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Africa (William Billings Cover)

from Diamonds and Plastic by Reuben Walton

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about

I decided to cover this after hearing The Innocence Mission cover it on the soundtrack to "Awake My Soul & Help Me to Sing" (The Original Soundtrack). Billings (b. 1746) wrote Africa some time before 1770 and included it in his first published hymnbook, The New England Psalm Singer. Later he made revisions for the version included in his The Singing Master's Assistant (1778) and still further, very minor, revisions for Music in Miniature (1779). It is the latter two versions that are performed today. The name of the hymn is, as far as can be determined, completely arbitrary, and reflects a practice of Billings's day to give names specifically to the tunes of songs. Billings also wrote an "Asia" and an "America"; more often, he adopted the names of (arbitrarily chosen) New England towns to label his tunes.

lyrics

Now shall my inwards joys arise,
And burst into a Song;
Almighty Love inspires my Heart,
And Pleasure tunes my Tongue.

God on his thirsty Sion-Hill
Some Mercy-Drops has thrown,
And solemn Oaths have bound his Love
To show'r Salvation down.

Why do we then indulge our Fears,
Suspicions and Complaints?
Is he a God, and shall his Grace
Grow weary of his saints?

credits

from Diamonds and Plastic, released March 30, 2011
Vocals by Reuben Walton
Vocal production by Reuben Walton
Guitar by Reuben Walton
Programming by Reuben Walton
Produced by Reuben Walton
Recorded by Reuben Walton
Mixed by Reuben Walton
Edited by Reuben Walton

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all rights reserved

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Reuben Walton Falmouth, Massachusetts

Reuben Walton is a singer/songwriter and music producer based in Falmouth, MA. He is a graduate of Musicians Institute in Hollywood's Independent Artist program and their Electronic Music Production program, as well as UMass Lowell’s Music Business undergraduate program.
In 2019 he put out a self-titled EP working with producer AVLI Music and is now regularly releasing new music. ... more

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