I need to finish a non-blog writing project, so to help carve out the time for that, I’ll be taking a short break from our journey through Left Behind. That will resume next month, when we’ll begin on the third book in the series: Nicolae.
(Spoiler: He’s the Antichrist. Spoiler two: The third book doesn’t get any better.)
The unexpected surprise of Ashley Cleveland singing in the credits of the second Left Behind movie had me surfing YouTube for more from her, where I came across her fine rendition of “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.”
“Come Thou Fount” is a great old hymn, written by Englishman Robert Robinson in 1757 and usually sung to the lovely folk tune “Nettleton.” It’s one of those simple melodies that allows for endless variation. Those of us without much range can sing it well enough, while those whose voices can soar and float can take it almost any which way they like. And as with “Amazing Grace,” it has a theme of unshakable, redeeming love that transcends sectarian particularity.
That’s why I’m happy to see artists like Cleveland and Mumford and Sons performing this song as a kind of traditional standard, nudging it into the same musical space as “I’ll Fly Away” or “This Train” or “Hard Times Come Again No More.”
Mumford follows the arrangement recorded by Sufjan Stevens:
Here’s a nice, straightforward take by Fernando Ortega, and pop arrangements sung by Amy Grant and Leigh Nash. Martha Scanlan has a quiet, brooding version, but I can’t find a video. And here’s Bill Mallonee singing his song “Double Cure,” which incorporates the melody of “Come Thou Fount.” (Oops — the “fountain” imagery in that song threw me off. The melody there is from another great old hymn, “All Hail the Power of Jesus Name.”)
Somewhere, surely, there must be a recording of Johnny Cash singing this song, but I’ve not heard it or heard of it. Same for Willie Nelson and Emmylou Harris.
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