The Happy Land

 I remember this from the Little House books and saw it somewhere else recently. It has been running through my mind ever since. I love the song and thought I should share it with you.

It asks some good questions!

There is a happy land far, far away

Where saints in glory stand, bright, bright as day.

Oh how they sweetly sing, Worth is our Savior King.

Loud let his praises ring! Praise, praise for aye.

Come to that happy land, come, come away!

Why will you doubting stand? Why still delay?

Oh we shall happy be, when from sin and sorrow free,

Lord we shall live with thee! Blest, blest for aye.

Bright in that happy land beams every eye.

Kept by a fathers hand love cannot die.

Oh! Then to glory run, be a crown and kingdom won,

And bright, bright above the sun, we reign for aye.

Karma

Forsworn,

Without Honor,

Alone,

Will stand and weep,

And wish

For the Hope,

The Dreams,

The Promise,

Of all the lost years.

Regret, 

Remorse,

Despair,

Defeat.

All for choices made.

Then watch the children follow your example,

And weep once more.

Yellow Roses, Silver Bells

This isn't finished. Just posting it: Because!


Yet still she dreams,

Of knights on white horses, in search of the grail.
One true love, that will never fail.
Wind on the mountains, moonlight on the sea.
Yellow Roses, and Silver Bells.

In my memory still,
The scent of yellow roses,  and the sound of silver bells.

Sweet yellow roses, and bright silver bells.

David Danced

David danced
In the streets of Jerusalem, he danced.
David danced, before the Lord.
David danced.
With all his might, David danced.

To magnify the lord, David danced.
In joyous praise, David danced.

David danced.
In the streets of Jerusalem, he danced.
David danced.
Before the Lord.
David danced.
With all his might.
David danced.

A man after Gods own heart.
David danced.

Four Days Late

This is a beautiful song and the video is really gorgeous too.
I love the white dresses, and her voice is so lovely. It made me cry.

Joy

This is something I try to remember any time I'm having problems, especial when feeling sorry for myself. Pity parties seem to make things worse.


Sorrow comes in the evening
and she'll stay through the night.
Always remember as you weep in the dark,

There is joy in the morning!
There is joy in the light!
There is joy in the rising of that Bright and Morning Star!

There will be tribulations
And you will walk a rocky road
Through a shadowed vale.

Three is joy in the truth!
There is joy in the right!
There is joy in the rising of that Bright and Morning Star!

Stephen Foster's NELLY WAS A LADY - Tom Roush.

This is beautiful.

Don Williams Emmy Lou Harris - If I Needed You (with lyrics)

This is a truly lovely song. There are other versions but I really love this one.

Homeward Bound By Marta Keen

    I can't believe I missed this song for so long. It is exactly the kind of song I love. I think it is beautiful and the sentiment is lovely too. There are some really nice performances posted on YouTube. I especially like this one.

The song also has a Facebook page, where the author talks about the meaning of the song, and some of the many places it has been performed.


In the quiet misty morning when the moon has gone to bed,
When the sparrows stop their singing and the sky is clear and red.
When the summer’s ceased its gleaming,
When the corn is past its prime,
When adventure’s lost its meaning,
I’ll be homeward bound in time.

Bind me not to the pasture, chain me not to the plow.
Set me free to find my calling and I’ll return to you somehow.

If you find it’s me you're missing, if you’re hoping I’ll return.
To your thoughts I’ll soon be list’ning, and in the road I’ll stop and turn.
Then the wind will set me racing as my journey nears its end.
And the path I’ll be retracing when I’m homeward bound again.

Bind me not to the pasture, chain me not to the plow.
Set me free to find my calling and I’ll return to you somehow.

In the quiet misty morning when the moon has gone to bed,
When the sparrows stop their singing,
I’ll be homeward bound again.

Dark As A Dungeon By Merle Travis

I first heard this on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's Will The Circle Be Unbroken album back in middle school. Our music teacher brought this album in and used several of the songs on it to teach some lessons about the different types of music.

I fell in love with the songs I heard in class and bugged my mom till she bought me a copy of the album. Back then it was actual vinyl record albums. I also bought cassette copies and eventually CD copies of it. I still have the CD copy. That album has some other beautiful songs on it like Wildwood Flower.

Dark As A Dungeon just sort of grabs my imagination though. Those men who worked (or still do) in mines had a hard row to hoe and they didn't get paid nearly enough in my opinion. Not for working in the dark and risking their lives.

