Neal’s songs for the soul

“I have been sailing the seas for most of all these years.

Riding the crest of the waves made of tears.

I have been drifting on the troubled seas travelling aimlessly.

Till I put my anchor down in the peaceful harbour.

Empty all my cargo on the docks of heaven gates.

The troubled I am travelling no more.

My sailing life is over. My legs have felt the land.

Standing on the shore I am sailing out no more.

Since I have put my anchor down in the peaceful harbour.”

The gospel singer and devout Christian Neal Lalgee, 55, was singing from his heart. Amazingly, this is his own composition and it really caught those in attendance at the Indian Arrival Day celebration hosted by the South Caribbean Conference of Seven Day Adventist Church (SDA) recently.

Neal has a very interesting story. He was working in the pressroom of a weekly newspaper before he decided to migrate with his wife, Annette and their five children. Neal is on one month vacation here, but he has been asked to perform at several churches and functions.

His decision to migrate came with the opportunity to do printing in a firm in Brooklyn, New York.

“I had a really difficult time settling down. I worked two jobs in order to pay the rent and send my children to school. But as the famous saying goes, ‘God will not give you a heavier cross than you can carry.”

Two years after he settled down in New York, he was involved in a vehicular accident which left his right hand in a cast.

“It was then I decide to pray from my heart sincerely. I was at the bottom of the pit and I needed to rise again somehow. And this I did. My children now older were able to assist in everything my wife and I did and soon we were back on track doing odd jobs and making enough to live out of,” he explained.

It was while on bed that he composed this beautiful hymn as well as several other very beautiful songs that tell of a man surrendering to God.

Neal’s singing stint began when he was just 17 living in San Fernando in the churches. His favourite song was ‘‘Amazing Grace.’’ This song earned him a place in the popular television serious Scouting for Talent. In 1973, he placed seventh in the grand final of this competition. He joined the Calypsonian Ras Shorty I singing back-up with Ella Andall and Baron. In 1980 he met Tony Wilson from the American group Hot Chocolate. He did a few choruses for this group before moving on.

He is most relaxed as he enjoys singing the praises of Jesus Christ. His voice could be heard in the hit song, ‘‘Just when I needed you most.’’

Neal was never hungry for the spotlight. Neither was he looking for a big break to sing and entertain as such. He derived a lot of happiness from singing in the simple churches in the USA.

“My fulfilment came from singing for the fallen souls. I am also fallen and I think I am now in a good position in life where happiness comes from writing and singing praises to the Lord,” he said.

Ideally he named his CD, Peaceful Harbor. It contains songs such as ‘Mount Up With Wings,’’ ‘‘Our God Is a Strong City,’’ ‘‘Beyond the Curtain,’ ‘All I Know,’’ ‘‘I’ve Never Seen the Righteous Forsaken,’’ ‘‘Through the Flame,’’ “More Than I’ve Ever Imagine,’’ ‘‘Love of God,’’ ‘‘Always With Jesus,’’ ‘‘Mystified,’’ ‘‘He didn’t Bring Us This Far,’’ “Look for A Window,’’ ‘‘Here We Are,’’ ‘‘One more Soul,’’ and ‘Raging Sea.’ The talented son will be returning to his New York home on June 1. He said he has found God and while there are little problems in life, there are no problems too big for him to handle since the Lord is with him at all times.