Spiritual Music by an Arkansas Native

I did not think that I would ever watch the remake of True Grit.   I did not even want to watch it because the original is one of my favorite movies.  How can you improve upon John Wayne?  What Arkansan wouldn’t feel a certain loyalty to Glen Campbell?  Who doesn’t think of Kim Darby and Little Blacky when True Grit is mentioned?  No.  I did not mean to watch this movie.   

For some strange reason, I decided to watch it tonight.  No reason really.  It popped up as recommended for me by Netflix, so I let it play. 

The music caught my attention more than the film.  When I heard “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,” I had to stop and listen.  Then I “rewound” it and listened again.  I know that voice singing this beautiful hymn.  I immediately thought of the music in Songcatcher, which is another one of my favorite movies.  I ran a quick Yahoo search and discovered that the beautiful and distinctive voice belongs to Iris Dement.  Another search confirmed that she also sang in Songcatcher. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6ArylRGWME

I was surprised to learn that Iris Dement is an Arkansan who was born in Paragould.  She has a several  albums, including one she did with John Prine.   She is popular enough to include international destinations in her current tour.  I think we need to get her back home to perform in the Fowler Center! 

“Leaning on on the Everlasting Love” is a good gospel song to sing around the house. 

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

• Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
  Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

• Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
  Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

• Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
  Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Here is one last song I found by Dement.  It was one of Nanny's favorite hymns. 




Iris Dement website and jukebox:  http://www.irisdement.com/biography.html