Why do certain hymns get me teary-eyed when i hate religion?

I've been an atheist since I quit going to Sunday school, but some hymns and religious or gospel songs still get to me too. "The Church in the Wildwood" was one my mother loved, and I am always moved by it because of that association. Some are simply beautiful, musically and/or lyrically, or are made so by a great vocalist or choir.

Thanks for the input, R1. For me, How Great Thou Art and Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah will still get to me.

For me, it's "Ave Maria." But my (Catholic) mother's name was Mary.

That's a beautiful one too, R3. Here's a gorgeous rendition of Great Redeemer. It was one of.my grandmother's favorites, so, like R1, probably why I get choked up hearing it.

Was I the only one who misread "hymns" as "hymens" at first glance? I was? OK...

I grew up Baptist and I'm used to the hymns being sung in what is called a "high lonesome" tone which can be not only moving but sometimes chilling. This isn't a traditional hymn, but it has the sound.

What am I? Pyschic?

It's the minor mode. Always affects the medulla oblongata.

Interesting, R6, I didn't know that type of singing had a specific name.

I apologize in advance for the annoying video, but can anyone posting here tell me what style of singing this is? I ask because I was at a Mennonite funeral a few years ago and the choir had a very similar sound.

I got this. I grew up Roman Catholic, but I love some of those old protestant hymns.

In the sweet by and by, we will meet at that beautiful shore.

It’s that “river over Jordan“, Americana style hope for redemption that I respond to. Someday we’ll be together. The thread that connects spirituals with the best pop music.

Ave Maria ...... It was a song chosen for my Mom's funeral. Something about that song was always very sad and haunting, and now even more so.

R9, that's simple 4-part harmony, pretty standard stuff of conservative Evangelical churches. I grew up Mennonite and we had a lot of hymns like that. Here's the classic 606 which always makes me happy (although I've never heard it sung this fast).

Cuz your a pussy bitch. Fuck those religitards, don't be a sheep.

Always really liked Dear Lord and Father of Mankind

As nutty as Mormons are, some of their hymns are lovely.

That song at R9 is so sad, I could barely listen to the whole thing, the person just wants to escape the world and die.

Cowboy singer Gene Autry owned one of our TV stations in Arizona, and we got lots of his favorites like Shirley Temple Theater and, (every night at sign-off), one of the marvelous Mahalia Jackson Sings shorts. I'm still a fan. If you've never seen Mahalia, she was simply able to take you to the Promised Land.

The "Ave Maria" affects me as well, it's the one religious song I remember my grandmother singing(in Italian), at Christmastime. She had no love for religion, but had been educated in a convent school in Italy, so her singing it always seemed incongruous. The somber tone and slow pace of the song adds to the introspective quality. Is it the Bflat that does it?

The military song "Taps" while not a hymn(although it should be, most verses[yes, there are words to the tune] end with the phrase 'God is nigh') runs along the same lines. Of course most people know it has a military connection, but I believe many people who don't know it's history would find it sad. Again, the Bflat key.

Off-topic: There's an Episcopal hymn that has the same few beginning notes as "On Top of Old Smokie," anyone know it?

"Some bright morning when this life is over..."

"When I die, hallelujah by and by, I'll fly away"

I grew up on high-energy gospel music. I still listen to songs from the old days, like Clara Ward's "Didn't It Rain?"

I'm not a Christian but I still cry when I hear O Happy Day.

Some of it may be rooted in nostalgia, sometimes it's the power of the song.

With religion these days, I try to ignore the specifics or the ultra-literal pretzel logic that can happen, and think about what general feeling or lesson I might be able to take away (love thy neighbor).

Sister Rosetta Tharpe's version of "Didn't It Rain?" is also excellent.

For the nine months I carried you, growin' inside me, no charge...

"This Train," another great song by Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Although I'm no longer religious, these songs still cause a stirring within me.

[quote]The "Ave Maria" affects me as well, it's the one religious song I remember my grandmother singing(in Italian)

The Ave Maria is sung in Latin, dear. It’s the Hail Mary prayer in Latin, set to music. Not Italian.

Ave Maria in Italian, stroonz r26.

Been an atheist for a long time, but many Christmas carols move me - brought up Catholic, there is a hymn used at funerals that I cannot make it through without my voice cracking and tear ducts leaking - Be Not Afraid - I go before you always, come follow me, and I will give you rest.......

Down to the River to Pray (Alison Krauss)

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms (Mahalia Jackson)

Little Moses (Joan Baez)

Musical taste is culturally programmed in us. No different than a preference for dessert after a meal, instead of sweets before the meal, which are other culturally determined preferences, just for example.

