I first
heard Hazel Dickens when I first saw John Sayles'
movie Matewan about
the coal miner strikes of the 1920's. There is a scene where one of the
young miners is killed by operatives of the Baldwin Felts Agency. At his
funeral, Hazel Dickens' character sings a moving mountain dirge that has since
brought me to tears every time I hear it. It's beautiful. I hope
that you enjoy it. The song, "Gathering Storm," was written expressly for this film by Mason Daring, an American musician.
The lyrics to the song are here:
Deliver us from the gathering storm
Unworthy
though we are
Leave us
living safe and warm
And
sheltered in your arms.
Fallen out
of grace are we.
Sin us never
more to thee
Deliver us
from the gathering storm
Unworthy
though we are.
Deliver us
from the shadow
And brighten
us our night
O lift us
out of the valley of sin
And leave
our path in light.
Fallen out
of grace are we
Sin us never
more to thee.
Deliver us
from the gathering storm
Unworthy
though we are.
This seems rare.
Her song "Hills of Galilee" is stunning. It could make you cry.
A correction. The lyrics Hazel sings in Matewan are "Sinless never more to be". Note that "Sin us never more to thee" really doesn't make any sense. There are a few variations of the lyrics. Here's one from warrior ant press:
ReplyDeleteDeliver us from the gathering storm,
unworthy though we are.
Keep us living safe from harm,
and hold us in your arms.
Full of dread and dispair are we.
Sinless never more to be.
Deliver us from the gathering storm,
unworthy though we are.
Deliver us from the gathering storm,
and brighten all our nights.
Keep us from the hour of doom,
and guide us by your light.
Full of dread and dispair are we.
Sinless never more to be.
Deliver us from the gathering storm,
unworthy though we are.
(traditional)
Thanks for the correction.
ReplyDeleteI always thought it was a Primitive Baptist hymn...
ReplyDeleteI live near where Hazel Dickens was born. I love the history of my state and learning from our past so we won't make the same mistakes. I have written speeches concerning the "Coal Wars" and "The Matewan Massacre ". My father was a Federal Mine Inspector, who grew up working in the mines during his school brake and holidays to pay for his education at Virginia Tech. I have heard him talking about the corruption of the coal companies and how the unions help the workers.
ReplyDelete