Hymns/gospel songs in jams?

Subject: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: Nathan in Texas
Date: 22 May 00 - 08:17 AM

The thread on hymnals got me to wondering what hymns or gospel songs are performed and/or encountered in jams around the country. Here are a few we use frequently:

These are the ones most commonly used in jams:
Amazing Grace
Life's Railway to Heaven
I'll Fly Away
I Saw the Light
Uncloudy Day

In performing, our instrumental duo (hammered dulcimer, autoharp & mandolin) regularly includes:
Sweet Hour of Prayer
Near the Cross
Wayfaring Stranger
We're also adding new ones all the time, with a CD of hymns planned for later this year.

How about you?

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: Wesley S
Date: 22 May 00 - 09:17 AM

Our group does a bluegrass version of "Nearer My God To Thee" and we do a medly of " In the sweet by and by, I saw the light, Are you washed in the blood, and I'll fly away"

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: tar_heel
Date: 22 May 00 - 10:29 AM

how about...the gospel way,gathering flowers for the master's bouquet,praying ground,beautiful stars,rank strangers,i have found a way,using my bible for a road map,o come angel band,who will sing for me,where could i go,where the soul of man never dies,the purple robe,gone home,diamonds in the rough,a beautiful life,sweeping through the gates,palms of victory....just to name few that we get request for at jams.......

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From:
Date: 22 May 00 - 11:23 AM

Swing Low Sweet Chariots comes to mind.

Another good one is Will The Circle Be Unbroken.

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From:
Date: 22 May 00 - 11:25 AM

Oh! I'll have to find it, but a friend sings a shanty which is Gospel in nature.

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 May 00 - 11:35 AM

Contemporary praise music and children's hymns, too, as well as Southern Gospel.

BTW, I have a lot of source books, so if you are looking for anything I might help with, feel free to PM me. I keep a binder with xeroxes of ALL my book's tables of contents, to help me find stuff without hauling out every book.

~S~

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: Nathan in Texas
Date: 22 May 00 - 12:03 PM

Chuck,
I'm familiar with all of your list except "Praying Ground," "Praying Ground," and perhaps "Gospel Way." That's not the same as "Gloryland Way" is it?

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 May 00 - 02:15 PM

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: Pixie
Date: 22 May 00 - 06:32 PM

Although maybe not "gospel" I like to do Gillian Welch's "Orphan Girl", and just tried "Wayfaring Stranger" at a party the other night. I don't do the "church" thing, but I sure do love gospel, particularly stuff with "bluegrass" tinge to it. I like hearing gospel tunes at a jam session....I consider them very much part of "folk" music.

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: Wesley S
Date: 23 May 00 - 10:58 AM

Nathan - What part of Texas are you from?? I'm in Ft Worth. Where do you perform and where can we hear you?

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: Mark Clark
Date: 23 May 00 - 11:51 AM

When I was playing, we used to include at least one gospel number in every set. Let's see...

Wicked Path Of Sin
Over In Gloryland
I Heard My Name On The Radio
Cry From The Cross
He Will Set Your Fields On Fire
The Little White Church

The list goes on and on. We did this not so much out of any great faith but to be true to the traditional mode of bluegrass performance. It didn't hurt that gospel tunes often provide wonderful opportunities for harmony singing and have a lively beat. In jam sessions of old, particularly at bluegrass festivals, people would start pulling out the gospel tunes in the wee hours of the morning after they were too drunk to play anymore but thought they could still sing. *BG*

Great times, those.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: bbelle
Date: 23 May 00 - 12:13 PM

harpgirl and I do "By The Mark" by Welch and Rawlings and it's always a pleaser. She's Buddhist and I'm a Jew but we both love gospel music because of the harmonies. We're wanting to learn a couple more, so if anyone has any suggestions, let us know. harpy sings melody and I add counterpoint harmony ... moonchild

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: black walnut
Date: 23 May 00 - 01:50 PM

does anyone know if Praise has laryngitis? this kind of posting from Praise happened recently on another thread....

