The group was formed by Roy Crain, who had launched his first quartet, which sang in a jubilee style, in 1926 in Trinity, Texas. In the early 1930s, after Crain moved to Houston, he joined an existing group on the condition that it change its name to "The Soul Stirrers." Among the members of that group was R.H. Harris, who soon became its musical leader.
Harris, also from Trinity, Texas, brought several changes to the Soul Stirrers that affected gospel quartet singing generally. He used a falsetto style that may have its antecedents in African music, but which was new to the popular jubilee singing style of the time. He pioneered the "swing lead", in which two singers would share the job of leading the song, allowing virtuoso singers to increase the emotional intensity of the song as the lead passed between them. That innovation led the Soul Stirrers, while still called a quartet, to acquire five members; later groups would have as many as seven but still consider themselves "quartets", which referred more to their style than their number.
The Soul Stirrers made other important changes in those years: ad-libbing lyrics, singing in delayed time, and repeating words in the background as both a rhythmic and emotional support for the lead singers. The Soul Stirrers dropped the "flatfooted" style of jubilee quartets before them and expanded their repertoire from spirituals and traditional hymns to the newer gospel compositions. The group also loosened the rigid arrangements that jubilee quartets had favored to permit individual singers within the group more space for individual development.
In 1936 Alan Lomax recorded the Soul Stirrers for the Library of Congress's American music project. They later moved to Chicago, where they broadcast a weekly radio show. Their nationwide touring gained them an even larger audience, as they delivered the emotional fervor that popular jubilee groups, such as the Golden Gate Quartet, did not.
The Soul Stirrers signed with Specialty Records, where they recorded a number of tracks, including "By and By" and "In that Awful Hour". Harris, the most popular member of the group, soon quit, however, in order to form a new group. He was replaced by the then-unknown Sam Cooke.
Musicians and critics today recognize Sam cooke as one of the founders of soul music, and as one of the most important singers in soul music history. He has been called "the king of soul" by many, and while some may dispute this title, Sam Cooke's legacy is an extensive one and his impact on soul music is undeniable. He had 29 Top 40 hits in the U.S. between 1957 and 1965. He is therefore seen by many as "the creator" of the genre. Major hits like "You Send Me", "Chain Gang", "Wonderful World" and "Bring It on Home to Me" are some of his most popular songs.
Cooke was also among the first modern black performers and composers to attend to the business side of his musical career. He founded both a record label and a publishing company as an extension of his careers as a singer and composer. He also took an active part in the Civil Rights Movement, using his musical ability to bridge gaps between black and white audiences.
Peace In The Valley
Sam Cooke And The Soul Stirrers Lyrics
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There will be peace in the valley for me, I'll pray
Oh, no sadness, no sorrow
No more trouble, there will be
There will be peace in the valley for me
Whoa, you know the bear will be gentle
You know the wolf's gonna be so tame
Oh yes
I know the horse from the wild
Will be led by a little child
And I'll be changed from this creature that I am
Well, o well, o well, o well, o there will be peace, child
In the valley, for me
One day, o there will be peace, child
In the valley, for me
I pray
Oh, no more sadness, no sorrow
No more trouble, there will never be
There will be peace, in the valley
For me
O, there will be peace, child
In the valley, for me
One day, whoa, there will be peace, child
In the valley, for me, one day
Whoa, no sadness, no sorrow
No more trouble, there will never be
Yes, there will be peace, yea in the valley
Yea for me
The song “Peace In The Valley” by Sam Cooke with the Soul Stirrers is a gospel song with serene melody and uplifting lyrics that speak of hope and assurance. The lyrics convey the idea that despite the hardships and struggles of life, there will be a peaceful day to come. The repetition of "there will be peace in the valley" and "for me" indicates a sense of personal assurance that the singer will see a more peaceful life beyond this earthly existence.
The second verse seems to describe an almost surreal, idealized version of the natural world, where predators and prey exist in peace, and children lead wild horses. The third and final verse returns to the theme of personal assurance, with the singer voicing their belief that peace will come, without sadness or sorrow, without trouble or strife. The song ends with a final assertion that the peace in the valley is not just a possibility, but a certainty, and that it will come for them.
Overall, the lyrics suggest an unwavering faith in a brighter future, where peace is attainable for all, and the singer's own struggles will be left behind. It is a message of hope and comfort, often found in gospel music.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, there will be peace in the valley, one day
One day, there will be peace in the valley
There will be peace in the valley for me, I'll pray
I pray that there will be peace in the valley for me
Oh, no sadness, no sorrow
There will be no sadness or sorrow
No more trouble, there will be
There will be no more trouble
There will be peace in the valley for me
I will have peace in the valley
Whoa, you know the bear will be gentle
The bear will be gentle
You know the wolf's gonna be so tame
The wolf will be tame
Mighty lion, you will lie down with the lamb
The lion and lamb will lie down together
Oh yes
Indeed
I know the horse from the wild
I know that the wild horse
Will be led by a little child
Will be led by a child
And I'll be changed from this creature that I am
I will be transformed from my current state
Well, o well, o well, o well, o there will be peace, child
There will be peace in the valley
In the valley, for me
I will have peace in the valley
One day, o there will be peace, child
One day, there will be peace in the valley
In the valley, for me, I pray
I pray I will have peace in the valley
Oh, no more sadness, no sorrow
There will be no more sadness or sorrow
No more trouble, there will never be
There will never be any more trouble
There will be peace, in the valley
There will be peace in the valley
For me
I will have peace
O, there will be peace, child
There will be peace in the valley
In the valley, for me
I will have peace in the valley
One day, whoa, there will be peace, child
One day, there will be peace in the valley
In the valley, for me, one day
One day, I will have peace in the valley
Whoa, no sadness, no sorrow
There will be no sadness or sorrow
No more trouble, there will never be
There will never be any more trouble
Yes, there will be peace, yea in the valley
There will be peace in the valley
Yea for me
I will have peace
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: THOMAS A. DORSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Isaac Nussbaum
The great Paul Foster singing second lead. RIP my brother.
Lorene Brock
How I enjoy sam cook singing.
Crystal Marie Yates
My God the guy who comes in at 1:21 is amazing!