An inward-looking oath by the psalmist, the middle two verses have been of particular interest to political movements that invoke collective memory to mobilize social action.

William Billings, “Lamentation Over Boston” (1778), sung by Yale-New Haven shape note singers

Margaret Bendroth                                                                              John Stauffer

Rev. Robert Smith, Jr., at the New Bethel Baptist Church, Detroit

Judy Hauff in Ontario leading a shape-note song in the summer of 2012.