Emma
Dale Murphy Lyrics
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I have never seen a woman in my life,
Who would endure every species of fatigue and hardship,
From month to month and from year to year,
With that unflinching courage, zeal,
And patience, which she has ever done;
For I know that which she has had to endure
—She has been tossed upon the ocean of uncertainty—
And buffeted the rage of men and devils,
Which would have borne down almost any other woman.
Dale Murphy's song "Emma Narration" is a tribute to Emma Smith, the wife of Joseph Smith Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. The lyrics of the song are based on a quote by Lucy Mack Smith, Joseph's mother, who praised Emma for her extraordinary resilience and unwavering faith amidst the challenges and adversities she faced as a leader's wife.
The lyrics speak of Emma's endurance in the face of various obstacles, both from external forces and inner struggles. The metaphor of Emma being "tossed upon the ocean of uncertainty" and "buffeted the rage of men and devils" alludes to the turmoil and persecution that early members of the Latter Day Saint movement experienced, including the assassination of Joseph and the forced exodus from Nauvoo, Illinois. However, Emma's steadfastness and courage, as portrayed in the song, were said to be unparalleled among the pioneers of the movement.
Overall, "Emma Narration" is a tribute to a remarkable woman who played a pivotal role in the history of the Latter Day Saint movement. Through her resilience, Emma inspired many to endure and persevere despite the challenges of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Lucy Mack Smith said of her daughter in law, Emma:
This is a statement introducing Emma and her story, spoken by Lucy Mack Smith.
I have never seen a woman in my life,
Lucy Mack Smith suggests she has not met a woman like Emma before in her entire life.
Who would endure every species of fatigue and hardship,
Emma has endured different types of physical and mental exhaustion and trouble.
From month to month and from year to year,
This has been ongoing for a long time.
With that unflinching courage, zeal,
Emma has tackled these difficulties with a combination of bravery and enthusiasm.
And patience, which she has ever done;
Emma has also needed to be patient in this situation.
For I know that which she has had to endure
Lucy Mack Smith acknowledges that she herself knows the hardships Emma has faced.
—She has been tossed upon the ocean of uncertainty—
Emma has had to deal with a lot of unknowns and unpredictability in her life.
She has breasted the storms of persecution,
Emma faced persecution from others around her.
And buffeted the rage of men and devils,
Men and perhaps even supernatural entities have acted aggressively towards her.
Which would have borne down almost any other woman.
These situations would have been too much for most women to handle, but Emma was able to deal with them.
Contributed by Jordan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.