This one time I went to I went to a Catholic school and on occasions such as Easter our entire school would gather for singing practice before our Good Friday service. I loved Good Friday service because a.) Wahoo for any kind of classroom disruption what so ever and b.) I loved those church songs. Not because I really paid any attention to the words, but because Mrs. Q was our singing coach and per her instruction, louder was always better. She wanted this school of Catholic singing children BELTING our music to the Lord.
To this day, all it takes is for me to sing one line of ANY of the songs we grew up practicing and no matter where my little sister is in the house, she will echo back the next line.
A particular favorite of ours is called “Were You There? (When They Crucified My Lord)”…
Were you there when they crucified my Lord? (repeat 3 times)
Were you there when they nailed him to the cross (repeat 3 times)
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb (repeat 3 times)
Were you there when the stone was rolled away (repeat 3 times)
Ohhhh Ohhh oh Ohhhh…sometimes….it causes me to TREMBLE…TREMBLE…TREMBLE (repeat 3 times)
I remember singing the song, thinking how completely morbid it was to s-l-o-w-ly walk us kids through each stage of his death in order to gear up and celebrate his resurrection. It was just…so…SAD.
Naturally I’ll be singing it this afternoon with my sister when the family gathers for Easter Brunch. It will be one of many we don’t miss rehearsing on Easter Sunday. I like to envision brunch will go something like this:
(video here)
And when we return from a long day of egg hunting and candy eating, I plan on watching my favorite family movie. Or maybe just the happy half of it:
(video here)
HAPPY EASTER SUNDAY!!! Unless you don’t believe Jesus died for your sins, was buried and rose again in which case…GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN I’M PRAYING FOR YOUR SOUL!
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Glad to know you know Jesus too! It was on an Easter Sunday (about 51 years ago, I think) that I trusted Jesus as my Savior and so today is very special for me because I also celebrate my second birthday–being born again into God’s family.
This song is one that is in our puppet presentation that we’ll be doing at church today for the kids called “Nic at Night.” Happy Easter to you! He is risen!
I remember singing this song when I attended Catholic School as well! Happy Easter He is risen indeed!!!!
I remember that song. I learned it furtively, on my own during private piano time. It was in our denomination’s hymnal, but it was in the section for those who were in the other wing of our denomination. I liked it even if I wasn’t colored. Great post.
I, too, went to Catholic school and loved Mass as a way of getting out of class. In High School, we got to give each other ashes on Ash Wednesday (the person in front of you turned around and gave you yours and so on). You should have seen our foreheads. We also sang “Let It Be” by the Beatles. When I hear that, it takes me back.
We still sing “Where Were You” in church and we are getting ready to head out. Most likely singing it within the hour!
Happy Easter to all!
I love that you prayed for the sinners! Happy Easter to you, too!
We didn’t do this one this year. And the last time we did it, it didn’t resemble the Cash family that much! Where did Johnny go in the middle of that?! He had me worried for a minute.
This song brings back memories for me but not for the same reasons. We would attend Good Friday mass and the priest would stand alone. He would have his back to the congregation and he would read this as if it were the perspective of Mary. It was the only mass I ever rember paying attention too. Sadly that service died with him and I would have loved to have taken my teen to it. Thanks for them memories.
Happy Easter to you too!
Also. I know all the words to the Sound of Music because I used to listen to the cd all the time EXCEPT to this day I haven’t actually seen the movie. I should remedy that, right?
I watched “The Sound of Music” today with the teens that I work with. I didn’t really realize it, but I was singing/mouthing the words to every single song…and including some dialogue! The kids just looked at me and thought I was a little cray cray. It was great:)
LOVE Sound of Music. Happy Easter my friend. Please pray hard for my soul. ;) xoxo
That song always gets to me.
I was a Catholic school kid too and I can remember if we didn’t sing loud enough in practice or in Mass, then we had to walk the playground at recess singing…and our teacher better be able to hear all of us. LOL.
Ha! Love it! Glad there is plenty of singing in your world. So good for the soul! Happy Easter, Mama Kat!
The Johnny Cash/Carter Family video brought tears to my eyes. I love the old timey stuff and our music group still sings that song at church. I used to make the rest of my lab crew at my last job listen to my Johnny Cash CDs. Also, The Sound of Music is my all time favorite musical as well. It think it is cool how it is just a story about kids when you are young and when you get older, you realize it is a love story. Hope you had a wonderful Easter!