An actress, singer, talk show host, and author, the multi-talented Reese first started singing in church in her hometown of Detroit when she was six years old. By the age of 13, she was touring with gospel great Mahalia Jackson; then, at 18, she formed the Meditation Singers and became the first performer to bring gospel music to the casinos of Las Vegas. Reese expanded her musical repertoire as a vocalist with the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra and began recording albums, with such hits as "Don't You Know" and "And That Reminds Me" in the 1950s. She appeared extensively as a guest on the top television variety series, logging more than 20 appearances in one year on The Ed Sullivan Show on the CBS Television Network. Reese was nominated for a Grammy Award as Best Female Soloist in Gospel Music in 1987.
Tapping into her other skills, she was host of a television talk show in 1969-1970, then began guest-starring in such series as Sanford and Son, The A-Team, Crazy Like a Fox and Picket Fences. She starred in the CBS Network series Charlie & Co. and The Royal Family. Reese's current projects include a new album based on her 27-city tour with her revue, "Some of My Best Friends Are the Blues," as well as song on the Touched By An Angel Soundtrack. Her best-selling autobiography, "Angels Along the Way," is published by G.P. Putnam's Sons. Reese also starred in the telefilms Emma's Wish, with Joanna Kerns, and The Secret Path, with Ossie Davis.
Brand New Day
Della Reese Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Changin' by leaps and bounds
It started up in the bigger cities
And it's spread to the smaller towns
And the people began to smile at people
They’d never even seen
And when Jeremiah woke me up this morning
It’s a brand new day
It's brand new way
Yeah, it’s a brand new day
It's brand new way
Mother called father on the telephone
Because she was upset
She said, "The boy left home, naked this mornin’
All he took was the TV set"
And then the sister picked up the extension
And she said, “He’s just doin’ his thing”
And then the father hung up on the mother
And all the children began to sing
It’s a brand new day
Doin' in a brand new way
Mama, it’s a brand new day
We're doin' in a brand new way
We gotta put our heads together
And see where we go from here
We gotta fight for what we believe in
'Cause there’s somethin' in the air
It’s a brand new day
We're doin' in a brand new way
Mama, it’s a brand new day
We're doin' in a brand new way
Twenty million shadows stormin' at the gates
How can we be surprised
With the image of their fallen kings
Reflected in their eyes
And the twenty million tongues are shoutin’ now
It's only heard by a precious few
But the years of night are gonna pass forever
When the sun comes shinin’ through
On a a brand new day
We're doin' in a brand new way
It’s a brand new day
We're doin' in a brand new way
Mama, it’s a brand new day
And you have had your way
Mama, how we're doin' in a brand new way
And you have had your way
It's a brand new day
We're doin' in a brand new way
We're gonna do it our way
The song "Brand New Day" by Della Reese is about a dream of a world changing for the better. The first verse describes how the dreamer saw the world changing by leaps and bounds, with people from bigger cities spreading a message of love and unity to those in smaller towns. The dreamer wakes up feeling inspired and ready to live in the new world that they had dreamed about. The second verse shifts gears and tells a story of a family's disagreement about a son who has left home with just a TV set. Despite the disagreement, the children begin to sing about the new day that is dawning and how they are going to do things their own way. The chorus of the song repeats the message that it is a brand new day and that things are going to be done in a new way.
In a larger sense, the song reflects the civil rights and social justice movements of the 1960s, an era in which Della Reese was an active participant. The song highlights a message of hope and unity, while also acknowledging the challenges that people face in bringing about change. The song encourages listeners to come together and fight for what they believe in.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night I had a dream that the world was changin'
The singer had a dream about the world changing
Changin' by leaps and bounds
The changes were happening quickly and dramatically
It started up in the bigger cities
The changes began in larger urban areas
And it's spread to the smaller towns
The changes then spread to smaller, more rural areas
And the people began to smile at people
People started being friendly and welcoming to strangers
They’d never even seen
People were friendly to strangers they had never met before
And when Jeremiah woke me up this morning
The singer woke up from the dream when Jeremiah woke them up
I was ready to live that dream
The artist was excited and prepared to see the world change for the better
Mother called father on the telephone
The mother called the father
Because she was upset
She was upset about something
She said, 'The boy left home, naked this mornin'
The boy left home with nothing but the clothes on his back
All he took was the TV set'
He only took the TV with him
And then the sister picked up the extension
The sister picked up the phone extension to listen in on the call
And she said, 'He’s just doin’ his thing'
The sister defended the boy's actions
And then the father hung up on the mother
The father ended the call with the mother
And all the children began to sing
The children started singing, perhaps as a way to cope with the tense moment
We gotta put our heads together
We need to work together
And see where we go from here
We need to figure out what to do next
'Cause there’s somethin' in the air
There is a sense of change or possibility
Twenty million shadows stormin' at the gates
There are many people clamoring for something
How can we be surprised
It's not surprising that there are so many people demanding change
With the image of their fallen kings
People are likely looking for new leaders to represent them
Reflected in their eyes
Their desire for a new leader or change is clear from their expressions
And the twenty million tongues are shoutin’ now
Many people are speaking up for change
It's only heard by a precious few
The message may not be reaching everyone
But the years of night are gonna pass forever
The current, difficult times will eventually subside
When the sun comes shinin’ through
A new, brighter future is on the horizon
Mama, it’s a brand new day
The artist is addressing their mother, saying it's a new day
And you have had your way
The mother may have had her own struggles in the past
And how we're doin' in a brand new way
The singer is reviewing how they are doing things differently now, perhaps in response to changing times
We're gonna do it our way
The singer and their group are going to create change using their own methods
It’s brand new way
A new way of doing things
Doin’ in a brand new way
Doing things in a new way
Yeah, it’s a brand new day
Again emphasizing that it's a new day, with new possibilities
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: AL KOOPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind