This "Summer of Tears"...with wars and atrocities covering the earth, apathy toward the starving and the orphans, extreme anger lashing out at the hopeful immigrant, horrendous examples of police brutality, millions of homeless veterans struggling on the street, a listless U.S. government, etc...I often find myself singing
"Deep River" silently in my head.
“Deep River” is a classic African American “spiritual” – born from plantation songs of slaves in the Deep South. It is a song of weariness, suffering, sorrow, hope, faith, determination, and universal longing for peace and freedom in the present and future afterlife. It was also used as a coded message by fugitive slaves as they raced toward the symbolic Jordan River (The Ohio River)...no matter what country we live in, shouldn't love, empathy, and freedom and not selfish international geopolitics be our ultimate goal?
Marian Anderson (1897-1993)
Click to listen..."Deep River"
In my opinion, the greatest rendition of
“Deep River” ever was performed often by Marian Anderson. As a matter of fact, circa 1923 she sang
"Deep River" at an audition for private musical studies with Giuseppe Boghetti and Agnes Reifsnyder, the best voice teachers of the time...Boghetti was brought to tears.
I too am moved and brought to tears when I listen to this haunting message...and dream of a day when we too can "crossover into campground".
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