say amen somebody!

when i was little i woke up to a gospel choir every sunday morning. "say amen somebody" was my mom's favorite record. on the cover were three large black women with big hair, dressed in purple choir gowns, singing their hearts out to the Lord. that same cover was blown up to poster size and hung in every house i've ever lived in. i don't think that moms often hang posters in their homes as it's not one of pottery barn's decorative techniques. but my mom alway put that "say amen somebody" poster right where anyone and everyone could see it.

while the record played my mom would clap and sing around the house:

"nobody told me that the road would be easy. but i can't believe he brought me this far to leave me,"

"the storm is passing over...the storm is passing over...the storm is passing oo-ooo-ver, hallelu,"

"jesus dropped the charges (beat beat beat) jesus dropped the charges!"

these were just some of her favorites. and these were the ones most often played, not just on sundays, but during the week as well. for many years "say amen somebody" was just a common sound in our house and i never really thought much about it

until my mom gave that record to me. the purple ladies with big hair now live in my record collection. my mom bought the cd. (nobody tell her that records are way cooler and sound much better...)

now, "say amen somebody" is a familiar sound in MY house. but the sound is different these days. the words hold more meaning than they did 15-20 years ago. i think that i am finally starting to hear what my mom heard in those songs. you see, when you're little you don't realize how much relief the words "the storm is passing over" can bring. hearing that "jesus dropped the charges" can make you weep with new found freedom. and if jesus can drop the charges, then i better be able to drop them too. and when the road isn't easy, it's good to know that he didn't bring me down that road just to leave me there.

my mom would be happy to know that "say amen somebody" is probably my favorite record. she'd laugh to see me clap and sing around my house just like she did. and i think she'd nod knowingly when i decided to spin those familiar tunes on a wednesday. --sn

ps--i don't want the poster mom :)