Like a Ship (American Singing Traditions, November 2022)

Performed at the Free Key Choir Debut concert, American Singing Traditions, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Oakland, CA on Saturday, November 20th, 2022.

Written by Pastor T.L. Barrett, originally performed by Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir

Solo by Cai Freeman
Arranged and conducted by Derek Sup

Just like a ship without a sail
But I’m not worried because I know we can take it
I know we can shake it

I search for please but I found pain
I look for sunshine but I found rain
And then look for my friends, but they walked away
Through all my sorrow you can hear me say
But I know we can take it
I know we can shake it
Don’t have no money
But we are a proud people

I’m just like a ship without a sail
We did our work today

Pastor T.L. Barrett recorded much of his output at churches in Chicago throughout the 70’s, where he is still an active pastor. Many famous Chicago musicians have been members of his congregations including members of Earth, Wind, and Fire and Donny Hathaway. A great fuel to his fire as a spiritual leader are the obstacles he overcame in his youth, which make the messages about perseverance all the more resonant. Growing up in Chicago, he was expelled from high school, though he claims he was pushed out of high school by his guidance counselor who told him that he would never amount to anything. He then moved to New York City where he held a job extracting glands from cadavers at Flushing Hospital, and also worked as a shoe shiner and pianist. He then obtained his pastorship and moved back to Chicago to focus on youth ministry, including the children’s choir that would be such an integral part of his famous recordings. His father is the cousin of Aretha Franklin’s father, C.L. Franklin, also a preacher, and they used to preach at each other’s churches until Franklin was shot and killed in his home. Barrett is very active politically and closely ties his theology with political engagement. He has worked closely with Reverend Jesse Jackson, and in his own congregation requires the members to provide a voter registration card before becoming a part of the church.

[johncoleman]

I'm not religious at all. I've just bought the original. If he had this choir. Fantastic

[bikdav]

I’m surprised that this song isn’t very popular with choirs.

[counselorsteinchen]

Wonderful, thank you so much pure wonder