Shepp was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on May 24th, 1937, but raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he studied piano, clarinet and alto saxophone before focusing on tenor saxophone (he occasionally plays soprano saxophone). He is best known for his passionately Afrocentric music of the late sixties which focused on highlighting the injustices faced by people of African descent. He is also known for his 60's work with the New York Contemporary Five with co-founder Don Cherry and Shepp's collaborations with his "New Thing" contemporaries, most notably Cecil Taylor and John Coltrane, but also Roswell Rudd and Bobby Hutcherson.
Considered a jazz great, saxophonist Archie Shepp recorded albums like Poem For Malcolm and Live in Antibes for labels like Verve and Impulse. He was active in academia at SUNY Buffalo as a professor of African American Studies and the University of Massachusetts Amherst as a professor of music. He played with other notable musical radicals including Frank Zappa and provided the musical score to the movie Gotta Dance and is featured on the 1984 Wilebski's Blues Saloon Festival DVD.
Come Sunday
Archie Shepp Lyrics
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Lord, dear Lord above, God almighty,
God of love, please look down and see my people through.
I believe that God put sun and moon up in the sky.
I don't mind the gray skies
'cause they're just clouds passing by.
Heaven is a goodness time.
A brighter light on high.
Do unto others as you would have them do to you.
And have a brighter by and by.
Lord, dear Lord above, God almighty,
God of love, please look down and see my people through.
I believe God is now, was then and always will be.
With God's blessing we can make it through eternity.
Lord, dear Lord above, God almighty,
God of love, please look down and see my people through.
Archie Shepp's "Come Sunday" is a deeply spiritual piece that expresses a prayer for divine assistance and guidance through life. The lyrics communicate a belief in God's power and love, and a request for God to help His people overcome the difficulties of life. The singer starts out by addressing the Lord and asking Him to look down on the people and help them get through their struggles. The use of the phrase "God of love" suggests that the singer believes that God is a compassionate and caring force that is willing to help those in need.
The next verse involves the singer sharing their belief in God's power and creation. They speak of the sun and moon being put into the sky by God and express an acceptance of gray skies and clouds because they know that these things are fleeting and temporary. The sentiment expressed here is one of faith in the cycles of nature and the notion that God has a plan for everything. The following lines speak of Heaven as a time of goodness and light, which suggests an afterlife of bliss and joy.
The song continues with a call to live by the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do to you." This idea is a central tenet of many religions, and it underscores the importance of treating others with respect and kindness. The final verse emphasizes the belief in God's presence in the world and throughout time. The singer expresses a belief that, with God's help, we can make it through eternity. Overall, "Come Sunday" reflects a deep faith in God and the power of prayer and underscores the belief that God can help us overcome life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh
Exclamation to express a deep sense of emotion.
Lord, dear Lord above, God almighty,
God of love, please look down and see my people through.
Prayer to God asking for help and guidance to overcome the struggles faced by the singer's people.
I believe that God put sun and moon up in the sky.
Expression of faith in God's creation of the natural world.
I don't mind the gray skies
'cause they're just clouds passing by.
Acceptance of temporary difficulties in life, as they will eventually pass and make way for better times.
Heaven is a goodness time.
A brighter light on high.
Belief in an afterlife that is full of goodness and light.
Do unto others as you would have them do to you.
Golden Rule - treat others the way you want to be treated.
And have a brighter by and by.
Hope for a better future.
I believe God is now, was then and always will be.
With God's blessing we can make it through eternity.
Strong conviction in God's omnipresence and the power of His blessings to help overcome any obstacle on a spiritual level.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind