Lent in BHM | "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" by T.A. Dorsey

 

"Take My Hand, Precious Lord" Woodcut by Kreg Yingst

" ... Precious Lord, take my hand.

Lead me home, let me stand.

Lord, I am tired, 

And I am weak, and I am worn.

Through the storm, through the night,

Lead me on to the Light ... "

+ Take My Hand, Precious Lord
By Thomas A. Dorsey

(1899-1993 A.D.)

As my family gets ready to watch the American classic film, Selma, again this weekend to honor Black History Month during the month of Lent, we will be considering these questions together with anyone who joins us:

+ What caused suffering in this story?

+ Who carried the cost

for someone else?

+ What sacrificial love provided healing

for what was broken or wrong?

Why watch this film and answer these questions during Black History Month and Lent? Because

Lent is meant to be
Jesus Church's springtime,
a time when,
out of the darkness of sin's winter,
a repentant, empowered people emerges.

In Martin Luther King Jr.'s life of repentance, empowerment, and emergence, as he sought to embody and endure the questions and answers to the considerations above, during his darkest moments, he would call up Mahalia Jackson and say,

"I need to hear 

the voice of the Lord."

And then Mahalia would begin to sing the "Father of Gospel Music," Thomas A. Dorsey's classic, "Take My Hand, Precious Lord." 

One of these dark-night-of-the-soul moments in MLK's life is captured in one of my favorite scenes in Selma (another being when MLK is in jail and his friend, Ralph Abernathy, reminds him of Jesus' words to "Look at the birds ... " in Matthew 6:26-27). To see these powerful scenes, watch Selma during Black History Month.

In the meantime, I encourage you to read the story below about why Dorsey wrote this song ...

"In a dark moment 

as this man called out to God in anger, 

God answered back, 

pouring into Dorsey a love song 

that would forever soothe the world."

The Story Behind, 

"Take My Hand, Precious Lord"

Thomas A. Dorsey, the son of a preacher, grew up in rural Villa Rica, Georgia, just west of Atlanta. He was raised on spirituals and hymns. Dorsey was also introducted to a cappella “sacred harp” singing, a choral four-part harmony separating treble, alto, tenor, and bass. His knowledge of these various African American musical art forms would prove inspirational when he turned to writing hymns.

The “Father of Gospel Music” started as a bluesman—“Georgia Tom”—making a name for himself as he banged away on the keyboard while Tampa Red picked guitar and sang. Their song, “It’s Tight Like That,” became a hit for the duo, selling more than 7 million copies. Then in the early 1920s, Dorsey would accompany Ma Rainey with his group, The Wild Cats Jass Band. But the spirituals called to Dorsey, and soon he formed a choir at Ebenezer Baptist Church at the request of Rev. James Smith.

Then a tragedy occurred. 

Dorsey's wife died in childbirth, 

and his newborn son died shortly after, 

leaving Dorsey devastated. 

He found solace, not in self-medication, 

but in returning to the spirituals 

that focused his heart on Christ. 

Thomas A. Dorsey described  

this moment in his own words.

After first breaking out into song

in the midst of mourning with friends,

later, sitting at his piano, 

Dorsey would compose what would become 

his most poignant and memorable song, 

“Precious Lord, Take My Hand.” 

" ... God can transform 

your pain into purpose ... 

You might be in your darkest hour right now, 

but Thomas Dorsey’s story teaches us 

to keep holding on. 

There is life after death ... "

Since its first recording by

the Heavenly Gospel Singers in 1937, 

"Precious Lord" has been published 

in 40 languages.

“Precious Lord” became a favorite hymn of Martin Luther King Jr., and he often requested that Mahalia Jackson sing it for him personally in his lowest moments, as well as at civil rights rallies and church services. It was, in fact, the last song King would request, standing with Jesse Jackson and others on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, just seconds before his assassination. Mahalia sang it at his funeral, and Aretha Franklin would sing it at Mahalia’s.

"Through the storm, 

Through the night,

Lead me on to the light

Take my hand, 

Precious Lord,

Lead me home."

During this season of Lent as we remember how the saints who came before us turned to Jesus and clung to these Gospel words sung through their darkest nights, may we also say:

"I want ‘Precious Lord.’ 

(Sing) it tonight."

Bonus Rendition:

+ BHP: Rev. Robert Jones,

"Take My Hand, Precious Lord"

When man sings a song

to God in heaven,

he sings a spiritual.

When he sings 

to earth and man,

he sings the blues.

Those tow things

kind of always go together.

With anticipation and joy,

Rev. Mike “Sully” Sullivan

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