~'nut

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: black walnut
Date: 23 May 00 - 02:01 PM

sorry, back to the topic....

i grew up on gospel songs; we had a college group at church with 100 of us who sang loud and long every sunday night. a lot of the ones mentioned above were popular in our group. some brought guitars, and there was always piano, and oh, what singing!

i was told by someone recently, though, that someone like me, who might tend to believe some of what i sing when i sing gospel, should probably not lead gospel songs in jams and song circles. i was told that they are better left to the confirmed and card-carrying non-believer. the sense was that it is best to sing and lead those songs without meaning them. i personally think that a good song can be sung by anyone. any thoughts?

~black walnut

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: GUEST,Steve Latimer
Date: 23 May 00 - 02:35 PM

My sister has recently introduced "Mary Don't You Weep" to her set and usually gets great audience participation in the chorus. The version she does is based on Taj Mahal's version.

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: The Walrus (at work)
Date: 23 May 00 - 02:41 PM

My old ECW mob used to burst into "The Good Old Way" (I have a sweet hope of Glory in my soul) at the drop of a hat. (Oh, does "Jerusalem" count?)

Walrus.

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: Mark Clark
Date: 23 May 00 - 03:17 PM

black,

In bluegrass music, the vast majority of gospel songs are performed by people who believe what they are singing. I think it's rare for professional groups to sing songs they don't believe. In our own group, we discussed each potential gospel song among the band members and if anything offended someone's particular beliefs, we took a pass on it.

I am presently serving as choir director of our Eastern Orthodox parish so I'm quite involved with liturgical music. Of course a hymn or response needs to be a thousand years old or more for us to be singing it. *BG* When we say Tradition, we mean it. Needless to say, we don't use guitars in church.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 May 00 - 03:32 PM

black walnut-- see Tavern 2 thread

~S~

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: bbelle
Date: 23 May 00 - 04:17 PM

Mark ... I'm not about to get into a debate with you about religion, but please do not assume you know my beliefs, because you don't. Funny ... I've never had a priest say that because I'm Jewish I should never sing an Ave Maria or Kyrie ... moonchild

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: Mark Clark
Date: 23 May 00 - 05:15 PM

moonchild, I think I must owe you an apology. Please accept this one. I certainly didn't mean to start any religious debate or demean anyone's beliefs. I just thought my post about singing gospel tunes only after being too drunk to play was a trifle insensitive to those people for whom the music has deep personal meaning.

I think everyone should feel free to sing any song they like and I have never wanted to know the religious or spiritual beliefs of a singer, or of a friend for that matter. I've always just celebrated the diversity of human kind. In the words of the old bluegrass gospel tune:

The road is rough, the way is long,
But we'll help each other over,
You go to your church and I'll go to mine,
But, let's walk along together.

Peace,

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: bbelle
Date: 23 May 00 - 05:49 PM

And ... perhaps I was just a wee bit too sensitive! Sometimes living in the deep south bible belt causes one's antennae to start quivering. I took a circuitous path to my Jewish roots and grew up singing in my Baptist grandmother's church, with her accompanying me on piano. That's where I learned to sing and still have a great love for spirituals and gospel music. Thanks and I accept your apology.

Shalom ... moonchild

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: Hardiman the Fiddler
Date: 23 May 00 - 09:19 PM

I like "abide with me" with a soft banjo roll and fiddle.

Hardiman

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: Banjer
Date: 23 May 00 - 11:52 PM

Walnut, it just seems to me that one who believes in what they are singing, (or talking about for that matter) can put more of his/her soul into it, having a better grasp of the subject matter. I don't care what anyone's religion is, if they do a good rendition of a gospel song, I'll listen and enjoy, and even help sing if applicable.

