This song is built around the traditional gospel song, "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" (circa 1941) that has been covered by many artists and is perhaps the most frequently played number in the hymn and dirge section of traditional New Orleans jazz funerals. It alludes to the biblical passage from 2 Corinthians 5:7 which states, "We walk by faith, not by sight."
That background is important because a young Van growing up in Hyndford Street in the early 50s would have been surrounded by gospel influences in the culture of that time and nearby churches and Gospel Halls. See link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_a_Closer_Walk_with_Thee
Van uses the original tune to form the opening and closing stanzas and in the middle he narrates what is clearly his experiences of growing up of what was going on around him and this is accompanied with gospelesque backing vocals to the original tune. His timing is immaculate and precise as he finishes just in time for the final chorus. There are parallels with this song and 'On Hyndford Street' and I love the line which epitomises that period, "Not rushing, being". Fabulous to reminisce and take us all back to the days when the world made more sense. I could go on and on and on.
This song is built around the traditional gospel song, "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" (circa 1941) that has been covered by many artists and is perhaps the most frequently played number in the hymn and dirge section of traditional New Orleans jazz funerals. It alludes to the biblical passage from 2 Corinthians 5:7 which states, "We walk by faith, not by sight."
That background is important because a young Van growing up in Hyndford Street in the early 50s would have been surrounded by gospel influences in the culture of that time and nearby churches and Gospel Halls. See link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_a_Closer_Walk_with_Thee
Van uses the original tune to form the opening and closing stanzas and in the middle he narrates what is clearly his experiences of growing up of what was going on around him and this is accompanied with gospelesque backing vocals to the original tune. His timing is immaculate and precise as he finishes just in time for the final chorus. There are parallels with this song and 'On Hyndford Street' and I love the line which epitomises that period, "Not rushing, being". Fabulous to reminisce and take us all back to the days when the world made more sense. I could go on and on and on.