Religious Rock Top Ten: Day By Day (#5)

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@FourWalls (61328)
United States
November 27, 2022 10:41am CST
The Thanksgiving weekend is winding down, and tomorrow everyone will go back to work and shop online instead of work. But that’s just one of the holidays to celebrate this time of year. Most of them have a religious theme, so in honor of that I’m counting down favorite hits that have a faith-based lyrical content. I’ve referenced this a number of times before, so you knew it would have to show up eventually. And here it is! #5: Day By Day - Godspell I have mentioned that there have been a number of religious rock operas, but the “big two” that most people remember are Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell. That could be because both had successful Broadway runs, original cast recording albums, and movies based on the plays. Oh, and they both had successful hit singles. For Jesus Christ Superstar it was “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” which was done both by Yvonne Elliman (long before “If I Can’t Have You”) and Helen Reddy. With Godspell, the hit was “Day By Day.” The lead singer on the song was Robin Lamont, but the performance credit was just the play/movie name. The song is quite simple, a prayer — part of the dying prayer of St. Richard of Chichester — repeated as the music goes from quiet to rocking. The song was recorded by others and became hits in other countries as well. Day By Day Written by Stephen Schwartz (Based on the prayer of St. Richard of Chichester) Recorded by Godspell From Godspell, 1972 Three things I pray:
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10 people like this
9 responses
@DWDavis (25820)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
4 Dec 22
I was fortunate enough to see Godspell at Summer Stock theater when I was a teen. I did some work for the theater owner, and he got me a ticket for 3rd row/aisle seat, right side. It is still the most incredible live show I have ever attended.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (61328)
• United States
4 Dec 22
Wow, that’s quite a compliment!!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (61328)
• United States
4 Dec 22
@DWDavis — wow! That gave me goosebumps! No wonder it has remained with you all these years!
@spiderdust (14744)
• San Jose, California
27 Nov 22
Would you believe I wasn't allowed to watch this or Jesus Christ Superstar as a kid because they were considered too irreverent?
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (61328)
• United States
28 Nov 22
Oh, I can believe it. Evangelicals were publishing books as recently as the early 90s about the evils of rock music and “backmasking.”
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14744)
• San Jose, California
28 Nov 22
@FourWalls Even earlier than that! I remember people visiting my school in the 80s to talk about backmasking and how Satan was luring us away with backwards messages hidden in music.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (168441)
• United States
27 Nov 22
That is a good tune. Godspell was very popular when I was in my senior year of HS. Our school put it on as a play, and also we saw it in a dinner theatre.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (168441)
• United States
28 Nov 22
@FourWalls I think it depends on the area. I am fairly certain that the HS here put on Jesus Christ Superstar.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (61328)
• United States
28 Nov 22
I’ll bet that couldn’t happen today, a school putting on Godspell as a class play.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (72520)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
28 Nov 22
I know this really well but was never a favorite of mine,
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (61328)
• United States
29 Nov 22
The repetition can turn some people off. I think that’s why the music is so varied.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (153146)
• United States
28 Nov 22
Love it. I like this countdown.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (61328)
• United States
28 Nov 22
There’s still a country song to come….. Glad you’re enjoying this.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203478)
• Nashville, Tennessee
27 Nov 22
Nice to hear your favorites. Enjoy your Sunday.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (61328)
• United States
27 Nov 22
I’m doing so. I hope you have a good one as well! Watch the weather on Tuesday…might be stormy.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203478)
• Nashville, Tennessee
27 Nov 22
@FourWalls Thanks for the heads up.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323745)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Nov 22
I seem to know more of this series. I guess it's the era.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (61328)
• United States
28 Nov 22
That could be. Maybe these were more international hits, too.
1 person likes this
@Dena91 (15772)
• United States
28 Nov 22
Haven't heard this in a long time. My mother played it a lot when I was growing up.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (61328)
• United States
28 Nov 22
Hope it brings back good memories. Sometimes the simple prayers are the best.
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (115621)
• United States
27 Nov 22
annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd. . . NOPE
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (61328)
• United States
27 Nov 22
Annnnnnnnnnnnnd…okay! I think there’s one other that you will know (or at least have heard of).
1 person likes this