Death on the Spot
The Quote “Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so.” — Brigham Young, JoD 10:110 (March 8, 1863) Lyrics [Intro - Somber piano, slow tempo] [Verse 1 - Spoken word style, building into melody] March eighth, eighteen sixty-three Tabernacle, Salt Lake City Prophet stands before the congregation "Shall I tell you," he begins "Shall I tell you the law of God?" Everyone leans in to listen [Verse 2 - Melody establishes, minor key] "In regard to the African race" His voice is steady, certain, clear "If the white man of the chosen seed Mixes his blood with the seed of Cain" He pauses for the weight to land "The penalty, under the law of God..." [Chorus - Full, powerful, deliberate] Death on the spot Death on the spot This is the law of God, he says This will always be so Always be so Death on the spot This will always be so [Verse 3 - Building intensity] Civil War is raging, nation torn "I'm no abolitionist," he claims "Neither am I pro-slavery" Standing in the middle ground Then declares that love across the line Deserves death by divine command [Chorus] [Bridge - Tempo slows, piano solo, then spoken/sung] One hundred and fifty years pass December, two thousand thirteen The church releases a quiet statement "We disavow the theories advanced in the past" "That mixed-race marriages are a sin" The law of God... Was just a theory? [Verse 4 - Quiet, testimonial] Today in temples, all across the land Interracial couples kneel and pray Sealed for time and all eternity By the same church that declared Their love deserved death on the spot Under the eternal law of God [Final Chorus - Raw, powerful] Death on the spot He said death on the spot This is the law of God This will always be so But always meant One hundred and fifty years Till it was too embarrassing To keep saying so [Outro - Piano fading, spoken] "This will always be so" (Repeat, growing quieter) "This will always be so" "This will always..." [Silence] Historical Context The Setting: March 8, 1863 — Salt Lake Tabernacle. The Civil War is raging. Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was issued just two months prior. The nation is torn over slavery, race, and freedom. ...