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: Pinetop Slim
Date: 24 May 00 - 10:05 PM

Playing the Shaker song, "Bow and Be Simple" (or is Willow Tree the title? whatever) anyway -- one time "Old Time Religion" came out at the end, so I always medley them now.
Iris Dement's "Shores of Jordan" seems like it would work in a jam.
Ain't it weird how songs like "By the Mark" and "Will the Circle..." make you feel good? Tapping your toes while singing about a hearse driving your mother away, or how you're looking forward to seeing somebody with spike holes in his hands -- what a picture.
Anybody got a good mystery-of-life hymn that explains this?
It's been a long time since I considered myself a Christian, but I love to sing songs about Jesus.

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: black walnut
Date: 25 May 00 - 01:10 PM

just like the blues, mark. you just can't feel bad around the blues.

about gospel lyrics....yes, they must sometimes sound so offensive when the context is absent. there's the whole context of theology, with layers of meaning involved. a phrase or image might be meant to trigger other thoughts or pictures or teachings or references not explicit in the song itself. and then there's the context of original venue itself. who is the intended audience, and in what situation were they gathered? very interesting stuff to think about....

~'nut

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 25 May 00 - 01:58 PM

Son House's "John The Revelator" would probably work and get audience participation.

Taj Mahal did a nice cover of it in the Blues Brothers 2000. I haven't seen the movie, but have a Taj CD with it. Starts out doing his best Son House impression and then a ful gospel choir joins him. I like the version.

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 25 May 00 - 02:31 PM

moonchild, I heard you and harpgirl sing on HearMe and thought the harmony was absolutely gorgeous. I understand your unfamiliarity with gospel songs -- I spent some time in Alabama and was constantly surprised at all the wonderful old gospel songs that everyone around me knew, but that I had never heard of!

You asked for some close harmony songs...
Whispering Hope (probably the quintessential close harmony song, though a bit too sugary for my taste)
Alleluia (has a nice descant-type harmony)
We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder (children's campfire song, but nice harmony)
Gather Ye Who Now Would Worship (Holy Manna) Some arrangements have a descant totally different from the melody)

And by all means check out the Southern Harmony link I picked up from Okiemockbird. I think I read recently (probably here in the forum) that Southern hymns usually have the harmony above the melody. Is that what you mean by counterpoint?

Mary

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: GUEST,Annika
Date: 25 May 00 - 11:30 PM

I have been looking for a couple of old gospel-folky songs that maybe someone can help me with. One is a ballad: "There is a river wide / that flows from the tree of life / are you going there someday, friend?"

What's the rest of it? Where can I find it?

The other is more folky: "I'm gonna live forever / forever and a day / when I leave this world behind me / I'll be singing all the way"

Anyone know this one? Maybe one of you southerners can help me out with these. I haven't heard them in years, but the parts that I remember keep going around in my head. I may just rewrite them.

Thanks, Annika

Subject: ADD: Singalong Choruses for a Gospel Singin'
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 02:09 AM

It's under consideration that our little group will do a Mudcat Concert (in PalTalk) in February-- but instead of a regular concert, it will be a gospel singalong.

So the following is the "audience participation" part people will need to sing along with us. It's mostly just the choruses... But a lot of the songs are in DT or in the threads, so if people want the whole song, use the titles below to search them up and get some bookmarks ready. When we do it in PalTalk, we will announce the key for those who want to play along too.

We usually start off with our own favorites, and then go from there with requests from the following list.

If anyone wants to build up a players' book in order to be able to use the following in your own area, PM me and I can send you scans of anything you do not have.

~S~

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

GOOD NEWS-GOODTIME BAND GOSPEL SINGALONG CHORUSES
AKA "Those Blue and Purple Songsheets"


A1
PASS ME NOT O GENTLE SAVIOR
Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry.
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.


A2
STANDING ON THE PROMISES
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior.
Standing, standing,
I'm standing on the promises of God.


A3
LITTLE BY LITTLE
Little by little and day by day,
Little by little in every way,
My Jesus is changing me.
Since I looked into His face,
I've been changing by His grace.
My Jesus is changing me.

He's changing me, my blessed Savior,
I'm not the same old person that I used to be.
And tho it's slow goin', there's a knowin',
That someday, like Him I will be.


