Song/hymn: The Family of Man ( I belong to a family, the biggest on earth)

[roisin]

This morning in church I was thinking of this song, which I used to love singing as a child and whose message was very meaningful to me.

The lyrics of the song are sexist (exclusive language) racist and very dated too

Does anyone know of any contemporary religious songs with a similar or related message?

[goldFAQinsenceandmyrrh]

you mean this one

How is it racist

[roisin]

Thanks FAQ.

That is a slightly updated version. Mine has "the coolie in Peking" and other such gems, that I wouldn't transcribe here!

But I still find the continual use of 'man' just jars in this day and age.

We wouldn't really use this sort of music (rumpty tumpty melody and corny harmonisation) in our church these days anyway. We use lots of traditional hymns, but also more modern songs. But the 'songs' we use are more contemporary, more subtle and less cliched in their musicality.

So even if I, or you, or someone, could update the lyrics to my satisfaction that wouldn't serve. I'm looking for an alternative.

[goldFAQinsenceandmyrrh]

"more subtle and less cliched in their musicality."

wow which ones are them then (we also use lots of contemporary ones, but very few that aren't cliched and rather predictable with tunes and harmonies) - kind of rules out ermm - quite a lot of the well known composers/writers

Shall have a think later about other ones that may suit........supposed to be ironing now

[goldFAQinsenceandmyrrh]

only thing that springs to mind straight away is "I have a dream" (and yes it's based on Martin Luther King's famous speech) set to the tune of Woodlands (Tell out my Soul).

Not sure that's quite the same message though.

[roisin]

Well, yes, of course I agree with you to an extent about predictability of tunes and harmonies.

But there are plenty of songs and so on from 60s and 70s that would just make half the congregation burst out laughing if I played them even just as an introit or something. I know you know the ones I mean ... the ones that change key half way through, or the harmonies modulate up in semitones.

I don't know the one you mention - will Google. (Or can you name a hymn book it's in?)

Ta,
Roisin

[scienceteacher]

Gosh, I remember that one from when I was at school.

[goldFAQinsenceandmyrrh]

It's in the Complete Anglican Hymnbook Old and New (the orange one) [fsnile]

[goldFAQinsenceandmyrrh]

• sorry it's we have a dream - not I (should know I['ve played it, and the one on the adjacent page "WE have a gospel" enough times LOL.

[roisin]

Thanks for the info, but I don't have a copy of that hymnbook among the dozens I do have! (I used to have one in my old office at work!) And I've not been able to find the lyrics by googling!

Could you type out the first two lines for me to try and google.
Ta

[goldFAQinsenceandmyrrh]

I'll type it out for this eveing if you like - expecting the DS's back any minute.

I tried googling and can't find it either, it's probably there somehwere but as it's based very closesly on the MLK speech I thihnk all those references come at the top

[roisin]

thank you so much.
R

[kirkc]

Could someone email me the lyrics and melody of the song, Family of Man, please? It's not known to me, but I have someone in the congregation looking for it, and this is the only place I have seen a reference to it.
I appreciate some of the comments I've read about being a church organist/musician!!!!

[MaryBS]

Think i've found the hymn FAQ was referring to:

We have a dream the Church of God will rise
through living closely to his Holy Word;
and never let the 'clever and the wise'
stop children's thoughts and views from being heard.

We have a dream young people shall be free
to journey on in faith at their own pace;
free to become whatever they may be
of their own choosing in the light of grace.

We have a dream that one day we shall find
a Church of equal opportunity
where everyone can leave demands behind
and share Christ's banquet in community.

We have a dream that love will overcome
the fear of living in the here and now,
that Christians old and young will spur us on,
and hand in hand we'll show the world, "Here's how!"

[alwayslookingforanswers]

no that's not the one

[alwayslookingforanswers]

We have a dream: this nation will arise,
and truly live according to its creed,
that all are equal in their makers eyes,
and none shall suffer through another's greed

We have a dream that one day we shall see
a world of justice, truth and equity,
where sons of slaves and daughters of the free
will share the banquet of community.

