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A childhood belief about misheard lyrics

In 1963, an album came out called SUNNY SIDE, by The Kingston Trio. It included the group's last top-40 hit, "Desert Pete". Like many of their albums, it also included one rousing spiritual-type song, in that case a song called "Sing Out". One verse of "Sing Out" sounded, I thought, Like this:

Wake up to the trumpet sound.
I'm from the Great Shellai,
To see the chap with the glory crown
Uphill from flaming sky.

Years later, thanks to internet lyrics sites, I've been able to determine that the real lyrics are:

Wake up to the trumpet sound.
I from the grave shall rise
To see the judge with the glory crown,
A view from flaming sky.

I grew up in a not-so-religious family, so I generally expected to hear unfamiliar concepts in hymns and spirituals. I thought that "the Great Shellai" must be some religious concept that I didn't know due to my lack of much formal religious upbringing. It seemed intriguingly romantic and I hoped to learn what it was someday. I grew to be one of those kids who, in difficult situations would pray sometimes, even though I had formally learned little about prayer. I actually sometimes prayed to "God in the Great Shellai". I hope that never gave offense to anyone! As I grew up and learned more about religious matters I guess I was a bit disappointed to have to accept that "the Great Shellai", for all its intriguing sound, is probably utterly meningless!

— Kirsten

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