It has nothing to do with the 'content' of the music, often, instead it is just the structure of a song, or the performer themselves, that is the appeal.

Had you been raised in a different musical system, like the classical music of India, maybe those hymns would not affect you the same.

R30 Yeah? And?

O Holy Night always moves me to tears. IL DIVO do a wonderful version of the song, I was lucky enough to see them sing it live in concert. Very powerful.

R9, R12 is only partly right. That style of singing is called ‘shape-note’ singing. It was designed at a time when instruments were considered too worldly for religious services and only the human voice was allowed in church. The four parts are written and differentiated by shaped notes, the tenor notes are triangles, the basses are squares, etc. There are large groups around the country of fans of this music who are working to save this dying art form.

I grew up in the church and love a lot of the old Protestant hymns. All of them are in the public domain now and can be used, in part or whole, as you see fit. Covers and samples can be taken but I couldn’t name any.

My best friend died unexpectedly at a dance during our senior year and “Lord of the Dance” was played at the funeral. Whenever I hear it, without fail, I lose it. It’s an Irish hymn and not that common in the US though.

Thanks, R33! I love threads where you learn something new. It has a haunting quality like R6's song does, I wonder if the two forms are related somehow. I guess that this would be an example of shape-note singing too? The few times I've heard it live was in Mennonite churches.

This is almost unspeakably beautiful.

"Christe, qui lux is it dies" always get to me. Seriously, old Catholic Latin hymns in six-part harmony are beautiful. Composers: Victoria, Palestrina etc

Paul Robeson "There is a balm in Gilead." Good Lord, that man could sing some tears out of you!

Thank you, r37. I was familiar with Nina Simone's version. Now that you mention it, her balmier version today is what I need today in Pittsburgh.

Actually the hymns are probably the closest thing to the true spirit of religion. Not all the judgement/guilt/dread.

R16, you're not interpreting R9's song correctly, it's not meant to be sad.

My mother's favourite hymn was Jerusalem, which was originally a poem by William Blake. A lot of English people think of it as a very patriotic song but if you listen to the words it's really quite rebellious, and incredibly beautiful.

I too am an athiest, but it makes me tear up.

Hymns can contain very raw human fear and desire. The best hymns sung by a great singer can create a very real and personal moment for the listener even if God isn't your bag. Faith and song are powerful sounds when mixed. I love " In The Garden" and "I Surrender All". There is a truth about both songs that speak to me regardless of the Christian undertones. When I was a boy, living in Rehoboth Beach, the one station that came in clear at night was a country music station. I would put my earplug in and fall asleep to the bluegrass music that played from midnight to six. Then from six until nine they play country hymns. it was a sweet, little taste of God in your ear.

Early in his career Sam Cooke was with the Soul Stirrers, incredible gospel singers.

Farther Along...Shrine Auditorium 1955.

Played as Titanic was sinking.

When I need a good cleansing cry, I always go to Cynthia Clawson and her beautiful voice.

R45. That’s the American version of “Nearer my God to thee”; the musicians on the Titanic actually played the English version/tune:

One reason I believe that hymns “speak” to people is not only their simple, memorable tunes, but the fact that they are very rich harmonically - that is to say that the harmonies change quickly throughout most hymns, and it is these chord progressions that can evoke feelings.

One of my favorites. The harmonies follow an unusual pattern that makes it especially poignant.

In English, the words are sung as “If thou but suffer God to guide thee.”

Good question, OP, it's true about certain religious music when they contain certain notes. Leonard Cohen wrote about this describing it as a 'secret chord' in Hallelujah.

Besides the notes, though, some people are more sensitive to sounds much like some people sensitive to tastes, pain, loud noises or smells. I believes certain notes touch a more sensitive people more and it's a gift. I am that way and I go with it and simply enjoy and embrace. Ode To Joy, Joy to The World are a couple of my favorites.

All of this means, in my opinion, you are a sensitive, caring soul. Thank you for bringing up this topic. Here is a touching video of a toddler feeling the music. Peace.

Here’s some more information about true Shape Note Singing:

Because Christ is real, loves you, and wants you to be his child.

Well, it makes me sad, R40.

R53 Me too. Maybe sadness is in the ear of the listener?

Battle Hymn of the Republic. I'm not religious and not overly patriotic, but it always gets to me, especially the final chorus.

The Old Rugged Cross was sung at my grandparents' funerals, and will probably also be sung at my father's (he has Alzheimer's). I find them moving because they're beautiful and because they have meant to much to so many people.

