Song Lyric Sunday was created by Helen Vahdati from This Thing Called Life One Word at a Time. For complete rules or to join in the fun, click here.
The theme for Song Lyric Sunday this week is “speak.”
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For me, this week’s theme brings to mind the iconic scene in The Color Purple where this song is performed.
Shug Avery and the juke-joint crowd are having a bluesy good time near the riverbank. Not too far away, a church service is being held.
The pastor of the church? Shug’s father, who disowned her years before for her fast living and wild ways.
Shug can’t get through her song because the strains of the hymn from the church are calling to her. Shug heads for the church singing, Maybe God is trying to tell you something, with the crowd close at her heels.
The scene culminates inside the church with an embrace between father and daughter…an embrace of forgiveness on both sides.
The camera moves in on Celie’s face. She no longer lives with the abusive Mister, but seeing her friend reconcile with her family makes Celie long for her own.
With the song continuing to play across the scenes, we see a changed Mister do what he should have done years ago…fix what he broke.
He retrieves his secret stash of money, and the mail he’s been hiding from Celie for decades. The most recent mail is from the Department of Immigration.
The song is STILL playing as we watch Mister begin the process to bring Nettie and Celie’s children–all American citizens–home from Africa.
Easily, one of the best scenes from the movie.
For me, it’s only second to the scene where Celie is reunited with her family.
Enjoy!
See my Song Lyric Sunday selection for FeliciaDenise.com!
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Disclaimer: I have no copyrights to the song and/or video and/or hyperlinks to songs and/or videos and/or gifs above. No copyright infringement intended.
God is Trying to Tell You Something
Lord, yes
Oh, yes
My soul, my soul says yesIf I were you
I would say yes, speak
Lord
Speak to me
Oh, Speak, Lord
Won’t you speak to me?
I was so blind, I was so lost until you spoke to me
Oh, speak, Lord
Speak, Lord
And hear my mind,
Oh, with your word, heal my soul
Oh, speak, Lord
Speak to me. Speak, my Lord
I love you, Lord
Save my soul
Can’t sleep at night and you wonder why
Maybe God is trying to tell you something
Crying all night long, something’s gone wrong
Maybe God is trying to tell you something
Oh, you can’t sleep at night and you sure wonder why
Maybe god is trying to tell you something
Trying, trying, trying, trying, I’m trying, I’m trying, I’m trying
Maybe God is trying to tell you something (repeat 4x)
Lord, He’s got to tell you something (repeat 2x)
I hear you, Lord
Maybe God is trying to tell you right now, right now
I’m gonna praise your name
I praise your name
Speak to me, Lord
Maybe God is trying to tell you something right now, right now,
Right now
Thank you, Lord
Maybe God is trying to tell you something right now
Right now, right now
Thank you, Lord..
source: https://www.lyricsondemand.com/t/tatavegalyrics/godistryingtotellyousomethinglyrics.html
Nesie's Place 
I’m a white guy who was born in a small town in Nebraska in 1977. When I would stay at my grandma’s house, this movie, was in the **best three, of the six or seven VHS tapes my Grandma owned. I must’ve watched it 10 times, by the time I was 16! It (along with a dad who made his disdain for racism very clear), gave me insight, perspective, and empathy that could not come from my homogenous environment.
When I was older, the US Navy reinforced this perspective with travel, which is the antidote to predjudice.
Now, I’m a 45yo father of two boys, 16 and 19 and last night, for the FIRST time since 1993 or so, I watched it (alone) again and cried 3 (maybe 4🙄) times!
Today, this ^^^ song was running through my head all day. I’m the lead singer of a cover band, so I looked up the lyrics. While I was here, it occurred to me that my 16yo gave me a ” Dad Coupon Book”, for Father’s Day this year and in it were a couple coupons for…”I will watch any movie with you (your choice)”… this one’s next.
Thank you, Alice Walker and Grandma!
**Always and Ind. J & the Temple of Doom were my other 2 favorites, in case anyone was curious. 😁
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What a great memory and perspective! Many thanks for sharing! (And I know your son will enjoy the movie!) 🙂
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You have given wings to an inspirational moment most of us forgot! Thank you for the reminder!
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My fave!!!
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I “have church” every time I hear it! 😄😄
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Riiiight!
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that’s great. I’ve always wanted to watch the Color Purple, you’ve just reminded me I really should do.
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Hope you get the chance – great movie! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
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There must be something hard wired into you and I as we seem to pick the same song or same reference. This time it is God and listening to what He has to say! LOL. I loved this movie and not just because it has Purple in its title (though that did help of course!). Thanks for sharing this. I had forgotten the scene and the song. Now it is back in my memory banks!
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Such a great movie! Too many see only negativity when they watch the movie, but I see growth and change and the strength of the human spirit. I love the scene of Shug and her father in the church, and when Celie see her children for the first time since they were babies… I bawl like a baby! 🙂
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I totally agree with you. I think it was a shame that while there were several nominations, the movie did not win one Oscar and Spielberg wasn’t even nominated as director.
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What a powerful scene. I love how music can bring people together. Thanks so much for sharing!
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