“Come, Life, Shaker Life”

Description

"Come, life, Shaker life, come, life eternal, Shake, shake out of me all that is carnal. I'll take nimble steps, I'll be a David, I'll show Michael twice how he behaved."

Notes

Although every text of this song I have seen refers to "Michael," the correct name is "Michal." Michal was the younger daughter of Saul, who loved and was married to David (1 Samuel 18:20f.) and saved him from her father (1 Sam. 19:11f.).

Later, however, when David had become king, David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. During its progress, "David danced before YHWH with all his might" (2 Sam. 6:14). And "Michal daughter of Saul looked out... and saw King David leaping and dancing... and she despised him in her heart" (2 Sam. 6:16).

David and Michal apparently were never reconciled; when she scolded him, David's response was that the girls would like what he was doing (! - 2 Sam. 6:22). "And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child until the day of her death" (2 Sam. 6:23). - RBW

References

1. Lomax-FSNA 37, "Come, Life, Shaker Life" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. Roud #6669
3. BI, LoF037