Chant A Psalm

Album: True Democracy (1982)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Steel Pulse was one of the top reggae acts to come out of England. They signed to Island Records in 1978 and made three albums for the label, but were dropped in the early '80s when they fell out of step with the two-tone movement that was all the rage. The group's lead singer, David Hinds, wrote "Chant A Psalm" during this time as a song of encouragement at this career nadir. "That period of the band's life wasn't very pretty," he said in a Songfacts interview. "It was just a way of telling myself, 'Don't be down and out because you've got that psalm you can be chanting every day.'"
  • Hinds wrote this song in a bedroom he was renting in someone's house. He was going through a rough time in his personal life, as he had recently split with the mother of his daughter.
  • The members of Steel Pulse were Rastafarians who at the time were taking a close look at the Bible. In this song, many biblical references show up in the lyrics, including a line from the book of Matthew: "Get behind me, Satan." Moses, Samson, Elijah and Daniel are some of the biblical figures mentioned.

    "At that time, I was reading books, like the sixth and seventh Book of Moses, certain books that were eliminated from the Bible at that time," Hinds told Songfacts. "We were seeking the half that has never been told."
  • The line, "When pressure drop it cannot conquer dread," is a reference to the song "Pressure Drop," popularized by Toots & the Maytals with their 1970 version.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Don Felder

Don FelderSongwriter Interviews

Don breaks down "Hotel California" and other songs he wrote as a member of the Eagles. Now we know where the "warm smell of colitas" came from.

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.