Kwanzaa

This week on Three Tune Tuesday, Boneapart has a birthday with a lighthearted nod to the passage of time before shifting into a thoughtful, Kwanzaa-season exploration of two remarkable early spiritual recordings. After the celebratory 1911 Birthday Serenade, the episode moves into Marian Anderson’s 1923 performance of Deep River, a piece whose themes of faith, unity, and shared purpose resonate with several principles of Kwanzaa. The journey continues with the 1902 Dinwiddie Colored Quartet rendition of Steal Away, an intimate and historically rich glimpse into the spiritual tradition’s roots. Together, the selections form a quietly powerful reflection on resilience, community, and the ways music carries meaning across generations.

Lyrics

Deep River

Deep River,
My home is over Jordan.
Deep River, Lord.
I want to cross over into campground.

Deep River.
My home is over Jordan.
Deep River, Lord,
I want to cross over into campground

Oh, don’t You want to go,
To the Gospel feast;
That Promised Land,
Where all is peace?

Oh, Deep River, Lord,
I want to cross over into campground.