I'm a fan of trad Appalachian music and assume that's where this originated - beautiful melody. I was raised an ocean away from Appalachia but once when I mentioned the Carter Family to my mother she went 'oh the Carter Family, that's that hillbilly music your grandfather liked'. Which pleased me since I never knew him. He was a coal miner so maybe that's part of why he liked that music.

[quote]My best friend died unexpectedly at a dance during our senior year and “Lord of the Dance” was played at the funeral. Whenever I hear it, without fail, I lose it. It’s an Irish hymn and not that common in the US though.

Is that the one that's based on the tune, "Simple Gifts," a Shaker melody written in 1848?

Same, R54, I think the song is sad...and beautifully sung which is difficult with a choir of 650 students!

Not a hymn, but this song brings a tear to my eye and I'm not even Welsh.

'Just as I Am' was my church's official hymn whenever the pastor called out for anyone to come kneel at the alter to repent for recent sins and for any all out sinners wanting to get saved and cleansed. 'Softly and Tenderly' was another one.

Softy and Tenderly, beautifully sung by Anne Murray

[quote]That style of singing is called ‘shape-note’ singing.

Sorry to disagree, R33, but Mennonites have never used shaped notes, and it's a completely different tradition,which came out of English Puritanism and spread through the South via Baptists and others.

Mennonites came from the Swiss Reformed movement and have (to my knowledge) always used standard notation. The sound when sung can be similar, but it's because of the simple 4-part a cappella singing, not the shaped note tradition.

It's hard to get sadder than the end of Imitation of Life with Mahalia Jackson singing Troubles of the World. Youtube used to have a good clip of her perfromance but all I could find was this crappy video.

Whoops, R33, did some more reading, and apparently there are indeed Mennonites that use shaped notes. Mea Culpa.

For R32

Is this shape note singing? I think it is but whatever it is, I love it. I think the thing with gospel music, in it's many forms, is that even if you don't share the belief, you can't but help but be moved by the sincerity of those that do. On our US road trip we went to Al Green's church in Memphis and the singing and his sermon were just so powerful and uplifting. As one of my friends said post-church, if that had gone on much longer I think I would have been born again.

This form of singing is becoming pretty scarce.

...as is Sacred Harp singing.

Another vote for Jerusalem every damn time

I grew up with Catholic hyms, but as a musician I've played for every kind of western service (no Hindu services yet!). I tend to listen to them for their musical content, since I don't pay much attention to the words. Many hymns have a very square structure, meaning that each phrase is 4 measures, and the entire hymn will be 16 or 32 measures in length. Many are taken (stolen) directly from folk songs of whatever country they originated in. I like hymns that take unexpected musical turns (that go up when you expect them to go down, and so forth) to counter the predictability of the phrase structure. For me, "The water is wide" is a good example of a beautiful folk tune that has been made into several different hymns with different words. I'm linking James Taylor singing it in its original folk tune version.

Aren't hymens supposed to tear?

Sung at my grandfathers funeral at his request, even though he had turned his back on religion at a very early age. His mother died while scrubbing the floor of a Catholic Church on his 12th birthday. Anyway, he asked for this to be played at his funeral. It gets me teary but it is comforting too.

Abide With Me.

Abide with Me was played at my father's funeral R72 so I understand your sentiment. And it is a beautiful hymn. I've liked it from when I was a little kid because they would play part of it on our local radio station on Saturday mornings before they read out the death/funeral announcements for the week. So something about the melody grabbed me even before I understood what it was really about. The list of songs I'd like played at my funeral is getting longer and longer because of this thread!

My favorite is "Nearer to God than Thee"

I Vow to Thee My Country

I'm a sucker for the Doxology. Oh -- and We Are One in the Spirit.

I agree, op. Not especially religious, but church music still moves me. When I’m stressed out, I listen to Sandi Patty for 20 minutes, and I feel better.

Tantum Ergo sounds so naughty .

R67, I was raised in the Primitive Baptist church and grew up hearing lined out hymns like in the video you linked. We did this even though we had hymn books.

River of Jordan, a negro spiritual sung by Margot Bingham for Boardwalk Empire is subtly moving. Sorry can’t link. It’s on Youtube.

Well, because it's so unexpected, Patti Smith. I will admit, as a Catholic, I absolutely hate 'Christmas music', but somehow, the most reverent songs are the ones I like most. Growing up, Midnight Mass was very important to me. I know that Easter is supposed to be a more important holiday for me, as a Christian, but Christmas could grab my heart in a way that Easter never could.