Sweet Honey in the Rock was founded in 1973 by Bernice Johnson Reagon who formed the group out of the strongest singers from a vocal workshop she was teaching with the D.C. Black Repertory Company. The name of the group comes from a religious parable that tells of a land so rich that when rocks were cracked open, honey flowed from them.
The music of Sweet Honey in the Rock challenges its listeners with songs on topics including motherhood, spirituality, freedom, civil liberties, domestic violence, and racism.
Over the years, more than twenty individuals have lent their voices to Sweet Honey in the Rock. Beginning as a quartet, Sweet Honey in the Rock is now comprised of six African American women (including a professional American Sign Language interpreter who accompanies the group on concert tours). The ensemble tackles difficult five-part harmonies and composes much of their own music.
Sweet Honey in the Rock has received several Grammy Award nominations, including one for their children's album Still the Same Me which received the Silver Award from the National Association of Parenting Publications. They won a Grammy in 1989 in the category of Best Traditional Folk Recording for their version of Leadbelly's "Grey Goose" from the compilation album Folkways: A Vision Shared.
Testimony
Sweet Honey In The Rock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And warlike
And strong
Like only some show
And there's sad like
And madlike
And had
Like we know
And by my heart be I woman
And by my eyes be I open
And by my hands be I whole
They say slowly
Brings the least shock
But no matter how slow I walk
There are traces
Empty s___es
And doors and doors of locks
But by my life be I spirit
And by my heart be I woman
And by my eyes be I open
And by my hands be I whole
You young ones
You're the next ones
And I hope you choose it well
Though you try hard
You may fall prey
To the jaded jewel
But by your lives be you spirit
And by your hearts be you women
And by your eyes be you open
And by your hands be you whole
Listen, there are waters
Hidden from us
In the maze we find them still
We'll take you to them
You take your young ones
May they take their own in turn
But by our lives be we spirit
And by our hearts be we women
And by our eyes be we open
And by our hands be we whole
The Sweet Honey in the Rock's song "Testimony" opens with contrasting ideas of divinity and violence. These concepts apply to human beings as well as to their understanding and interpretation of the world around them. The lyrics suggest that people are capable of expressing different aspects of themselves such as happiness, anger, or pain. However, the chorus emphasizes a sense of unity and completion: "by my life be I spirit, and by my heart be I woman, and by my eyes be I open, and by my hands be I whole". The repetition of the phrase strengthens its meaning and encourages listeners to embrace their wholeness.
The second verse of the song introduces a new perspective. It highlights the inevitability of imperfection and the importance of perseverance in spite of setbacks. The image of "empty s___es and doors and doors of locks" implies that the journey towards being whole is challenging and has many obstacles. However, the message of the song is to keep striving to achieve one's true self. The third verse is addressed to the younger generation, encouraging them to learn from their elders and to make wise choices. There's a cautionary note about the influence of society, but the chorus reminds us that the power to be whole is within each person.
Overall, the song "Testimony" by Sweet Honey in the Rock emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself. The lyrics offer a message of hope, perseverance, and faith that listeners can embrace as they navigate the complexities of life.
Line by Line Meaning
There's godlike
There are those who seem divine
And warlike
And those who love conflict
And strong
And those who exude strength
Like only some show
But these qualities are not always apparent
And there's sad like
And there are those who are inconsolable
And madlike
And those who are filled with rage
And had
And those who have experienced hardship
Like we know
Like we all do in life
But by my life be I spirit
But I am defined by my spirit and life force
And by my heart be I woman
And by my heart and femininity
And by my eyes be I open
And by my ability to see and perceive
And by my hands be I whole
And by my ability to engage and act
They say slowly
People say that taking things slowly is less shocking
Brings the least shock
And that gradual change is less disruptive
But no matter how slow I walk
But even if I move slowly
There are traces
There is still evidence
Empty s___es
Of things that once were present but are now gone
And doors and doors of locks
And many barriers and obstacles in the way
You young ones
Youthful people
You're the next ones
Are the future
And I hope you choose it well
And we hope that they make wise choices
Though you try hard
Even if they make an effort
You may fall prey
They may still become victims
To the jaded jewel
To society's tendency to be cynical and insincere
Listen, there are waters
Listen, there are opportunities and resources
Hidden from us
That we have not yet discovered
In the maze we find them still
But even though it is difficult to navigate
We'll take you to them
We are willing to lead and share them
You take your young ones
And the next generation must do the same
May they take their own in turn
So that each successive generation can continue to grow and develop
But by our lives be we spirit
But we are also defined by our inner selves and vitality
And by our hearts be we women
And by our emotional centers and gender identities
And by our eyes be we open
And by our perceptiveness and willingness to learn
And by our hands be we whole
And by our capacity for action and fulfillment
Contributed by Hunter B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@helenacorrea6620
The L Word brought me here, souch a moving scene and this song together!!!!!!!! OMG
@rozenaxsax5133
This wonderful song is by Ferron. I'm lucky to say that in my life I have seen both Sweet Honey and Ferron perform live. Where would we be without such great women to lift up our hearts and souls? I thank them for their great gifts.
@stephanieharville3869
The L Word brought me here.
@lairatenca
me too!!
@TheAlouette87
lol me too!
@helenailijas7473
Me too
@rebeccasanny1317
Same
@nordicswain
Hi there! Me too!
@xxtinachristina6174
Beautiful song. Heard it on the end credits of the L word.
@2sawhorses532
Ferron, and Sweet Honey, changed so many lives. Ferron and Sweet Honey changed the air wherever they sang and still do, still clean the air, letting us breathe clear again.