The Great Awakening touched every sectionof the colonial domains of England in the New World—from northern-most NewEngland to southern-most Georgia. And its impact was enormous. Interestingly, this cultural and spiritual phenomenon was entirelydriven by grassroots evangelism and community cooperation, as Lawrence Tribble’slittle ditty, “Awaken,” illustrates.
I found this bit of verse at a Bostonlibrary about 20 years ago. It hadbeen tucked away in the back of a Revolutionary War era Bible, lost for over200 years.
The contemporary Christian music group,Leeland, has now set these lyrics to music for their upcoming CD, “The GreatAwakening.” I couldn’t be morepleased for a new generation to hear—and heed:
One man awake,
Awakensanother.
The secondawakens
Hisnext-door brother.
The three awakecan rouse a town
Byturning
Thewhole place
Upsidedown.
The many awake
Canmake such a fuss
It finallyawakens
Therest of us.
One man up,
Withdawn in his eyes,
Surelythen
It multiplies.
