Realizing the enormity of the task Ray and his team came up with a unique approach. The only way to make a meaningful difference was to impact the lives of these children, one child at a time.
"Inspired by the singing of one small boy, we formed the first African Children’s Choir to show the world that Africa’s most vulnerable children have beauty, dignity and unlimited ability."
Watch a short documentary about the Choir, see Ray Barnett talk about how the Choir began… then, read on, and become involved!
The first Choir was formed in 1984, selected from orphaned and vulnerable children in the Kampala and Luwero areas of Uganda. After the Choir was trained to perform and readied for living in new and different cultures, the children traveled from Uganda to tour amongst the North American Church communities.
They immediately impressed audiences with their vibrancy and outstanding musical talent. They quickly became a mouthpiece for the plight of the many thousands of vulnerable children like them in Uganda. The funds they earned through donations provided for their own support and education and more!
The proceeds of the first African Children’s Choir tour also funded the building of an orphanage back in Kampala from which a second African Children’s Choir was selected.
And so the story of the Choir’s work began. In the early years they would tour principally in United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The proceeds of their tours and the sponsorship support they would attract funded a growing program of establishing literacy schools to enable the very neediest children to get a foot up into proper education.
Meanwhile, the continuing care, education and development of returning Choir children was assured through the proceeds of Choir tours and the generosity of sponsors and donors.
To date over seven hundred vulnerable children have been through the Choir program and the funds they have generated have provided the opportunity of education and hope for many thousands like them in some of the most desperate and needy areas of Africa.
You can view photographs of the African Children’s Choir through the years and its achievements by going to the Choir Gallery and WhatWeDo pages of this website.
Hopeful
African Children's Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wish you could hear the heart beat
Beating a message inside me
I wish you could hold my hand
To know electricity
My wish for you
Is to choose to be
Hopeful (Hopeful)
It won't always be this way
Hopeful (Hopeful)
Even in the midst of pain
Hopeful
Because it's never too late
To be hopeful (Hopeful)
Faithful (Faithful)
Life is gonna change
Wish we could remove fear
From every lie
Wish we could cut away hatred
Without resorting to a knife
Wish we could view the heavens
For the weary tonight
Why talk the talk
When you could walk that walk
Oh, oh and be hopeful (Hopeful)
It won't always be this way uh uh
Hopeful (Hopeful)
Even in the midst of pain
Hopeful (Hopeful)
Because it's never too late
To be hopeful (Hopeful)
Faithful (Faithful)
Life is gonna change
I long to describe the inspired divine
Living inside where we're all alive
All alright
All alike
I long for you to delight
In the surprises of life
The smiles and shine
Melting the ice
It wouldn't be hard no
I'm not gonna worry about today
You know I can't control what happens anyway
I pray my reaction to be full of loving thought
Compassion in action
Like being taught to be
Hopeful (Hopeful)
It won't always be this way no no
Hopeful
Even in the midst of pain
Hopeful (Hopeful)
Because it's never too late
To be hopeful (Hopeful)
Faithful (Faithful)
Grateful (Grateful)
Hopeful (Hopeful)
Faithful (Faithful)
Grateful (Grateful)
Hopeful (Hopeful)
Faithful
Grateful
Come on come on come on
Hopeful
Faithful
Grateful
Hopeful
Faithful
Grateful
The song "Hopeful" by the African Children's Choir contains a powerful message about holding onto hope and faith even in difficult times.
The opening lines of the song express a desire for someone to truly see and understand the singer's inner feelings and emotions. They long for their heartbeats to be heard, as if they carry a message within them. This can be interpreted as a plea for empathy and connection, wanting someone to truly understand and relate to their experiences.
The wish to hold hands and feel electricity symbolizes a desire for a genuine and electrifying connection with others. It represents the longing for deep, meaningful relationships and the feeling of being alive through the power of human connection. The singer's hope for the listener is for them to choose to become hopeful themselves, emphasizing that hope is a conscious decision and a positive mindset to adopt.