Come listen you fellows so young and so fine
Oh seek not your fortune in the dark dreary mine
It will form as a habit and seep in your soul
'Till the stream of your blood is as black as the coal

Chorus:

It's dark as a dungeon and damp as the dew 
Where the danger is double and the pleasures are few 
Where the rain never falls and the sun never shines 
It's dark as a dungeon way down in the mines 

It's a-many a man I've known in my day
Who lived just to labor his life away
Like a fiend with his dope and a drunkard his wine
A man will have lust for the lure of the mine

The midnight the morning or the middle of the day
It's the same to the miner who labors away
Where the demons of death often come by surprise
One fall of the slate and your buried alive

 I hope when I'm gone and the ages shall roll
My body will blacken and turn into coal
Then I'll look from the door of my heavenly home
And pity the miner a-digging my bones

Victory In Jesus

I remember singing this in church when I was 10-14. There was a group of us girls who sang "specials" and this was one of our favorite songs.

My great-grandmother also loved this song and it is one of the songs I remember her singing while sitting in the recliner with the dog on her lap looking out the window.

It was written by the famous gospel singing teacher Eugene M. Bartlett. According to The Complete Book of Hymns by William J. Petersen and Ardythe Petersen it was the last song he wrote and he wrote it after having a stroke that left him pretty much disabled and home-bound.

I heard an old, old story,
How a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,
Of His precious blood's atoning,
Then I repented of my sins
And won the victory.


Chorus
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bo't me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.

I heard about His healing,
Of His cleansing pow'r revealing.
How He made the lame to walk again
And caused the blind to see;
And then I cried, "Dear Jesus,
Come and heal my broken spirit,"
And somehow Jesus came and bro't
To me the victory.


I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory.
And I heard about the streets of gold
Beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing,
And the old redemption story,
And some sweet day I'll sing up there
The song of victory. 

Written by Eugene M. Bartlett (1885-1941)
© 1939 - Administrated by Integrated Copyright Group, Inc.
All rights reserved  

 This song has been recorded a lot too and if you do a search on Amazon.com you will find several pages of albums that have this song.

In The Big Rock Candy Mountains

I remember this from when I was a kid. Not sure if I knew the song before but my family went to Rock City in Chattanooga, Tennessee and they had a big animated critter (I think it was a bear) out front and it was playing this song.

I have heard it sung by several people. Burl Ives sang it. Harry McClintock sings it in O Brother, Where Art Thou? I have heard it done by others too but can't remember the names.

It is a fun song to sing. The children's versions usually change the lyrics to leave out the cigarettes and liquor. And of course there was supposed to be a verse at the end where one of them basically says he is tired of hunting for the mountains which uses some fairly graphic language. I did NOT include that verse here. You can find it on the net if you really want to.

One evening as the sun went down
And the jungle fires were burning,
Down the track came a hobo hiking,
And he said, "Boys, I'm not turning
I'm headed for a land that's far away
Besides the crystal fountains
So come with me, we'll go and see
The Big Rock Candy Mountains

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains,
There's a land that's fair and bright,
Where the handouts grow on bushes
And you sleep out every night.
Where the boxcars all are empty
And the sun shines every day
And the birds and the bees
And the cigarette trees
The lemonade springs
Where the bluebird sings
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains.

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
All the cops have wooden legs
And the bulldogs all have rubber teeth
And the hens lay soft-boiled eggs
The farmers' trees are full of fruit
And the barns are full of hay
Oh I'm bound to go
Where there ain't no snow
Where the rain don't fall
The winds don't blow
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains.

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
You never change your socks
And the little streams of alcohol
Come trickling down the rocks
The brakemen have to tip their hats
And the railway bulls are blind
There's a lake of stew
And of whiskey too
You can paddle all around it
In a big canoe
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains,
The jails are made of tin.
And you can walk right out again,
As soon as you are in.
There ain't no short-handled shovels,
No axes, saws nor picks,
I'm bound to stay
Where you sleep all day,
Where they hung the jerk
That invented work
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains.
....
I'll see you all this coming fall
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

500 Miles By Peter, Paul, And Mary

This is a great sing along song. 

I remember singing itwhen I was little. It came out only a couple of years before I was born but Peter, Paul, And Mary were very popular back in the 60s and my mom was young and hip back then.

I have no idea who taught it to us kids but I remember a bunch of us kids as well as my mom, grandmother, and aunt singing this in the car. No idea where we were going or why but I remember we had fun and sang a bunch of songs and all of us kids knew all the words to this one.

Does that still happen these days? I hope so. It is a great memory that I treasure.