A5
BLESSED BE THE NAME
Blessed be the Name,
Blessed be the Name,
Blessed be the Name of the Lord.
Blessed be the Name,
Blessed be the Name,
Blessed be the Name of the Lord.


A6
IF YOU'RE SAVED
If you're saved & you know it say "Amen!" (Amen!)
If you're saved & you know it say "Amen!" (Amen!)
If you're saved and you know it,
Then your life should always show it.
If you're saved & you know it say "Amen!" (Amen!)


A7
STANDIN' IN THE NEED OF PRAYER
It's-a-me, it's-a-me, it's-a-me, O Lord,
Standin' in the need of prayer.
It's-a-me, it's-a-me, it's-a-me, O Lord,
Standin' in the need of prayer.


A8
JOSHUA
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho,
Jericho, Jericho.
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho,
And the walls came tumblin' down.


A9
JESUS LOVES ME
Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong,
They are weak but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me, yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.


A13
WHO BUILT THE ARK?
Who built the ark? Noah! Noah!
Who built the ark? Brother Noah built the ark!


B2
NEVER GROW OLD
Never grow old, never grow old,
'Tis the land where we'll never grow old.
Never grow old, never grow old,
In the land where we'll never grow old.


B5
BEHOLD WHAT MANNER OF LOVE
Behold what manner of love
the Father has given unto us,
Behold what manner of love
the Father has given unto us,
That we should be called the sons of God.
That we should be called the sons of God.


B6
THE OLD RUGGED CROSS
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
'Til my trophies at last I lay down.
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.


B7
JEWELS
Like the stars of the morning,
His bright crown adorning,
They shall shine in their beauty,
His loved and His own.


B8
GRACE GREATER THAN OUR SIN
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within.
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.


B10
BURDENS ARE LIFTED AT CALVARY
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Calvary, Calvary,
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Jesus is very near.


B11
SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me [us].
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me [us].
Melt me [us], mold me [us], fill me [us], use me [us].
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me [us].


B12
HEAVENLY SUNLIGHT
Heavenly sunlight, heavenly sunlight,
Flooding my soul with glory divine.
Hallelujah, I am rejoicing,
Singing His praises, Jesus is mine!


B13
THY LOVINGKINDNESS
Thy lovingkindness is better than life,
Thy lovingkindness is better than life.
My lips shall praise Thee, thus will I bless Thee,
I will lift up my hands unto thy Name.

I lift up my hands unto thy Name.
I lift up my hands unto thy Name.
My lips shall praise Thee, thus will I bless Thee,
I will lift up my hands unto thy Name.


B16
WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN?
Will the circle be unbroken, by and by, Lord, by and by?
There's a better home a-waitin, in the sky, Lord, in the sky.


B17
WHERE THE ROSES NEVER FADE
Here, they bloom but for a season,
Soon their beauty is decayed.
I am going to a city where the roses never fade.


C1
ANGEL BAND
O come, angel band, come and around me stand;
O bear me away on your snowy wings
To my eternal home;
O bear me away on your snowy wings
To my eternal home.


C2
GOD DON'T NEVER CHANGE
Yes God is God, God don't never change...
He's God, always will be God.


C3
GREEN PASTURES
Going up home to live in green pastures
Where we shall live and die never more
Even the Lord will be in that number
When we shall reach that heavenly shore


C4
I AM THE LIGHT OF THIS WORLD
Long as I'm in this world I am
The light of this world
Long as I'm in this world
I am the light of this world


C5
SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home,
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home.


C6
I'M GLAD I'M IN THAT NUMBER
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In that holy number!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Goin' up to God.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In that holy number,
Goin' up, goin' up to God.


C7
OH GLORY, HOW HAPPY I AM
O, Glory how happy I am,
O, Glory how happy I am
My soul's been washed in the blood of the lamb,
Glory, hallelu!


C8
TWELVE GATES TO THE CITY
Oh, what a beautiful city; oh, what a beautiful city
Oh, what a beautiful city; twelve gates to the city!


