A Hymnological History of the African-American Church' by Jon Michael Spencer and came across a quote from Rev. Rubin Lacey I thought I'd share. Hopefully it hasn't been shared before, apologies if it has.
I'll start with the preceding text for context:
"The piece in the hymnbook titled 'When I Take My Vacation in Heaven' included the very sort of claims to which blues people took exception: 'I will spend my vacation with Jesus/In the place He went on to prepare.' Former blues singer Rev. Rubin Lacey felt not only that blues songs and church songs were similar, but moreover that the blues were truthful, while church songs were often untruthful. With reference to this hymn, he admonished the congregation he pastored:
'Sometimes I preach now and I get up and tell the people now that...I used to be a famous blues singer and I told more truth in my blues than the average person tells in his church songs...The blues is just more truer than a whole lot of the church songs that people sing. Sometimes I think the average person sings a church song just for the tune, not for the words...But the blues is sung not for the tune. It's sung for the words mostly...Now you get out here to sing a church song about 'When I take my vacation in Heaven.' That couldn't be the truth. That's a lie in the church, because a vacation means to go and come. You don't take a vacation in heaven. But now if you're playing the blues, you say 'I never missed my water 'til my well went dry.' That's the truth...That's the difference in a church song and the blues.'"
For those interested the book is available here on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Black-Hymnody-Hymnological-History-African-American/dp/087049760X
I wouldn't say it's an exciting read but I have learned quite a bit. The bulk of the book is based on research into hymn books and church literature and so direct quotes from those involved in the various denominations discussed are unfortunately a rare occurrence.