The Lord doesn't like us to be dead. Be alive. Sometimes I dance to the glory of the Lord, because He said so.
Mahalia JacksonRead
Anybody singing the blues is in a deep pit yelling for help.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that those who express sorrow through music are seeking assistance and understanding.
Mahalia Jackson's quote highlights the emotional depth behind expressing sadness or struggle through music, particularly the blues. It conveys the idea that when someone sings about their pain and despair, they are not merely entertaining, but rather reaching out for support and connection, often from a place of deep vulnerability.
In practice
During a discussion on the significance of blues music in expressing emotional struggles.
The Lord doesn't like us to be dead. Be alive. Sometimes I dance to the glory of the Lord, because He said so.
The old Devil gets mad when you're trying to do good. Pray that God will move the stumbling blocks.
It is easy to be independent when you've got money. But to be independent when you haven't got a thing, that's the Lord's test.
Faith and prayer are the vitamins of the soul; man cannot live in health without them.
Blues are the songs of despair, but gospel songs are the songs of hope.
When you sing gospel you have a feeling there is a cure for what's wrong.
If I'd known white people were going to buy my last album, I never would have recorded it.
Rap is supposed to be about keeping it real and not relinquishing your roots in the community. Without that, it's just posturing. Somebody who claims to speak for the 'hood don't need no private jet.
I don't rely on my figure to sell records.
I wrote my first song at 12 and remember someone asking, 'What were you going through at 12 that you could write about?' I get what you're saying, but 11, 12, 13 were the hardest years of my life. You learn everything. You learn how horrible things feel.
I'm saying: to be continued, until we meet again. Meanwhile, keep on listening and tapping your feet.
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