Florida Mass Choir, Have You Been Tried In The Fire | Music Lifts

In the 9^th edition of Music Lifts (2024), we’re uplifted by Florida Mass Choir performing, “Have You Been Tried in the Fire.”

Welcome to Music Lifts , a column that seeks to highlight songs that encourage, inspire, and uplift the spirit; songs that exude fortitude, positivity, and resolve, even in the face of adversity.  Featured songs aren’t genre-specific; songs may or may not be faith-based. The goal is for these songs to make you feel better – be LIFTED to new heights!  So, for the 9^th edition of Music Lifts (2024), we highlight “Have You Been Tried in the Fire” as performed by Florida Mass Choir.

Milton Biggham asks a thought-provoking question: “Have you been tried in the fire?” The response, by the Florida Mass Choir is a resounding, spirited, “YES!” “Have You Been Tried in the Fire” appears on the 1982 album, Lord, You Keep On Proving Yourself to Me. That album title alone deserves an AMEN! In the 7:20 album version, it commences with a thoughtful introduction which references Job, specifically, the adversity he faced.  The intro (Biggham) is a marvelous preface to the simple but meaningful, potent chorus from this super slow, minor-key, traditional gospel record. Biggham not only sings lead on this amazing, faith-based cut, but he also composed it. Paul Gainer is responsible for the piano and vocal arrangement, which are also, incredible.

The chorus on “Have You Been Tried in the Fire” is perfect execution of call and response form (“Have you been tried in the fire (Yes) /… Did you come through as pure gold”). Biggham delivers a commanding, spirited lead, with the choir keeping the same energy.  Biggham follows up with three verses, which speak to being a faithful Christian.  In the first verse, Milton calls out the faux Christians, asserting, “But tell me how can you say you know it / When you never bow down to pray?” Essentially, Biggham highlights the importance of actions as a Christian.  Notably, in the second verse, he ministers that Christians should be unashamed of being saved, but also adds, “But you really don’t have to tell it, If you live it, the world will know.” Continuing in the same manner, in the third verse, he characterizes Christians as “belong(ing) to the noisy crew / We should when we get happy / That’s the way we Christians do.” All told, “Have You Been Tried in the Fire” is a powerful, gospel record that provides reminders – a checklist, if you will – for Christians.  Notably, Killer Mike samples the gospel classic on “YES!” from his Grammy-winning album, MICHAEL.

Florida Mass Choir // Lord, You Keep On Proving Yourself to Me // Savoy // 1982

Florida Mass Choir, Have You Been Tried In The Fire: Music Lifts No. 9 (2024) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Savoy; Hamid Tajik, Qamar Rehman, vansh mehta, Viridiana Rivera via Pexels]