SONG OVERVIEW
Title: June 7, 1844 Album Position: Track 1 Act: I - The Awakening Role: Album opener - sets the scene, establishes stakes, introduces the whistleblowers
Caption: The press runs for the first and last time. Insiders break their silence. The truth will out.
Style: Americana, cinematic folk, slow build, orchestral swells, male vocals, anthemic, storytelling, acoustic guitar, strings, dramatic, building intensity
Runtime Target: 4:00-4:30
FINAL LYRICS
[Cinematic Intro]
. . . ! . .
. . . . ! .
. . ! . . !
[Verse 1]
It is with the greatest solicitude
For the salvation of the human family
And of our own souls
That we have this day assembled
[Verse 2]
No man knows better than we do
The rise, the fall, the history
We stood beside him in the beginning
We saw what he became
[Pre-Chorus]
We called upon him to repent
He said he'd rather be damned
Forbearance has ceased to be a virtue
And hope of reformation... vain
[Chorus]
June seventh, eighteen forty-four
The press runs once and never more
We gird our armor, draw the sword
The sword of truth
We hazard everything we have
Our property, our very lives
But the remedy cannot be applied
Unless the disease is known
[Instrumental Break]
. . ! . . !
. ! . . ! .
[Verse 3]
We appeal to the arm of Jehovah
The supreme arbiter of the world
For the rectitude of our intentions
Let God be our witness
[Verse 4]
Freedom of speech, liberty of press
The right to worship as we choose
These rights we will not surrender
To any man who calls himself a prophet
[Chorus]
June seventh, eighteen forty-four
The press runs once and never more
We gird our armor, draw the sword
The sword of truth
We hazard everything we have
Our property, our very lives
But the remedy cannot be applied
Unless the disease is known
[Bridge]
Lo, the wolf is in the fold
Arrayed in sheep's clothing
Spreading death and devastation
Among the saints
We say to the watchmen on the walls
Cry aloud and spare not
For the day of reckoning is at hand
[Final Chorus - building, anthemic]
June seventh, eighteen forty-four
The press runs once and never more
We gird our armor, draw the sword
The sword of truth!
We hazard everything we have
Our property, our very lives
The remedy cannot be applied
Unless the disease is known!
[Outro - slower, resolute]
The disease is known...
The disease is known...
[End]
SOURCE MATERIAL FROM THE NAUVOO EXPOSITOR
All lyrics are grounded in the Preamble and Resolutions of the Nauvoo Expositor, June 7, 1844.
The Opening Declaration
“It is with the greatest solicitude for the salvation of the Human Family, and of our own souls, that we have this day assembled”
Their Unique Position
“no man or set of men can be more thoroughly acquainted with its rise, its organization, and its history, than we have every reason to believe we are”
The Appeal to God
“We rely upon the arm of Jehovah, the Supreme Arbiter of the world, to whom we this day, and upon this occasion, appeal for the rectitude of our intentions”
The Call to Repent Rejected
“We have called upon him to repent, and as soon as he shewed fruits meet for repentance, we stood ready to seize him by the hand of fellowship”
“if he had sinned, and was guilty of the charges we would charge him with, he would not make acknowledgment, but would rather be damned; for it would detract from his dignity”
Forbearance Exhausted
“forbearance has ceased to be a virtue, and hope of reformation vain”
The Armor and Sword
“we have dared to gird on the armor, and with God at our head, we most solemnly and sincerely declare that the sword of truth shall not depart from the thigh, nor the buckler from the arm”
The Rights They Defend
“freedom of speech, the liberty of the press, and the right to worship God as seemeth us good”
The Cost Acknowledged
“We are aware, however, that we are hazarding every earthly blessing, particularly property, and probably life itself, in striking this blow at tyranny and oppression”
The Wolf in the Fold
“Lo! the wolf is in the fold, arrayed in sheep’s clothing, and is spreading death and devastation among the saints: and we say to the watchmen standing upon the walls, cry aloud and spare not, for the day of the Lord is at hand”
The Album’s Thesis
“The remedy can never be applied, unless the disease is known”
LYRIC-TO-SOURCE MAPPING
| Lyric | Source |
|---|---|
| “It is with the greatest solicitude / For the salvation of the human family” | Direct quote from Preamble opening |
| “And of our own souls / That we have this day assembled” | Direct quote continued |
| “No man knows better than we do” | “no man or set of men can be more thoroughly acquainted” |
| “The rise, the fall, the history” | “its rise, its organization, and its history” |
| “We stood beside him in the beginning” | Implied - William Law was Second Counselor in First Presidency |
| “We saw what he became” | Implied from their intimate knowledge |
| “We called upon him to repent” | “We have called upon him to repent” |
| “He said he’d rather be damned” | “he would not make acknowledgment, but would rather be damned” |
| “Forbearance has ceased to be a virtue” | Direct quote |
| “And hope of reformation… vain” | “hope of reformation vain” |
| “June seventh, eighteen forty-four” | The publication date |
| “The press runs once and never more” | Historical fact - single issue before destruction |
| “We gird our armor” | “we have dared to gird on the armor” |
| “Draw the sword / The sword of truth” | “the sword of truth shall not depart from the thigh” |
| “We hazard everything we have” | “we are hazarding every earthly blessing” |
| “Our property, our very lives” | “particularly property, and probably life itself” |
| “The remedy cannot be applied / Unless the disease is known” | Direct quote - the album’s thesis |
| “We appeal to the arm of Jehovah” | “We rely upon the arm of Jehovah” |
| “The supreme arbiter of the world” | “the Supreme Arbiter of the world” |
| “For the rectitude of our intentions” | “appeal for the rectitude of our intentions” |
| “Freedom of speech, liberty of press” | “freedom of speech, the liberty of the press” |
| “The right to worship as we choose” | “the right to worship God as seemeth us good” |
| “To any man who calls himself a prophet” | Implied - Joseph’s prophetic claims |
| “Lo, the wolf is in the fold” | “Lo! the wolf is in the fold” |
| “Arrayed in sheep’s clothing” | “arrayed in sheep’s clothing” |
| “Spreading death and devastation” | “spreading death and devastation among the saints” |
| “Cry aloud and spare not” | “cry aloud and spare not” |
| “The day of reckoning is at hand” | “the day of the Lord is at hand” |
PRODUCER NOTES
What This Song Does
- Opens the album with the date itself - grounds everything in history
- Establishes WHO is speaking: insiders, former believers, people who know
- Names the cost upfront: “We hazard everything we have”
- Sets up the album’s central thesis: “The remedy cannot be applied unless the disease is known”
- That final line echoes throughout the album - every song is part of naming the disease
Key Production Decisions
- Formal/archaic tone - These were educated men making a legal and moral declaration. The language should reflect that gravity.
- Slow build structure - Starts solemn, ends anthemic. The opener needs to earn its crescendo.
- Verse 1 is verbatim - Using their exact words immediately establishes authenticity and historical weight.
- The chorus carries the date - “June seventh, eighteen forty-four” anchors everything in history.
- Ends on the thesis - “The disease is known” is the last thing listeners hear before the album unfolds.
Potential Concerns (To Monitor in Suno)
- Verse 1’s formal language may be challenging to sing naturally
- “Eighteen forty-four” might scan awkwardly - watch for rhythm issues
- The chorus is idea-dense - may need tightening if it feels cluttered
The Whistleblowers
This song speaks in the collective voice of the Expositor’s publishers:
- William Law - Second Counselor in the First Presidency (Joseph’s right hand)
- Wilson Law - William’s brother, brigadier general in Nauvoo Legion
- Jane Law - William’s wife, who refused Joseph’s advances
- Robert D. Foster - Nauvoo surgeon and Justice of the Peace
- Charles A. Foster - Robert’s brother
- Francis M. Higbee - Former missionary, author of “Citizens of Hancock County”
- Chauncey L. Higbee - Francis’s brother
- Charles Ivins - High Priest
These were not outsiders. They were the inner circle. They knew everything.
Connection to Other Tracks
- Track 2 “Forbearance” - Expands on “forbearance has ceased to be a virtue”
- Track 3 “Seven Wives” - The specific lie they’re exposing
- Track 15 “The Burning” - Three days after this press ran, it was destroyed
- Track 16 “Sudden Day” - The truth survived; the disease is known
The Album’s Thesis
“The remedy can never be applied, unless the disease is known.”
This line appears in the Expositor’s Preamble, explaining why they must speak despite the danger. It’s the perfect thesis for the album:
- The disease: spiritual abuse, coercion, exploitation, lies
- The remedy: truth, exposure, voice
- The application: 180 years later, we’re still applying it through song
Every song on this album is part of making the disease known.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The Nauvoo Expositor was published on June 7, 1844 - a Friday. It was a four-page broadsheet newspaper, Volume 1, Number 1. There would never be a Number 2.
The publishers were former high-ranking members of the LDS Church who had witnessed Joseph Smith’s secret practices firsthand. William Law had been Second Counselor in the First Presidency - one of Joseph’s two closest advisors in church governance. He had seen the revelation on plural marriage. His wife Jane had been propositioned by Joseph himself.
The Expositor’s content included:
- A Preamble explaining their reasons for publishing
- 15 Resolutions outlining their positions
- Sworn affidavits from William Law, Jane Law, and Austin Cowles
- Francis Higbee’s “Citizens of Hancock County” letter
- Editorial content exposing various abuses
Three days later, on June 10, 1844, Joseph Smith (as mayor of Nauvoo) declared the Expositor a “public nuisance” and ordered it destroyed. A marshal and approximately 100 men removed the press, scattered the type, and burned the remaining copies.
This act led to Joseph Smith’s arrest on charges of inciting a riot. On June 27, 1844 - twenty days after the Expositor published - Joseph and his brother Hyrum were killed by a mob at Carthage Jail.
The Expositor’s publishers were right: they hazarded “property, and probably life itself.” But the truth they published outlived them all.
ALBUM FLOW NOTE
As the opener, this song must accomplish several things:
- Ground the listener in history - The date, the stakes, the moment
- Establish credibility - These aren’t outsiders; they know everything
- Set the emotional tone - Solemn, determined, costly
- Introduce the thesis - “The remedy cannot be applied unless the disease is known”
- Create anticipation - What is the disease? The album will show you.
The song ends with “The disease is known…” - and then the album unfolds to reveal exactly what that disease was: the exploitation of women, the theological manipulation, the political ambition, the financial schemes, and ultimately the violent silencing of truth.