We have a dream of deserts brought to flow'r,
once made infertile by oppression's heat,
when love and truth shall end oppressive pow'r,
and streams of righteousness and justice meet.

We have a dream; our children shall be free
from judgements based on colour or on race;
free to become whatever they may be,
of their own choosing in the light of grace.

We have a dream that truth will overcome
the fear and anger of our present day;
that black and white will share a common home,
and hand in hand will walk the pilgrim way.

We have a dream; each valley will be raised,
and ev'ry mountain, ev'ry hill brought down;
then shall creation echo perfect praise,
and share God's glory under freedom's crown!


(apologies for any typo's couldn't find it online so type it out the hymn book(

[tvaerialmagpiebin]

kirkc
We belong to a family, it's the biggest on earth;
Thousands every day are coming to birth.
Our name isn't Johnny or Jimmy or Joan,
It's a name everyone can be glad we own.

It's the Family of man, keeps growing,
The family of man, keep sowing
The seeds of a new life every day.

I've got a sister in Sydney, a brother in Paree,
The whole wide world is dad and mother to me.
Wherever you go you will find my kin,
Whatever the creed of the colour of the skin, they're the

Family of man, etc.

From Afghanistan to the streets of New York,
Don't matter how we worship or we talk.
We've all got a life and others to share it,
Let's bridge the oceans and declare it the

Family of man, etc.

From the North Pole to the steamy Equator
We've all got to live together sooner or later
And I've not much time, I've had my fill
Of the men of war who try to kill the

Family of man, etc.

Now some people say the world is a terrible place
But it's just as good or bad as the human race:
Dirt and misery or health and joy.
We can build or can destroy the

Family of man, etc.

There's another verse - something like "From the miner in the Rhondda to the coolie in Peking" but I can't remember that. This version seems a bit more PC to me.....
The Spinners did it on an album in the seventies:does this work?

[skibelle]

It's in 'Come and Praise' that we use at school.

'That' verse is verse 3:

I belong to a fam'ly, the biggest on earth,
Ten thousand every day are coming to birth.
Our name isn't Davies or Groves or Jones,
It's the name every man should be proud he owns.

^It's the fam'ly of man, keeps growing,
The fam'ly of man, keeps sowing,
The seeds of a new life ev'ry day^

I've got a sister in Melbourne, and brother in Delhi,
The whole wide world is dad and mother to me.
Whatever you turn you will find my kin,
Whatever the creed or colour of skin

Chorus

The miner in the Rhondda, the coolie in Peking,
Men across the world who reap and plough and spin,
They've got a life and others to share it,
Let's bridge the oceans and declare it:

Chorus

Some people say the world is a horrible place,
But it's just as good or bad as the human race;
Dirt and misery or health and joy,
Man can build or can destroy.

Chorus

[tvaerialmagpiebin]

Oh I LOVE Come and Praise. It had all those classy ones like "Autumn Days" with the nonsense about jet planes meeting in the air to be refuelled....... I was singing that to myself the other day. And "If I was a wiggly worm".......

[tvaerialmagpiebin]

here it is

[roisin]

Gosh the power of the internet!

Thank you for your post Karl. I feel a leetle self-conscious about my comments, which were obviously not intended to be read by the composer.

So - for some balance - I do have very vivid memories of how powerfully this song spoke to me when I was a child; and I'm sure it had similar positive effects on many, many people.

[KatyCustard]

It had a positive effect on me! I'm a Christian but I agree that it is a song about togetherness, and actually could be sung by people of all faiths and none. Thanks Karl. (Also remember singgering as a teenager at the bit about seeds being sown! )

When I was teaching I used to love doing the old classics from my own childhood for things like class assemblies because the parents got all nostalgic!

One of my faves: "When a night won his spurrs" !

[KatyCustard]

sorry - "Knight".