Gather Us In hymn

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I think separately. It’s more inclusive as I imagine there are some poor people who are haughty.
 
The melody of Gather Us is a sea shanty. It’s a “work song” that is done with a driving rhythm that helps people to keep working.

I love it!

I think sea shanties are especially suited for Mass, as the liturgy is “the work of the people.”
 
Nah. My sister has been sending me YouTube videos of Army marching cadences. Few of them are suitable for CAF.
 
Since it was a favorite of our late priest, it’s now stuck in my head.
 
Eliza10 said:
It is certainly a less-bad Marty song. I love 23rd Psalm. Marty’s “Shepherd Me” is the 23rd with a little “extra me”… that is what makes me also not want to sing it. But it is certainly less offensive.
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He has an Advent song I love and use often. I think one of the problematic areas of music to today is the use of staff musicians for publishers. This is somewhat unavoidable with everyone so protective of royalties. Staff musicians are cheaper. The problem with this is that they have to crank out too many songs. Some may be great, but most are either mediocre or obviously forced by some artificial publishing deadline. Artistry gives way to production. We would be better served without the 600+ hymn hymnal, and allow only that which is best to remain. Let time and popularity filter out that which is good.

Everyone has their opinion about music, and their own tastes. Likewise, most people want to push their opinions and tastes on other. I do not understand this.
 
I never really had a problem with the song in itself. (I like the Gordon Lightfoot song too) But to me as a hymn during mass it just represents how much we have made worship on Sunday about ourselves. We, we, we, us, us, us. Enough already.

I think it just represents a lot of the soft theology, felt banners and banalized music I grew up with in general. As much as I like a nice spiritual folk song to do housework and wash dishes to, I believe the mass calls for something more sacred.
 
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Peeps said:
The melody of Gather Us is a sea shanty. It’s a “work song” that is done with a driving rhythm that helps people to keep working.

I love it!

I think sea shanties are especially suited for Mass, as the liturgy is “the work of the people.”
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Indeed, nothing says “we’re at Calvary” quite like a sea shanty!
Also, “liturgy” means “work (done by God) on behalf of the people”. Your version is oversimplified, but sadly seen everywhere.
 
Jesus was doing the greatest work ever on Calvary–redeeming the world.
 
Peeps said:
Jesus was doing the greatest work ever on Calvary–redeeming the world.
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Yes indeed. Why do you think that a sea shanty is appropriate music for His sacrifice on the cross?
 
Seek Ye First is licensed by Calvary Chapel, which is an offshoot of Baptist
 
That is one of my favorites, though I can’t use it during Lent.
 
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The style of the song reminds me of Protestant church camp when I was a kid. The music seemed suited for children at a camp in the outdoors of the mountains.

I think the lyrics are too inwardly focused. It uses us and we a lot.

Another reason I don’t like it is that is the same cheap trick movie directors use. The lyrics of the work describe too much what is going on. So this is used as the ‘entrance hymn’ because Mass is starting and the words are ‘gather us in’. It is just like how Martin Scorsese uses music in his films. He finds a song with lyrics that describe in some way what is going on. And he makes the music really loud. After a while you start to realize that it is a lazy trick to play on emotions.
Godfollower said:
Well, let’s not go down that road, or someone might point out that you can sing the lyrics of “Amazing Grace” to the tune of “Theme from Gilligan’s Island.”
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If you have a metrical index of tunes then you can sing Amazing Grace to a long list of different tunes.
 
Heck, the haughty hymnody of Haugen is now the Mass of Sing Praise now used in our parishes. This included the non-licit Gloria with refrain. Always sung, but never recited. Once the pastor was asked why we would use a Mass composed by a non-Catholic, he cited the example of Franz Gruber’s Silent Night. Oddly, we didn’t sing that one at all last Christmas.
 
Gordon Lightfoot performed a concert near me this weekend. However, the lineup of “sung prayer” at Mass was not quite so stellar, nor memorable.
 
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