Blake Shelton Says 'The Voice' Performance Of 'Will The Circle Be Unbroken' Is 'Not The Version I Grew Up On' [VIDEO]
The Voice's Blake Shelton is baffled as to why the word 'Lord' was plucked out of the Starbucks Chorus' on-air performance of Will The Circle Be Unbroken.
Hailing from Seattle, Wa., the philanthropic group of Starbucks employees hit The Voice stage during Tuesday night's Top 8 results show. However, Shelton and many viewers were taken by surprise when the group changed the lyrics to a classic Christian hymn turned country staple.
"I don't know what, uh -- how it happened, or -- I'm learning about it just like you guys are," Shelton told Zap2it after the performance. "I was sitting in my chair singing that song how I grew up on it, with 'in the sky, Lord, in the sky.' I sang it as loud as I could. And that might be why I didn't realize until after the fact that 'Lord' was either taken out, or it was just performed some other way."
Written as a hymn by Ada R. Habershon, the original lyrics never mentioned the word 'Lord.' However, when the tune was redone by A.P. Carter and The Carter Family, the term was inserted into the chorus.
However, Shelton seems to prefer The Carter Family version.
"I know it was performed -- and it's meant for a good cause, and they're trying to raise some money. And that's a good thing," Shelton said, according to Zap2it. "But I will say, that's not the version I grew up on. And that's not the version I was singing sitting in my chair, if that clears up anything [about] where I stand on this thing."
The Voice is now down to the Top 6 and will return Monday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
