Song Analysis: Joseph Bear Cloud

As the morning service starts to commend the co-pastor starts with an opening prayer and every head is bowed, all eyes are closed and every hand is lifted up in the air exalting their prayers to heaven. As the evangelist Joseph Bear Cloud is called upon he starts by talking in the Crow language welcoming and greeting the congregation. Before he starts to sing he briefly begins to explain the background of a song he is about to sing. The first song is called ‘Ahpaaxe heeleen boowihmachik’ meaning ‘within the cloud I will be coming’ a Traditional Crow Indian hymn and melody belong to Jiggs Yellowtail who was a well-respected Crow Indian on the Crow Reservation. As he begins to sing, his voice begins in lowered tone and the first word is He-he-le-la-he, A-he-la-he-he-la to start out the melody of the song which is then sung.
The song starts out very strong and as he sings the entire congregation starts praising in their own Crow language while singing in the rhythm of the only instrument used in all Traditional Crow Hymns a
tambourine. The women participate and start to sing along singing the high notes and also picking up the melody and sing in perfect unison. The atmosphere which began with humbleness starts to pick up into a mood of Grace in which all can feel. When the songs ends, the entire congregation is on their feet praising and briefly praying they then quickly go to a different song.