“God is with you – wherever you may go and no matter what life brings.” Joshua 1:9
By Shannon Pederson
It was 73 years ago this month that the musical number “You’ll Never Walk Alone” was written for the Broadway musical Carousel. In 1968, 23 years later, the song was recorded by Gerry and the Pacemakers. It knocked the Roy Orbison hit, “Blue Bayou” off the top spot on the music charts. It stayed at the number one single spot for five weeks.
It was 1945 when the score of the musical Carousel was written by American composer Richard Rogers; Oscar Hammerstein II added the lyrics. Even if you’re not familiar with the Broadway musical Carousel (and Hollywood movie in 1956), you’ve likely heard the uplifting message and melody of the song "You’ll Never Walk Alone."
Its roots in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical extend far beyond the story of love and loss for the characters in Carousel. It has also been adopted as a soccer anthem in Europe. Sung at every Liverpool match and all matches in Ireland and Germany, it is also the seventh most popular song at weddings and funerals in the UK (United Kingdom).
From 1964 through 2010, Jerry Lewis concluded the annual Jerry Lewis Labor Day MDA Telethon by singing this song. A few of the other performers who have recorded “You’ll Never Walk Alone” are Frank Sinatra, Sergio Franchi, Renee Fleming, Queen, Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland, Elvis Presley, Doris Day, Johnny Cash, and Andy Williams.
It has provided hope and inspiration in other ways as well. The Feb 23, 2015, issue of Guidepost Magazine (a faith-based publication) had a story about a woman who was struggling with the recent loss of her husband. The story follows.
It was 73 years ago this month that the musical number “You’ll Never Walk Alone” was written for the Broadway musical Carousel. In 1968, 23 years later, the song was recorded by Gerry and the Pacemakers. It knocked the Roy Orbison hit, “Blue Bayou” off the top spot on the music charts. It stayed at the number one single spot for five weeks.
It was 1945 when the score of the musical Carousel was written by American composer Richard Rogers; Oscar Hammerstein II added the lyrics. Even if you’re not familiar with the Broadway musical Carousel (and Hollywood movie in 1956), you’ve likely heard the uplifting message and melody of the song "You’ll Never Walk Alone."
Its roots in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical extend far beyond the story of love and loss for the characters in Carousel. It has also been adopted as a soccer anthem in Europe. Sung at every Liverpool match and all matches in Ireland and Germany, it is also the seventh most popular song at weddings and funerals in the UK (United Kingdom).
From 1964 through 2010, Jerry Lewis concluded the annual Jerry Lewis Labor Day MDA Telethon by singing this song. A few of the other performers who have recorded “You’ll Never Walk Alone” are Frank Sinatra, Sergio Franchi, Renee Fleming, Queen, Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland, Elvis Presley, Doris Day, Johnny Cash, and Andy Williams.
It has provided hope and inspiration in other ways as well. The Feb 23, 2015, issue of Guidepost Magazine (a faith-based publication) had a story about a woman who was struggling with the recent loss of her husband. The story follows.
Outside my window the sun was shining and the birds were singing. Inside things were different. It had been a year t that spring Sunday since my husband, George, had passed away, and I was still finding it hard to face the world alone.
I remembered one afternoon following an intense chemo treatment, George came home and collapsed onto the couch. The 1956 movie Carousel was on TV. In the film a man returns from heaven to visit his wife and daughter.
“You’ll Never Walk Alone,” he sang to them. “At the end of the storm/there’s a golden sky/And the sweet silver song of the lark.” George reached across the couch and took my hand as we watched together. Those words suddenly held special meaning for both of us.
And yet, I do walk alone, I told God on the way to church. Or at least that’s how I felt.
After communion, I returned to my seat just as the soprano began to sing: “When you walk through a storm/hold your head up high.” The melody was vaguely familiar. But this was no hymn I’d ever come across. No, these were the opening lines of “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
Our church had never played a commercial song before, from as far back as I could remember. But today, for me, God had something very special in mind. Life’s carousel spun round through all seasons, but I would never ride it alone.
I remembered one afternoon following an intense chemo treatment, George came home and collapsed onto the couch. The 1956 movie Carousel was on TV. In the film a man returns from heaven to visit his wife and daughter.
“You’ll Never Walk Alone,” he sang to them. “At the end of the storm/there’s a golden sky/And the sweet silver song of the lark.” George reached across the couch and took my hand as we watched together. Those words suddenly held special meaning for both of us.
And yet, I do walk alone, I told God on the way to church. Or at least that’s how I felt.
After communion, I returned to my seat just as the soprano began to sing: “When you walk through a storm/hold your head up high.” The melody was vaguely familiar. But this was no hymn I’d ever come across. No, these were the opening lines of “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
Our church had never played a commercial song before, from as far back as I could remember. But today, for me, God had something very special in mind. Life’s carousel spun round through all seasons, but I would never ride it alone.
“You’ll Never Walk Alone”
When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark.
At the end of a storm
There's a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark.
Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown.
Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone.
You'll never walk alone.
Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone.
You'll never walk alone.
"Be strong. Be brave. Be fearless. You are never alone." Joshua 1:9