It’s a song that elementary school children learn (at least we used to learn it–who knows what happens now) and people reflexively sing often without thinking about the lyrics. As was typical of his music, Ray Charles offered an interpretation of the song that was and is piercing and beautiful. On par with the power and majesty of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus, I can’t listen to this without getting chills, particularly the end. “Oh Lord. I thank you lord.”
The Local Paper 