Sabbath Songs: Jesse Dixon’s special talent from the Lord

Koot van Wyk (DLitt et Phil; ThD) Visiting Professor, Department of Liberal Education, Kyungpook National University, Sangju Campus, South Korea, Conjoint lecturer of Avondale College, Australia

This is a hymn by Mary Baker and Horatio Palmer dating to 1874 and is based upon the history of the words of Mark 4:37-39.

Jesse Dixon (12 March 1938---26^th of September 2011) from San Antonio, Texas, is one of the most talented gospel singers at the turn of the millennium. He had this special style that he would combine his ministerial background with music and turn the hymn into a narrator’s performance. The way it works is that the normal song is with classical rhythm kept in the conventional way by the audience or chorus or group with him, but that he steps out of this conventional “box” and on the side, on top of it, under it, whispers, add words, like a coach encouraging the singers, begging them, asking them, seeking response from them. The result is always wonderful since all musicians, including some famous Adventist singers (Manuel Escorcio) in that audience, all could appreciate his ministerial narrative direction of the hymn. The hymn is of course given gospel additions, namely repetition for effect. Peace be still is repeated over and over again until his monologue or narrative comes to completion. Jesse act out his singing and steps forward to be the audience and chorus on stage’s director. Even if there is a director like the famous William Gaither, Jesse takes over the directing and becomes the main director since it is a ministerial function that leads people to contemplate, reflect and approach the moment of worship with the Almighty.

Link:

YOUTUBE: Source:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSBPhGa8QD0

Song:

Master, the tempest is raging!

Master------the temp-e-s-t ------is raging
The billows are tossing high!

Oh, the billows-------are tossing---------high!
The sky is o’ershadowed with blackness,

The sky--------is o’ershadowed- with blackness
No shelter or help is nigh;

Oh, no shelter- or help---------is nigh
Carest Thou not that we perish?

Carest--------Thou not-------that we p-e-e-e-erish?
How canst Thou lie asleep,

How can we lie------how can You lie there---asleep
When each moment so madly is threat’ning

It feels like each moment-------so madle-e-ey-----is threat’ning
A grave in the angry deep?

A grave-a grave-a gra-a-ve------in the angry deep

Refrain:
The winds and the waves shall obey Thy will,

Get up Jesus because-------shall obey Thy
Peace, be still!

All You got to say peace------------Oh------peace be still
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea,

Whether the wrath------storm tossed sea---
Or demons or men, or whatever it be,

It can be demons----or evil men----whatever will it be
No waters can swallow the ship where lies

No waters----can swallow----the ship----where lies
The Master of ocean, and earth, and skies;

The Master-----of ocean, ooooooooh and skies
They all shall sweetly obey Thy will,

Woooooow-
Peace, be still! Peace, be still!

He will say---I just want to hear Him say it-peace be still
They all shall sweetly obey Thy will,

The a-a-all-----
Peace, peace, be still!

-------God will give you peace, He wanna give you peace, He will give you peace

peace, be still!

If you will---

peace, be still!

In the midnight hour

peace, be still!

You can get out on your knees

peace, be still!

And get up by your bed

peace, be still!

Only Jesus

peace, be still!

You wanna peace?

peace, be still!

You wanna do it?

peace, be still!

When you feel lonely

peace, be still!

There is Someone Who got perfect-perfect peace, perfect peace

peace, be still!

Wait’n there for you

peace, be still!

All you got to do is say Jesus

peace, be still!

I’ve got peace

peace, be still!

I’ve got peace

peace, be still!

W-o—o-o-o-w I’ve got peace

Dear God

Also us seek peace and we want to hear Your voice saying: Peace be still. Do Your will in our lives to calm the angry waves in our souls today. Amen.