The song "Little David" is not a James Taylor song, but rather a traditional African-American spiritual that has been performed and recorded by various artists throughout the years. However, I can still help explain the meaning and story behind the lyrics. "Little David, play on your harp, hallelu, hallelujah" refers to the biblical story of David, who was a shepherd boy and eventually became the king of Israel. According to the Bible, David was known for playing the harp and composing songs, including the famous Psalms. In this spiritual, "Little David" is a symbolic representation of a humble and devout believer who uses music (the harp) as a way to express his faith and worship God. The repetition of the phrase "play on your harp" emphasizes the importance of music as a form of worship and connection to the divine. It encourages believers to use their talents and gifts to praise God and spread joy and positivity, represented by the exclamation of "hallelu, hallelujah" which means "praise the Lord." The second verse introduces the idea that the streets of heaven are paved with solid gold, a concept often associated with the idea of heaven being a place of great beauty and abundance. The mention of the gold streets may suggest that the spiritual is sung from the perspective of someone longing for heaven and speaking of its wonders. Overall, "Little David" is a joyful and uplifting spiritual that celebrates the power of music, faith, and the hope of heavenly reward. It encourages believers to use their talents and faith to worship and bring glory to God.
