Jim Papoulis
Composer, Orchestrator, Conductor & Longtime YPC Collaborator
What’s the inspiration behind the song “Give Us Hope“
Back when we wrote this song, it seemed like everywhere I turned there were stories about children without hope. So I wanted to approach this song from the point of view of child. And it was actually the first song I ever wrote for a children’s choir.
“Give Us Hope” has become an anthem that children just want to keep singing.
Yes! It was sung at President Obama’s second Inauguration, it’s sung at the 9/11 memorial, and it was sung after the horrible bombing in Paris. It’s just become this joyful, hopeful song that is sung in so many important places for meaningful reasons.
So this year is the 20th anniversary of the first time you recorded this song, what’s it like to hear it today?
It was such a different song for children to sing, because it proves that children are capable of singing complicated songs. This year we actually re-recorded it for the first time in many years for a televised concert during the pandemic and it was extremely rewarding. Every time I hear children sing this song, I am moved to tears, because they are really singing from their souls.