Lyr ADD: There's a Ram in the Thicket (Posen)

Subject: Lyr ADD: There's a Ram in the Thicket (Posen)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Feb 24 - 12:48 AM

I have always loved Gospel music, even though it's not part of my Catholic tradition. During my 8 years in a Catholic seminary, we had a group called the Rolling Lambs. They'd gather us around a piano, and we'd drink beer and sing our little hearts out on gospel music.
I started going to the FSGW Getaway in 1999, and I always went to the Sunday gospel sing. Dick Levine was almost always there, and he almost always sang the song of Isaac, "Ram in the Thicket." Dick and I loved that song. Dick's gone now, but I'd like to make sure the song lives on.
Does anybody know who wrote this wonderful song? Was it Shelley Posen?

RAM IN THE THICKET
(Shelley Posen)

Now in the Bible, so I've read,
God spoke to Abraham and thus He said,
"Before three days are past and gone,
You must sacrifice Isaac, your beloved son."

[chorus]
Don't despair, there's a ram in the thicket,
God is there, there's a ram in the thicket,
He hears your prayer, there's a ram in the thicket,
There's a ram in the thicket by the grace of God

Next morning Abraham did depart
With a grieving soul and an aching heart
He took young Isaac by the hand
But he didn't tell his son about his God's command

"Father, for this sacrifice
I see the fire and I see the knife
But where's the ram?" young Isaac cried,
"Oh, my son, God will provide"

Abraham, he bound his son,
And laid him down upon the altar stone
He raised the knife to do God's command
But God called, "Abraham, stay thy hand"

Abraham freed the son he loved
He proved his faith in his God above
And if your faith is strong and true
There's a ram in the thicket will be waiting for you


credits
from Two in a Garden, released September 1, 2021
© 2000 Shelley Posen, Well Done Music, BMI license
all rights reserved

source: https://beckyandnicole.bandcamp.com/track/ram-in-the-thicket
Two in a Garden, by Becky and Nicole


We learned this “old testament gospel” song from Richard Levine, and we think of him fondly whenever we sing it.


So Becky and Nicole also learned this song from the enthusiastic singing of Dick Levine. I loved that guy. May he rest in peace.

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: There's a Ram in the Thicket
From: GerryM
Date: 19 Feb 24 - 03:06 AM

Yes, Shelley Posen. It's on his album, "Manna". He writes,

In 2000, a friend called to ask if I'd write a gospel song for his country band. "Sure," I said blithely, having sung more than a few gospel songs over the years. It wasn't till I'd hung up that I realized it takes a different kind of commitment to write a good gospel song than to sing one. I wondered aloud to my wife Maxine whether there might be such a thing as a Jewish gospel song. Max suggested the *akeyda* for a topic, the near sacrifice of Isaac by his father Abraham, since its themes – faith, redemption – are universal. I liked the idea, brushed up on the Bible story (Genesis XXII), and this song is the result.

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: There's a Ram in the Thicket
From: GerryM
Date: 19 Feb 24 - 03:14 AM

The lyrics in the liner notes have a few small differences from what Joe posted, and one big difference. Replacing the last stanza in that post are these two stanzas:

The father freed the son he loved
He'd proved his faith to God above
Then in the bushes he cast his eyes
Saw a ram God sent for his sacrifice.

Now, there is a moral, the rabbis say
The good Lord tests you every day
And if your faith is strong and true
There's a ram in the thicket and it's there for you.