Peace In The Valley
Chris Barber & Sister Rosetta Lyrics
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But I must go alone
Till the lord comes and calls, calls me away, oh yes
Well the morning's so bright
And the lamp is alight
And the night, night is as black as the sea, oh yes
There will be peace in the valley for me, some day
There'll be no sadness, no sorrow
No trouble, trouble I see
There will be peace in the valley for me, for me
Well the bear will be gentle
And the wolves will be tame
And the lion shall lay down by the lamb, oh yes
And the beasts from the wild
Shall be lit by a child
And I'll be changed, changed from this creature that I am, oh yes
There will be peace in the valley for me, some day
There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray
There'll be no sadness, no sorrow
No trouble, trouble I see
There will be peace in the valley for me, for me
The first verse of Chris Barber & Sister Rosetta's song Peace in the Valley describes weariness and the overwhelming feeling of being alone. The singer is tired, and despite feeling lonely, must continue to move forward until they are called away by the Lord. The second line of the verse emphasizes the inevitability of death and the idea that we must all face our mortality alone. However, the singer has an optimistic outlook, stating that eventually there will be peace in the valley for them.
The second verse takes a more hopeful tone as it portrays a utopia where animals and humans coexist peacefully. The image of a bear being gentle and a lion laying down beside a lamb symbolizes a world free of violence and danger. The use of the word "lit" when describing the animals implies that they will no longer be wild or aggressive, but rather, will be enlightened and gentle. The final line of the verse expresses the belief that the singer, too, will be changed from the "creature" they currently are, suggesting a transformation that leads to a better, more harmonious world.
Overall, Peace in the Valley explores themes of mortality, hope, and the desire for a peaceful existence. The song evokes a sense of longing for a utopia and serves as a reminder that no matter how difficult life may be, there is always hope for a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh well, I'm tired and so weary
I'm feeling very exhausted and fatigued.
But I must go alone
I know I have to journey through life by myself.
Till the lord comes and calls, calls me away, oh yes
I will continue on this path until the lord takes me away from this world.
Well the morning's so bright
The day has started and the sun is shining.
And the lamp is alight
The light shines from the lamp, illuminating the surroundings.
And the night, night is as black as the sea, oh yes
On the other hand, during the night, everything is dark like the bottom of the ocean.
There will be peace in the valley for me, some day
I believe that someday I will experience peace in this world.
There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray
I pray that the Lord will bless me with peace in my life.
There'll be no sadness, no sorrow
At that time, there will be no sadness or grief.
No trouble, trouble I see
There will be no more problems or obstacles to overcome.
There will be peace in the valley for me, for me
I will finally, personally experience peace in my life.
Well the bear will be gentle
In this time of peace, even the wildest of animals will be meek and mild.
And the wolves will be tame
Even wolves, which are usually fierce, will be gentle and easy to approach.
And the lion shall lay down by the lamb, oh yes
The most ferocious animal, the lion, will rest beside the weakest creature, the lamb.
And the beasts from the wild
All the untamed animals of the world.
Shall be lit by a child
Even the wildest creatures will be calm and docile in the presence of a child.
And I'll be changed, changed from this creature that I am, oh yes
In this peaceful world, I will be transformed from my current state.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Tratore
Written by: Thomas A. Dorsey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind