What were J.P. Sousas intentions in the song the thunderer?

Answer 1

'The Thunderer' is just one of many marches written by John Philip Sousa who is probably most famous for his march 'The Stars and Stripes Forever'. In that march we know that his intention was to give the piccolo players a chance to shine, which he did in the trio of the march. I have not ever heard of any particular intention for the 'Thunderer', but the trumpets and cornets are featured in this throughout the march.

For the 'intentions,' or the meaning of the song's lyrics, just read them; they're pretty self-explanatory. It seems pretty clear that John Philip Sousa was a devout member of a Judeo-Christian faith, when you look at the wording of the lyrics.

The ThundererGod is the thunderer, earth-quaking, soul-shaking.

He drives asunder our notions unreal.

As His lightning shows the way--

Fear-height'ning, night-bright'ning--

His living word today He doth reveal.

That still we be taught, He will show us first,

Lightning in a burst of thought

And then speak His word--thundering His sign

That the law divine be heard.

So even the blind cannot fail to see

How the world that He designed

Responds to his voice, thundering on high

Till the earth and sky rejoice.

And so with us still, as man intends

So do his ends reflect his will.

So then let us pray that we endorse

The Maker's course in ev'ry way.

As God rules the world and from above

Commanding love His word is hurled,

So we down below should so contend

That we commend the Lord we know.

If in our hearts we bear our Heavenly Father's care,

Then though we meet dissension argument and contention,

We will bring comprehension to the world we share.

God in His might created earth

And gave it birth commanding light.

His light is the truth for which we pray

To guide each day in age and youth.

Then if we go astray as in the world we stay,

If in our lives we blunder, falter and go asunder,

Still we will hear Him thundering to guide our way.

Let heaven ring and so transmit

The holy writ the angels sing--

His word all sublime designed to last

For all the past and future time!