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LUELLA HATCHER, HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS
"A CHARGE TO KEEP I HAVE"

MUSICS OF ALABAMA:
A COMPILATION

Luella Hatcher of Orrville, near Selma, does not own a hymnal but sings, from memory, hymns she learned in childhood. She was born in 1930 in Westgreen, Alabama, 20 miles from Eutaw, and as a young girl joined the Salem Primitive Baptist Church near Aliceville, a congregation belonging to the Sipsey River Association. There she learned to sing hymns in the "Dr. Watts" style by listening to her father, a deacon, and other men in the church.

"Moaning" or "Mourning" hymns are often sung during the devotional session at the beginning of a worship service. Hymns of this type are commonly known as "Dr. Watts" in Alabama. The term "Dr. Watts" is derived from Isaac Watts (1674-1748), an Englishman who is an important figure in Protestant hymnody. Albeit, he did not write "A Charge to Keep I Have."

"A Charge To Keep I Have" is one of the more popular "Dr. Watts" hymns and may be heard in both Missionary and Primitive Baptist African American services, and in other events of worship in Alabama. The song text is found in the National Baptist Hymn Book #89. The book directs the hymn to be sung to the tune "Boylston," and gives the poetic form to be S. M. or "Short Meter," syllabic form of 6-6-8-6 for each verse. The melismatic (highly ornamented) melody sung in this example, while it is fixed in the hearts of those who sing the hymn, may or may not relate to the tune of "Boylston" specified by the National Baptist Hymn Book.

For more information see Joyce Cauthen's article "Singing 'Dr. Watts'" in the publication In the Spirit: Alabama's Sacred Music Traditions for more information on Luella Hatcher and concise details of this genre of singing. (For more information on metered hymns and Issac Watts click here)

"A Charge to Keep I Have" is a traditional song lead by Luella Hatcher and sung by her family, friends and members of Mt. Mariah Primitive Baptist Church in Orrville, Alabama. The text was written by Charles Wesley (1707-1788). It was recorded by Steve Grauberger with acoustic mixing by Dan Gainey at the "In the Spirit Concert" held May 13, 1995 at the Gadsden Amphitheater in Gadsden, Alabama.

A Charge to Keep I Have

A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify;
A never dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky.

To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfill:
O may it all my powers engage,
To do my Master's will!

Arm me with jealous care,
As in thy sight to live;
And O, thy servant, Lord, prepare,
A strict account to give!

Help me to watch and pray,
And on thyself rely,
By faith assured I will obey,
For I shall never die.

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