September 15 through October 15 is Latinx Heritage Month. Last spring, I had the opportunity to lead worship at Mosaic Ministries at Trinity International University, his employer. He then had the opportunity to transcribe what was for a fellow worship leader a powerful song by Puerto Rican singer Samuel Hernández. (The student had grown up singing this song in Spanish churches). The song gives lots of opportunity for melismas and harmonies, and the chord progression is very simple. Lyrics and English translation below:
Levanto mis manos, aunque no tenga fuerzas
Levanto mis manos, aunque tenga mil problemas
Cuando levanto mis manos, comienzo a sentir
Una unción que me hace cantar
Cuando levanto mis manos, comienzo a sentir el fuego
Cuando levanto mis manos, mis cargas se van
Nuevas fuerzas tú me das, todo eso es posible
Todo eso es posible, cuando levanto mis manos
English translation:
I lift my hands, even though I don't have the strength I lift my hands, even though I have a thousand problems
When I lift my hands, I start to feel An anointing that makes me sing
When I raise my hands, I start to feel the fire When I raise my hands, my burdens fade You give me new strength All is possible, all is possible When I lift my hands
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