“People Get Ready”: Get Ready, Your Chance is Coming
On Sunday April 30, 2017, Rory Deming and Josh Elmore graced the Shepherd’s Grove and Hour of Power stage with an inspirational rendition of the powerful Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready,” accompanied by the Hour of Power orchestra. “People Get Ready” has a powerful story in terms of its historical significance. It was written by Mayfield in the year after the March on Washington. Its release also followed the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. During this painful time, a message of forgiveness and optimism burned brightly through Mayfield’s writings. The significance of this rings true through its lyrics: People get ready, there’s a train a-comin’ You don’t need no baggage, you just get on board Each word extending beyond societal differences throughout time, the song delivers a message of redemption for all. It encourages those who feel lost