C9
I'LL FLY AWAY
I'll fly away, O glory, I'll fly away (in the morning)
When I die, Hallelujah by and by, I'll fly away.


C10
WHEN ALL OF GOD'S SINGERS GET HOME
When all of God's singers get home,
Where never a sorrow will come;
There'll be "no place like home,"
When all of God's singers get home.


C11
WINGS OF A DOVE
On the wings of a snow white dove
He sends His pure sweet love
A sign from above ... on the wings of a dove.


C12
GOSPEL SHIP
I'm gonna take a trip in that old gospel ship
I'm going far beyond the sky
I'm gonna shout and sing until the heavens ring
When I bid this earth goodbye


C13
IN JESUS' LAP
In Jesus' lap I love to lie
And lie there when I can.
In Jesus' lap where I was born,
When to His lap I ran.


C14
NEARER, MY GOD, TO THEE
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!


C15
TALK ABOUT SUFFERIN'
Talk about sufferin' here below
And let's keep a-followin' Jesus;
Talk about sufferin' here below
And let's keep a-lovin' Jesus.


C16
THERE IS A RIVER
There is a river, and it flows from deep within,
There is a fountain that frees the soul from sin.
Come to this water; there is a vast supply,
There is a river that never shall run dry.


C17
PALMS OF VICTORY
Then palms of victory, crowns of glory,
Palms of victory I shall wear.


D1
ARE YOU WALKING WITH THE LORD
Are you walkin', (are you walkin')
Are you talkin', (are you talkin')
Are you walkin' and a-talkin' with the Lord?
Are you traveling in his light
Ev'ry day and ev'ry night
Are you walkin' and a-talkin' with the Lord?


D2
PRECIOUS LORD, TAKE MY HAND
Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, help me stand,
I am tired, Lord! I'm weary and worn.
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on into the light,
Precious Lord, take my hand and lead me home.


D3
A BEAUTIFUL LIFE
Life's evening sun (life's evening sun) is sinking low, (is sinking low)
A few more days (a few more days) and I must go (and I must go)
To meet the deeds (to meet the deeds) that I have done, (that I have done)
Where there will be (where there will be) no setting sun. (no setting sun)


D4
HIGHER GROUND
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on heaven's table land,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.


D5
I WANT TO WALK AS A CHILD OF THE LIGHT
In Him there is no darkness at all--
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God--
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.


D6
I WENT DOWN TO THE RIVER TO PRAY
As I went down to the river to pray,
Studyin' about that good old way and
Who shall wear the robe and crown,
Good Lord-- show me the way.


D7
LIFE'S RAILWAY TO HEAVEN
Oh Blessed Savior, Thou wilt guide us,
Till we reach that blissful shore;
Where the angels wait to join us
In Thy praise forevermore.


D8
WHISPERING HOPE
Whispering hope, oh how welcome Thy voice,
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: 53
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 10:47 AM

we like to use leaning on the everlasting arms, power in the blood, unclouded day, waiting the boatman, using my bible for a roadmap, i'll fly away, i saw the light, are you washed, the great speckled bird, and many others, i think that this is a great thread, keep up the good work. bob

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: masato sakurai
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 11:03 AM

A polka band plays "Rock of Ages" polka-style in the video In Heaven There Is No Beer? (Flower Films).

~Masato

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: WyoWoman
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 01:19 PM

Can anyone direct me to a good songbook or two that would have a bunch of these in it/them? Not "Rise Up Singing", a.k.a. "Rise Up Squinting," which I've finally just about given up on. But I do love to do gospel songs and am always on thelookout for those that aren't the old standbys.

Sweet Hour of Prayer,though, remains one of my favorite songs of all time. I've never sung it at a jam, however. Hmmm. Might try that next time. ...

ww

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 01:46 PM

WW, first I would suggest you look at the thread on the Gospel Tape Lending Library-- maybe you want in on that?

