We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.
/

lyrics

SHALL WE GATHER AT THE RIVER?
(Traditional Hymn)

A hymn about death and longing for assurance of a peaceful and happy hereafter. A song that was originally composed in one setting, in a sort of apocalyptic fever dream, triggered by the American Civil War and a burning heat.

As far as personal commentary goes, I will just copy what I wrote once before about this tune, a few years back:

"I grew up singing [Shall We Gather At The River, in church and at home]. It is one of the most poignant traditionals I've ever heard. A song about death, about suffering, and about choosing to say farewell for now but not goodbye.

Growing up, the melody always struck me as beautiful yet somehow too bright and confident, like something in the tune was denying the lyrics the freedom they needed to express [the] real grief and uncertainty [that ran together] alongside hope. I have slightly altered the tune to fit the sadness and uncertainty I feel when I sing it.

I love the image and importance of the river, "mirror of our savior's face".
-2016
***********



**********
A little more background on this song:
""Shall We Gather at the River," was composed by [Robert] Lowry late one afternoon in 1864, in the midst of the civil war. While Lowry was inside resting from being drained from the heat, he began to have visions of the river flowing from Christ's throne (REV. 22:1). Lowry began to wonder why so many composers had focused on the river of death, and not of the crystal clear waters coming from the river of life, that flowed from the throne of Christ and of the Lamb. "Shall we be among the privileged few who stand before the throne singing the praises of the savior?"..."Yes, we'll gather." After coming to this conclusion, Lowry was so struck by the thought that he immediately awoke and went over to his pump organ and began composing the piece right away. While the hymn was written in 1864, it wasn't until 1865 that the hymn was published in his collection of Happy Voices." (https://etymologyofhymns.blogspot.com/2012/08/shall-we-gather-at-river.html)

credits

from songs that sing me, Vol. I: a personal anthology, released November 27, 2022

license

tags

about

Seth Mountain 이산 image

Seth Mountain 이산 South Korea

Seth Martin (aka Seth Mountain or 이산), is a roots musician originally from the Pacific Northwest (US).

Continuing in the radical tradition of artists like Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, and Utah Phillips, Martin has been living in Seoul since 2015. He regularly performs with Korean and foreign folk, indie and rock acts.

"Quite possibly the closest thing we have to Woody Guthrie."
--Bill Mallonee ... more

contact / help

Contact Seth Mountain 이산

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

Seth Mountain 이산 recommends:

If you like Seth Mountain 이산, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featuring interviews with LA music scene pillar Kamasi Washington, and new London-based duo Mrcy.

listen now