Delta Internal Development
Delta Official (and other) Songs
Module
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Agenda
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Welcome
Introductions
Meditation
Objectives
Ice Breaker
Delta Official Songs
Other Songs
Evaluation
Closing
2
Objectives
• To review the six (6) official Sorority
songs.
• To ensure that sorors are familiar with
the correct way to sing the Sorority’s
official songs.
• To review other songs used in Sorority
ceremonies and programs.
3
Ice Breaker
4
Delta Official Songs
Sorors should be able to sing the following
without the aid of the Ritual or songbook:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Delta Sigma Theta National Hymn
Delta Prayer
Beta Hymn
Delta Mizpah
Delta Sweetheart Song
Pyramid Hymn
5
Delta Official Songs
• All sorors sing the six (6) official songs
• The official songs are never sung as solos or
renditions
• The official songs are never improvised,
changed, or appended to other songs
• All verses of the official songs are sung
6
Delta Official Songs
Delta Sigma Theta National Hymn
• Written by Florence Cole Talbert and Alice
Dunbar Nelson
• Sung at Chapter Meeting, Regional Conference,
and Grand Chapter Formal Closing Ceremonies,
Grand Chapter Formal Opening Ceremony (if the
Honorary Member Initiation Ceremony takes
place), Rededication Ceremony, and Initiation
Ceremony
• Sorors form a circle, cross arms right over left,
join hands, and sing all verses in unison
7
Delta Official Songs
Delta Prayer
• Written by Johanna Gow Bush
• Sung at Chapter Meeting, Regional
Conference, and Grand Chapter Formal
Opening Ceremonies, Rededication
Ceremony, Initiation Ceremony, Memorial
Observance, and Omega Omega Service
• Sorors remain seated and sing all verses in
unison
8
Delta Official Songs
Beta Hymn
• Written by Anna L. Dorsey Wilson and
Isabelle Askew
• Sung at Grand Chapter Formal Opening
Ceremony (if the Honorary Member
Initiation Ceremony takes place), Pyramid
Induction Ceremony, and Initiation
Ceremony
• Sorors sing all verses in unison while
standing
9
Delta Official Songs
Delta Mizpah
• Written by Johanna Gow Bush
• Sung or recited at Chapter Meeting Closing
Ceremony
• Sorors form a circle, join hands, and sing or
recite in unison
10
Delta Official Songs
Delta Sweetheart Song
• Co-Lyricists were Dorothy Jean Swope and
June Mack; Collaborator was Alberta Ray
White; Arrrangements by Eloise Logan Penn
• Renditions or additions to the song are
inappropriate
• Sorors form a circle, join hands, and sway to
the right on the word “may”
11
Delta Official Songs
Delta Sweetheart Song (continued)
Can be sung at Sorority functions and other
Greek functions. Exceptions:
• Serenading a Delta bride (bride only) at her
wedding reception as she stands in the
center of the circle.
• Upon any noteworthy accomplishment by a
soror
• Events of other Pan-Hellenic organizations
12
Delta Official Songs
Pyramid Hymn
• Hummed at Honorary Member Initiation
Ceremony and Crossing Over Ceremony
• Sung at Pyramid Induction Ceremony and
during Jewel Ceremonies
• Sorors form a circle around the pyramids
(pyramids form an inward facing circle),
join hands, and sing all verses in unison
13
Other Songs
I Would Be True
I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
I would be pure, for there are those who care;
I would be strong, for there is much to suffer;
I would be brave, for there is much to dare.
I would be brave, for there is much to dare.
I would be friend of all, the foe, the friendless;
I would be giving, and forget the gift;
I would be humble, for I know my weakness;
I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift.
I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift.
14
Other Songs
Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing
(also known as the Negro National Anthem)
Verse 1
Lift ev'ry voice and sing,
'Til earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the list'ning skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on 'til victory is won.
15
Other Songs
Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing (continued)
Verse 2
Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chastening rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat,
Have not our weary feet
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered,
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the
slaughtered,
Out from the gloomy past,
'Til now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.
16
Other Songs
Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing (continued)
Verse 3
God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who has by Thy might
Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met
Thee,
Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget
Thee;
Shadowed beneath Thy hand,
May we forever stand,
True to our God,
17
True to our native land.
Other Songs
• Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand
• This Little Light Of Mine
• Love Lifted Me
• Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
• I Will Trust in the Lord
• Hallelujah
• Lead Me, Guide Me
18
Questions
19
Evaluation
20
The Leadership Academy
2008-2013
Elsie Cooke-Holmes, Co-Chair
Pamela E. Smith, Co-Chair
Schean G. Belton, Esq.
Stephanie M. Cooper
Deloris Johnson Drakes
Lisa Farmer-Cole
Soraya Williams Farver
Charlotte M. Freeman, Ph.D.
Renee LaVerne Harper
Beverly Harris Schembri
Wendy J. Johnson (2012-13)
Sandra F. Mack, Ed.D.
Gwendolyn J. Mosley
Mandy Mullens-Williams
Mabel Lake Murray, Ed.D.
Mildred Porter-Duncan
Norma Sermon Boyd, Ed.D.
Jennifer R. Smith
Hellenna L. Terrell, Ed.D.
Barbara Woods, Ph.D.
Stephanie Flowers, Staff Liaison
Shannon Jones Jenkins, Staff Liaison
21