Henry L. Carrigan Jr.’s recent book Fifteen Spirituals That Will Change Your Life is a delightful quick tour of fifteen hymns and spirituals. Carrigan’s guidance through these songs will educate and delight you. His book also will make you want to track down various versions of songs you have heard before and new ones you have not heard.
Carrigan, a musician and journalist who writes for No Depression, examines many of the most popular religious songs, including “Amazing Grace,” Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” “How Great Thou Art,” “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?,” and “I’ll Fly Away.” I also learned about a few songs I had not heard before.
For each song, Carrigan tells the reader about the origin of the song. In the cases where there are known composers, he informs us about the writers. Then he provides a deeper discussion of the lyrics and the meaning of the songs, often suggesting different versions you should hear. Throughout, he often reflects on his own personal experiences with each song. Finally, he ends each chapter with a “Reflection” section, providing guidance to religious readers who want to use the songs to find a closer connection to their faith.
The well-written book is for believers, non-believers, and for all music lovers. One does not have to be religious to enjoy this book about some of our most beautiful folk songs. Atheists may skip over the short “Reflection” sections, but even they will find insight in the suggestions there. One tip: To better understand an extremely familiar song like “Amazing Grace,” find a new version to hear.
I enjoyed learning more about songs I knew. I knew the story that a former captain of a slave ship wrote “Amazing Grace,” but I did not know all of the details about the history of that song or other songs I knew.
I especially enjoyed Carrigan’s suggestions about versions of the songs to check out. Among his insight, he led me to a lovely Tina Turner version of one of the highlighted spirituals.
The book may lead you to other discoveries. I had never heard Andraé Crouch‘s “If Heaven Was Never Promised to Me,” and found it to have some of the most loving lyrics about one’s relationship with God.
The book, unfortunately, does not include complete lyrics to the songs, which I assume was a rights issue. But Carrigan quotes from the lyrics in his discussion of the songs, giving the reader some insight into the words. The purpose of his book, though, is to get you to listen to the songs, and it will send you following Carrigan’s suggestions.
In short, Fifteen Spirituals That Will Change Your Life may lead you to some life-changing discoveries. But even if it does not meet the title’s boast, the book is a delightful pleasurable and informative read about some great songs.
What is your favorite spiritual? Leave your two cents in the comments.
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. But Johnny Cash’s version from his 1996 
album gets me every time.
(1968) album. The excellent album is largely credited as a major catalyst for the country-rock movement, and “
album. More recently, it appears on Shindell’s live album, Courier (2012).