If you miss the train I'm on, you will know that I am gone
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles
a hundred miles, a hundred miles, a hundred miles, a hundred miles
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles

Lord I'm one, Lord I'm two, Lord I'm three, Lord I'm four
Lord I'm 500 miles from my home
500 miles, 500 miles, 500 miles, 500 miles
Lord I'm five hundred miles from my home

Not a shirt on my back, not a penny to my name
Lord I can't go a-home this a-way
This a-away, this a-way, this a-way, this a-way
Lord I can't go a-home this a-way

If you miss the train I'm on you will know that I am gone
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles

Where Have All The Flowers Gone

I first heard this song about 40 years ago. It was sung by Peter, Paul, and Mary and I loved it.

I hadn't heard it or thought about it in years till I saw a reference to the song the other day. Ever since then the song has been in my head.

I have even caught myself singing it over and over. It is a beautiful song and the idea behind it...that everything keeps on going and that things come around again like the seasons...and never come to a real end...is wonderful. And it makes me feel happy.

And since it is a circle song you can just keep on singing it without sounding funny...cause it really never ends!
 

Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the flowers gone?
Young girls have picked them everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the young girls gone, long time passing?
Where have all the young girls gone, long time ago?
Where have all the young girls gone?
Gone for husbands everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the husbands gone, long time passing?
Where have all the husbands gone, long time ago?
Where have all the husbands gone?
Gone for soldiers everyone
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the soldiers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the soldiers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards, everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the graveyards gone, long time passing?
Where have all the graveyards gone, long time ago?
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Gone to flowers, everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the flowers gone?
Young girls have picked them everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Words and Music by Pete Seeger (1955)
(c) 1961 (renewed) by Sanga Music Inc.

Mother's Last Word To Her Son

    I never can forget the day
   When my dear Mother did sweetly say,
   "You are leavin', my darling boy,
   You always have been your mother's joy."

   "Now as you leave in this world to roam
   You may not be able to get back home.
   But remember Jesus, who lives on high
   And is watchin' over you with a mighty eye."

   "The world is so full of old sin and woe
   And many sorrows everywhere you go.
   But remember Jesus, who's everywhere
   You get in trouble now, he'll meet you there."

   "If you'll bow down before his face
   And trust in him for his saving grace, now,
   And you have a burden, he'll make them light
   And he sure will guide you all in the right."

   SOLO

   Now when I think of my Mother dear
   How often she did, and try to cheer
   My wandering mind, whilst going astray,
   By saying, "Son, accept the way."


This song was written and recorded by Washington Phillips back in the 1920's.

I heard it it the movie We Need To Talk About Kevin(really good move). I fell in love with the song and was amazed that I had not ever heard it before.

I found a remake by a modern group called Awkward I. It is really good(in my opinion). The original recording has also been posted on YouTube I think.

Do Lord, Oh Do Lord, Do Remember Me

I remember this song from my childhood. This is one that everyone sang. I haven't heard it in ages and I'm wondering if folks still sing it?

I looked it up on google and apparently it was written by Julia Ward Howe, who also wrote the Battle Hymn of The Republic.

Some of the lyrics I remember were missing from the all the sites I found online. I'm putting the ones I remember here. I expect this is one of the songs that folks added their own lyrics to as they went along. There are probably different versions in different parts of the country or in different churches.

If you know any other lyrics please add them in a comment. It would be a shame to lose them.

Chorus:
Do Lord, O, Do Lord, O do remember me,
Do Lord, O, Do Lord, O do remember me,
Do Lord, O, Do Lord, O do remember me,
Way beyond the blue.

I've got a home in glory land that out-shines the sun.
I've got a home in glory land that out-shines the sun.
I've got a home in glory land that out-shines the sun.
Way beyond the blue.

Chorus:
Do Lord, O, Do Lord, O do remember me,
Do Lord, O, Do Lord, O do remember me,
Do Lord, O, Do Lord, O do remember me,
Way beyond the blue.

I took Jesus as my Savior, You take Him too.
I took Jesus as my Savior, You take Him too.
I took Jesus as my Savior, You take Him too, while He's still calling you.
Way beyond the blue.

Chorus:
Do Lord, O, Do Lord, O do remember me,
Do Lord, O, Do Lord, O do remember me,
Do Lord, O, Do Lord, O do remember me,
Way beyond the blue.

I read the book of Revelations, You read it too.
I read the book of Revelations, You read it too.
I read the book of Revelations, You read it too.
Way beyond the blue.

Chorus:
Do Lord, O, Do Lord, O do remember me,
Do Lord, O, Do Lord, O do remember me,
Do Lord, O, Do Lord, O do remember me,
Way beyond the blue.

If you can't bear a cross, You can't wear a crown.
If you can't bear a cross, You can't wear a crown.
If you can't bear a cross, You can't wear a crown.
Way beyond the blue.

Chorus:
Do Lord, O, Do Lord, O do remember me,
Do Lord, O, Do Lord, O do remember me,
Do Lord, O, Do Lord, O do remember me,
Way beyond the blue.