If you want a mix like ours, I'm afraid you may have to do what we did-- comb through seven or eight genres and pull what you like. There is one book Joe Offer has that we don't have yet that might get you a lot of them-- Lift Every Voice and Sing, from the Episcopal Church. It was prepared for use in African-American congregations and seems to have quite a few of what we'd found on our own. (See the Afro-American Hymnal thread for its table of contents.)

A number of ours are in our players' binders as words/chords-only, because we learned the melodies from tapes. I could send you a copy of the above material but it's in rough shape from multiple xeroxing. If you want to pick a few to start with and PM me, I can start scanning.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: GUEST,Genie
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 02:04 PM

Songs I often do in song circles, jams, sing-alongs, etc. include
Do, Lord/This Little Light Medley
Vine and Fig Tree (Lo Yisa Goy)
Let There Be Peace On Earth
When The Saints Go Marching In
Just A Closer Walk With Thee
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
He's Got The Whole World In His Hand
Precious Memories
Farther Along
One Day At A Time
Put Your Hand In The Hand
Go Down, Moses
Mary, Don't You Weep
All My Trials
Amazing Grace
Morning Has Broken
This Old House
You Don't Knock
In The Sweet By and By
Abide With Me
Peace Like a River
Guide My Feet
In The Garden
Bashana Haba'ah (Soon The Day Will Arrive)
Hine Ma Tov
Shalom Chaverim
All God's Critters Got A Place In the Choir

If I am singing in a group that would be alienated by mention of Jesus, I stick to the ones that are generally insprirational or mention only "God."
I never have a problem doing the Hebrew songs I mentioned in a Christian group, because there is nothing sectarian about them.

In some jams, though, old gospel songs--e.g., Turn Your Radio On-- are done more or less as historical/musical gems, not as statements of personal belief, so we do any song that has good harmony and good instrumental licks.
If we can have fun singing Banks Of The Ohio, given our elevated collective consciousness today, why can't a Jew, agnostic, humanist, atheist, etc. enjoy singing "I'll Fly Away?" It's a great bluegrass sound!
Genie

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: GUEST,Genie
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 02:25 PM

I just got through resetting my cookie. Why am I showing up as "guest?"

While I'm here again, WYSIWYG, I should second your mention of
Standin' In the Need of Prayer

Joshua Fit The Battle of Jericho,

Spirit of the Living God

Swing low, sweet chariot

Wings Of A Dove

Good Gospel Ship

Higher Ground
Whispering Hope

Other good ones are
Under His Wings
For The Beauty Of The Earth
Give Me Oil In My Lamp (especially the "Give me umption in my gumption, help me function" verse!)
I've Got The Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy, Down In My Heart
Down By The Riverside.

I also like "Little Moses"

BTW, when singing in groups that are of mixed religions, it is often (not always) possible to leave out some verses or modify the words toward a more ecumenical content.
(This will not work, of course, with "The Old Rugged Cross!" In fact, one of the silliest such attempts, I think, is in the current Unitarian Universalist Hymnal -- the song "O Little Town Of Bethlehem." The words have been changed from having the angels "proclaim the holy birth" to "proclaim the baby's birth"--which begs the question of why the angels are proclaiming the birth of a normal, non-holy baby!)

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: Mudlark
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 11:15 PM

I may not be religious but I love beautiful, powerful music.. Have always loved Go Down, Moses, The Darkest Hour is Just before the Dawn, All My Trials, Wayfarin' Strangr....and I agree....anyone should be able to sing whatever they want, as long as they respect the music.

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: Genie
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 12:49 AM

Amen!

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: GUEST,Alygurl
Date: 01 May 10 - 03:22 AM

I'm both an Atheist and a passionate lover of music and I'm looking for some more gospel secular songs...

Any suggestions?

Thanks =)

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 01 May 10 - 07:12 AM

My current favourite tune for getting instant total silence in a noisy pub is "Wayfaring Stranger", unaccompanied on the chalumeau. Works every time. I guess it counts as secular if you leave out the words?

Subject: RE: Hymns/gospel songs in jams?
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 01 May 10 - 06:46 PM

I've no objection to gospel songs being sung in pubs. A lot better there than in churches.