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Psalm 23: the Remixes

12:40 / 23.01.02

last night I found the beginnings I had made of translating the Psalm into my own version. I began again but did not do it all.

re-worded, perverted, inverted, reverent versions and revisions all welcomed.

the King James Version of it:

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

(although I considerthis rendition the definitive modernization.)

16:07 / 23.01.02

That link isn't working - is it to the Pastor John Rydgren version?

14:20 / 24.01.02

I did forget to say that I made up this version for magic purposes... y'know like a motto or a mantra.

[ 25-01-2002: Message edited by: Ria ]

18:06 / 24.01.02

quote:Originally posted by Ria:
I did forget to say that I made up this version for magic purposes... y'know like a motto.
http://www.wfmu.org/Comics/pastor1.htm

It needs an "l" at the end to work.

Like so: http://www.wfmu.org/Comics/pastor1.html

18:40 / 24.01.02

"He craves my face when it's ugly, man."

Grooooooovy...

14:39 / 25.01.02

You've GOT to hear the audio version. Complete with music.

So,

IT is my conductor, I need no power.
IT provides clear circuits, IT turns all switches on.
IT elevates me to a new valence, I spin in a true sphere for IT's sake....

somebody take it!

17:07 / 26.01.02

Oh, you kids.

I've never done a remix / reimagining of 23 myself, but I know dozens of different settings and translations (but then, I would, wouldn't I?). A few favorites, then, for inspiration and reflection, loike.

The public radio program Sound & Spirit did an entire episode on the 23rd psalm: the transcript and discography are worth looking at.

I'm especially fond of the translation found in The Scottish Psalter. first published in 1650 as a comprehensive attempt to translate all 130-odd psalms into regular rhymed, metrical English, so as to be more easily memorized. The translations have a rough, plain-spoken splendor... quote:The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want.
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green: he leadeth me
The quiet waters by.

My soul he doth restore again;
and me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
e'en for his own name's sake.

Yea, though I walk in death's dark vale,
yet will I fear none ill:
For thou art with me; and thy rod
and staff me comfort still.

My table thou hast furnishéd
in presence of my foes;
My head thou dost with oil anoint,
and my cup overflows.

Goodness and mercy all my life
shall surely follow me:
And in God's house for evermore
my dwelling-place shall be.These words have been set to several different tunes: my favorite setting is to Jessie Irvine's "Crimond" (click here to hear a cheesy MIDI version), which was used to deveastating effect in the film Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence.

17:09 / 26.01.02

Henry Baker translated the psalm as The King ofLove My Shepherd Is some time in the mid-19th cenury. It was set to the ancient Irish melody "St. Columba." The version we use is slightly altered—"Thee" becomes "You," and some of the archaic language is smoothed out... quote:The King of love my Shepherd is,
whose goodness fails me never;
I nothing lack if I am His, and He is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow,
with gentle care he leads me;
And where the verdant pastures grow,
with heav'nly food he feeds me.

Perverse and foolish I have strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
with You, dear Lord, beside me;
Your rod and staff my comfort still,
Your cross before to guide me.

You spread a table in my sight, Your saving grace bestowing;
And O what joy and true delight
from Your pure chalice flowing!

And so through all the length of days,
Your goodness fails me never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Your praise
within Your house forever.They sang this at Pricess Diana's funeral.

[ 26-01-2002: Message edited by: Jack Fear ]

17:13 / 26.01.02

Marty Haugen made a new version of the psalm in 1987, as Shepherd Me, O God. It's a little squishy, a little touchy-feely, but it's useful in the context of a Catholic Mass because it's written with a repeated refrain—makes for call-and-response between cantor and congregation... quote:Shepherd me 0 God, beyond my wants,
beyond my fears, from death into life.

God, is my shepherd, so nothing shall I want,
I rest in the meadows
of faithfulness and love,
I walk by the quiet waters of peace.

Shepherd me, O God, etc.

Gently you raise me
and heal my weary soul,
you lead me by pathways
of righteousness and truth,
my sprit shall sing
the music of your name.

Shepherd me, O God, etc.

Though I should wander
the valley of death,
I fear no evil,
for you are at my side,
your rod and your staff,
my comfort and my hope.

Shepherd me, O God, etc.

You have set me a banquet of love
in the face of hatred,
crowning me with love
beyond my power to hold.

Shepherd me, O God, etc.

Surely your kindness
and mercy follow me
all the days of my life;
I will dwell in the house of my God
forevermore.

Shepherd me, O God, etc.

17:15 / 26.01.02

Here's where we go off the map a little. In the live introduction to "The Valley," Jane Siberry reveals that the song is based on Psalm 23, which she said over and over as she sat vigil at her grandmother's death-bed... quote:I live in the hills
you live in the valleys
and all that you know
are these blackbirds

you rise every morning
wondering what in the world
will the world bring today
will it bring you joy
or will it take it away

and every step you take is guided by
the love of the light on the land
and the blackbird's cry

you will walk
you will walk
you will walk in good company

the valley is dark
the burgeoning holding
the stillness obscured by their judging

you walk through the shadows
uncertain and surely hurting
deserted by the blackbirds
and the staccato of the staff

and though you trust the light
towards which you wend your way
sometimes you feel all that you wanted
has been taken away

you will walk
you will walk
you will walk in good company

I love the best of you
you love the best of me
though it is not always easy
lovely? lonely?

you will walk
you will walk
you will walk in good company

the shepherd upright and flowing
you see... Obvious in retrospect, I suppose.

17:17 / 26.01.02

Last, and certainly least, is... umm... Pink Floyd. Amusing in a sophomoric way, I guess... quote:The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
He makes me down to lie
Through pastures green he leadeth me the silent waters by
With bright knives he releaseth my soul
He maketh me to hang on hooks in high places
He converteth me to lamb cutlets
For lo, he hath great power and great hunger
When cometh the day we lowly ones
Through quiet reflection and great dedication
Master the art of karate
Lo, we shall rise up
And then we'll make the bugger's eyes water.Sheep, of course, from the "Animals" album.

22:16 / 27.01.02

Jack Fear, you could work for Ellen Kushner (who hosts and created the "Sound and Spirit" show.)

thanx for the text of the Pink Floyd one which I could never heard it over the music.

I wondered if any interested could come up with your own versions and post them here.

[ 28-01-2002: Message edited by: Ria ]

01:36 / 29.01.02

Npw the question which we should all be asking is the following....

Thy rod and thy staff...

I would normally asume that somedoy's rd where their staff unless by "rod" they meant their, you know, staff.