But in fact they were one of the most popular and influential gospel groups of the 20th century, The Soul Stirrers were pioneers in the development of the quartet style of gospel and, without intending it, in the creation of soul music, the secular music that owed much to gospel.
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.
One of the first singles with Cooke was "Jesus Gave Me Water", a major hit that brought the Soul Stirrers massive acclaim. T.L. Bruster was replaced by Bob King and, briefly, Julius Cheeks. When Cooke left in 1957 to pursue a career in pop music, the Soul Stirrers' preeminence in gospel was essentially over, though a brief period of success with Johnnie Taylor sustained the group for a time. Various line-ups continued touring and recording throughout the last half of the century to a small and devoted following. The group — and all of its members — was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 as one of rock's Early Influences, and into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000.
Shine on Me
Soul Stirrers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see.
'Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear,
And Grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come.
'Tis Grace hath brought me safe thus far
And Grace will lead me home.
The lyrics of Soul Stirrers's song Shine on Me delves deep into the Christian faith and its tenets. The song encompasses the theme of divine grace that transforms and saves a human being from a state of misery and sin. The first verse expresses gratitude to God for his grace by painting a vivid picture of the transformation of a wretched sinner's life. The word "amazing" used in the beginning of the verse is used to emphasize the wonder and awe of the grace bestowed by God. The phrase "saved a wretch like me" highlights the helpless state of sin that the singer was in before God's grace intervened to rescue him.
The second verse describes how grace instilled fear in his heart and eventually relieved it. Fear here refers to a sense of reverence for the divine, and the line suggests that without fear, true grace cannot be appreciated. The hour I first believed refers to the moment when the pain of the heart was first acknowledged, creating a sense of grace that is precious to the soul experiencing it. The final verse offers hope to the soul by showcasing the long journey through adversities and dangers that have already been successfully traversed through God's grace, and how it will continue to lead them onwards to their eventual home - with God.
Line by Line Meaning
Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound
The grace of God is beyond amazing and sweet in sound
That saved a wretch like me!
God's grace saved me even though I was a sinner and unworthy of his mercy
I once was lost, but now am found
I was spiritually lost, but through God's grace, I have been found and saved
Was blind, but now I see.
I was spiritually blind and unaware of God's truth, but through his grace, I have gained sight and understanding
'Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear,
God's grace instilled in me a healthy fear and reverence for him
And Grace my fears relieved.
God's grace has also given me peace and relief from my fears
How precious did that Grace appear
The grace of God is incredibly valuable and priceless
The hour I first believed.
I experienced God's grace when I first believed in him and his love for me
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
Throughout my life, I have faced numerous challenges, struggles, and temptations
I have already come.
Despite those challenges, I have come a long way
'Tis Grace hath brought me safe thus far
God's grace has kept me safe and guided me to where I am today
And Grace will lead me home.
I trust that God's grace will continue to lead and guide me to my heavenly home
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: STEVY MAHY, MAEVA GALLI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chikkengrease
This is what I call singing with conviction!
@fncz
SWEET!!!! AMAZING harmonies and lead! WOW!!
@Sophisticatedwt
AMAZING GRACE....AMAZING SINGING!!!
@colleenhenry8022
love this version!
@soulman1950
Temptations listen to this.
@wp5656
Amazing song!!!
@goofygoalie31
Good God Almighty Soul stirring. My My My
@4AxeL5
Finaly i find it !!! great singers, they play in the movie " a song is born " with benny goodman, amstrong, tomy dorsey, and many more !
@peteremmert8551
About one year before Sam Cooke stepped in - It's nice to hear their early records, even when they're on Specialty Records, one of their most famous labels.
@ShayW125
Just listen at that BACKGROUND!!!!!!!