The second verse of the song expresses a broader aspiration to overcome fear and hatred without resorting to violence. The singer wishes for a world where fear is eliminated and where acts of love and kindness can replace hatred. They also express a longing for people to look up to the heavens, seeking solace and comfort in times of weariness. The emphasis on actions rather than mere words reinforces the idea that true change comes from actively engaging and living out the values we believe in.
The final verse of the song encourages letting go of worries about the present and accepting that we cannot control all that happens in life. The singer instead focuses on their own reactions, hoping to respond with love, compassion, and thoughtfulness. They emphasize the power of actions and advocate for teaching and encouraging others to be hopeful, faithful, and grateful.
Overall, the lyrics of "Hopeful" convey a message of resilience and optimism. They encourage listeners to choose hope, faith, and gratitude in the face of adversity, recognizing that life is ever-changing and that the power to change lies within ourselves. The song serves as a reminder to be aware of our actions, to strive for empathy and understanding, and to actively contribute to creating a better world.
Line by Line Meaning
Wish you would look me in the eye and see
I desire for you to truly see and understand me by making direct eye contact.
I wish you could hear the heart beat
I wish you could listen to the rhythm and emotion that pulses within me.
Beating a message inside me
Conveying a message that resonates deeply within my being.
I wish you could hold my hand
I desire for you to experience the powerful connection and bond that can be formed through physical touch.
To know electricity
To understand the electric energy and vitality that exists within me.
My wish for you
I hope that you can find it within yourself
Is to choose to be
To make the conscious decision to be
Hopeful (Hopeful)
To have hope, to believe in brighter possibilities
It won't always be this way
The current circumstances will not persist indefinitely
Even in the midst of pain
Even when surrounded by suffering and hardship
Because it's never too late
Because there is always an opportunity
To be hopeful (Hopeful)
To choose hope and optimism
Faithful (Faithful)
To remain steadfast and loyal
Life is gonna change
Life will undergo transformation
Wish we could remove fear
I desire for us to eliminate fear
From every lie
From every deception and falsehood
Wish we could cut away hatred
I wish we could eradicate hatred
Without resorting to a knife
Without resorting to violence and harm
Wish we could view the heavens
I wish we could gaze at the celestial wonders above
For the weary tonight
Especially for those who are tired and burdened
Why talk the talk
Why only speak empty words
When you could walk that walk
When you have the ability to take real action
Oh, oh and be hopeful (Hopeful)
Oh, oh and choose hope and optimism
It won't always be this way uh uh
The current circumstances will not persist indefinitely, no no
Because it's never too late
Because there is always an opportunity
I long to describe the inspired divine
I yearn to express the profound and divine inspiration
Living inside where we're all alive
Existing within each of us, where our true essence resides
All alright
Where everything is okay
All alike
Where we are all similar and equal
I long for you to delight
I yearn for you to take great joy
In the surprises of life
In the unexpected and delightful moments that life brings
The smiles and shine
The expressions of happiness and radiance
Melting the ice
Thawing the coldness and barriers between us
It wouldn't be hard no
It would not be difficult, I assure you
I'm not gonna worry about today
I am not going to be concerned about the present moment
You know I can't control what happens anyway
As you know, I have no control over the unfolding events
I pray my reaction to be full of loving thought
I sincerely hope that my response will be filled with compassionate and caring intention
Compassion in action
Demonstrating compassion through tangible deeds
Like being taught to be
Similar to being instructed or guided on how to be
Faithful (Faithful)
To remain steadfast and loyal
Grateful (Grateful)
To have deep appreciation and thankfulness
Come on come on come on
Encouraging and requesting for enthusiastic participation
Hopeful
To have hope, to believe in brighter possibilities
Faithful
To remain steadfast and loyal
Grateful
To have deep appreciation and thankfulness
Hopeful
To have hope, to believe in brighter possibilities
Faithful
To remain steadfast and loyal
Grateful
To have deep appreciation and thankfulness
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind