January 5, 2007

Oh, Lord. 'Kumbaya.'

By JASON M. BRESLOW

"Kumbaya" may be a singalong classic, but for most around any campfire, the song's origins and meaning are a mystery. Not to Lum Chee Hoo.

Mr. Lum has always been interested in camp songs, and as a doctoral candidate in music education at the University of Washington, he may be the foremost expert on "Kumbaya." The word means "come by here" and was intended as a call for the Lord, he notes, but it became about people "coming together." Mr. Lum is not interested in current

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