Monday, February 1, 2021

"With God on Our Side"

In the line "The cavalries charged; the Indians fell" in "With God on Our Side," "fell" is sung with a descending melisma (G F), musically giving a sense of its meaning.

Obviously, the line "That Jesus Christ was betrayed by a kiss" is drawn from the Bible, probably either Matthew 26:48-49:  "48 Now the betrayer [Judas] had given them a sign, saying, 'The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.'  49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, 'Greetings, Rabbi!'  And he kissed him." or Mark 14:44-45:  "44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, 'The one I will kiss is the man.  Seize him and lead him away under guard.'  45 And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, 'Rabbi!"  And he kissed him."