Wasteland of the Free

In 1996 Iris DeMent released The Way I Should, an album containing ”Wasteland of the Free” a blunt indictment of the right-wing political and social agenda dominating in the US. As Richard Phillips reports, “ Iris DeMent explained that “Wasteland of the Free” was a difficult song to perform because it was so direct. “But I can’t keep quiet about these things,” … Continue reading Wasteland of the Free →

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms is a hymn published in 1887 with music by Anthony J. Showalter and lyrics by Showalter and Elisha A. Hoffman. Showalter said that he received letters from two of his former pupils saying that their wives had died. When writing letters of consolation, Showalter was inspired by the phrase in the Book of Deuteronomy 33:27 "The eternal God is … Continue reading Leaning on the Everlasting Arms →