In honor of WAVE’s first birthday and thanks to one of our newest and quickly becoming a favorite feminist blogger, WAVE is excited to invite all of you to participate in our newest Call to Action.
This month, we are joining with Jena (blogging at Like Unto Eve) to brainstorm and write the lyrics to a new song intended to become an anthem for Mormon feminists.
Our LDS Hymn Sisters in Zion began in a similar way. Originally published in the Women’s Exponent, the leadership of the Relief Society requested that readers submit their original verses for consideration to be included in the hymn. You are familiar with the three verses in our current hymnbook, but did you know that you can find up to 10 recorded verses?
Finding inspiration from scriptures in the Book of Mormon, Jena has given us a start to this new hymn: complete with meter and melody. Please join with us to add to these verses and see the beautiful music we can create together.
Jena writes:
About a week ago I was driving home from somewhere or another and thinking about something I wrote in a recent blog post :
It’s time for us to “arise from the dust, my sisters, and be women, and be determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things, that we may not remain in captivity.” Indeed, “Awake, my sisters; put on our armor of righteousness. Shake off the chains with which we are bound, and come forth out of obscurity, and arise from the dust.” (Likened from 2 Nephi 1:21, 23, Also reference The Book of Morma)
I started humming and in a few minutes I had the rough idea for what turned into an anthem. I could hear a snappy, staccato rhythm and a unison chorus of women’s voices.
Awake and arise, my sisters,
Awake and arise, my friends!
Arise from the dust (Come shake off your dust?)
For labor we must.
It’s time for our work to begin.
Awake and arise, my sisters,
Awake and arise, my friends!
Come shake off your chains
Of heartache and shame
It’s time for oppression to end.
Other ideas came and went and were written down and altered, and while [I think] they’re great, they’re just one woman’s perspective. My vision for this anthem is 5-10 verses (they’re short after all) encompassing a much broader and more inclusive scope. I’d like to have a variety of perspectives and subjects covered in the name of unity and understanding. I want there to be something that just about everyone can identify with as a call to action in life
So I’m opening it up to the audience! Compose your own verse(s) and submit them for consideration.
Meter: 87558
Rhyme scheme: ABCCB
To hear the tune, visit this link on youtube: “Awake and Arise” tune (Only those with the link can access, so feel free to pass it along).
The first two lines don’t have to be the same as the verses above.
Submissions are open until October 7th. Together, Jena and the WAVE board will be deciding on the final draft and announce a decision Friday, October 14th. Winners will get co-authorship credit and the opportunity to participate in recording if desired. Submissions will be accepted at likeuntoeve (at) gmail (dot) com.
Jena’s ideas definitely ranks as brilliant. I’ll see if I can come up with anything to add. I re-wrote the old folks song “I though I saw Joe Hill last night” for Counterpoint a few years ago, to make the point that despite what some folks thing Mormon feminism hadn’t died. This is a far better idea and much more inspirational. Three cheers and an enduring hymn for many years for Jena!
This is a fantastic CTA! I’m going to write a post about it on Exponent.
Thank you, Jena, for this great idea and great tune.
Holy crap! Thank you, Caroline! I just read the post (which was overall fabulous!) and YES, I am totally willing to push back the deadline, even all the way back to Halloween to give people plenty of time.
Okay, I just have to say, I love that tune. I love the song. I love it, I love it. I love it.
I love the Awake and Arise. I have a thought for a verse:
Awake and Arise My Sisters, let our voices be heard, and lets take a stand Awake and arise my friends.
or something like that. I think its fine if it was pretty short, shorter is actually easier to memorize, and it’s an anthem. If we wanted something else we could have a creed.