 There is a lovely version of this song sung by a children's choir you can listen to by clicking here.

A Shelter In The Time Of Storm

I love this song. I don't remember where/when I first heard the chorus but I liked it. I love the idea of having a Shelter In The Time Of Storm. I looked up the words and the whole song has wonderful images of being sheltered.

The Lord's our Rock, in Him we hide
A shelter in the time of storm,
Secure whatever ill betide
A shelter in the time of storm.

Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A weary land, a weary land;
Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land
A shelter in the time of storm.

A shade by day, defense by night
A shelter in teh time of storm;
No fears alarm, no foes affright
A shelter in the time of storm.

The raging storms may round us beat
A shelter in teh time of storm;
We'll never leave our safe retreat
A shelter in teh time of storm.

O Rock divine, O Refuge dear
 A shelter in the time of storm;
Be Thour our helper ever near
A shelter in the time of storm.

The lyrics were written by Ve­rnon J. Charles­worth
Music was written by Ira Sankey

Trust And Obey

This is one of my favorite hymns. I remember it from church when I was young. This is one of the songs that got sung a lot. Apparently a whole lot of people love it. It was written back in 1886 by John Sammis and the music was written by Daniel Towner. It is a lovely song and tells the proper order of christian life--trust first, then obey.

"When we walk with the Lord in teh light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt nor a fear, not a sigh nor a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief nor a loss, not a frown nor a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove the delights of His love
Untill all on the alter we lay;
For the favor He shows and the joy He betsows
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we'll walk by His side in they way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go--
Never fear, only trust and obey.

The Complete Book of Hymns: Inspiring Stories about 600 Hymns and Praise Songs

Rosin The Bow "Old Rosin The Beau"

It seem there are at least two versions of this song. The one I had remembered is the more modern one...it was sung on one of the Walton shows way back when. I also heard the Clancy Brothers
version on Come Fill Your Glass with Us. I have a copy of that somewhere. It is one of the old songs everyone can sing along with.

This is the version I remember:

I've traveled all over this world
And now to another I go
And I know that good quarters are waiting
To welcome old Rosin the Bow
To welcome old Rosin the Bow
To welcome old Rosin the Bow
And I know that good quarters are waiting
To welcome old Rosin the Bow.


When I'm dead and laid out on the counter
A voice you will hear from below
Saying "Send down a hogshead of whiskey
To drink with old Rosin the Bow"
To drink with old Rosin the Bow"
To drink with old Rosin the Bow"
Saying "Send down a hogshead of whiskey
To drink with old Rosin the Bow".

Then get a half dozen stout fellows
And stack them all up in a row
Let them drink out of half gallon bottles
To the memory of Rosin the Bow
To the memory of Rosin the Bow
To the memory of Rosin the Bow
Let them drink out of half gallon bottles
To the memory of Rosin the Bow.

Then get this half dozen stout fellows
And let them all stagger and go
And dig a great hole in the meadow
And in it put Rosin the Bow
And in it put Rosin the Bow
And in it put Rosin the Bow
And dig a great hole in the meadow
And in it put Rosin the Bow.

Then get ye a couple of bottles
Put one at me head and me toe
With a diamond ring scratch upon them
The name of old Rosin the Bow
The name of old Rosin the Bow
The name of old Rosin the Bow
With a diamond ring scratch upon them
The name of old Rosin the Bow.

I've only this one consolation
As out of this world I go
I know that the next generation
Will resemble old Rosin the Bow
Will resemble old Rosin the Bow
Will resemble old Rosin the Bow
I know that the next generation
Will resemble old Rosin the Bow.

I fear that old tyrant approaching
That cruel remorseless old foe
And I lift up me glass in his honor
Take a drink with old Rosin the Bow
Take a drink with old Rosin the Bow
Take a drink with old Rosin the Bow
And I lift up me glass in his honor
Take a drink with old Rosin the Bow.

This is the original folk song:

I've always been cheerful and easy,
And scarce have I needed a foe.
While some after money run crazy,
I merrily Rosin'd the Bow.

Some youngsters were panting for fashions,
Some new kick seemed now all the go,
But having no turbulent passions,
My motto was "Rosin the Bow."

So kindly my parents besought me,
No longer a roving to go,
And friends whom I thought had forgot me,
With gladness met Rosin the Bow.

My young day I spent all in roving,
But never was vicious, no, no;
But somehow I loved to keep moving,
And cheerfully Rosin'd the Bow.

In country or city, no matter,
Too often I never could go,
My presence all sadness would scatter,
So cheerful was Rosin the Bow.

The old people always grew merry,
Young faces with pleasure did glow,
While lips with the red of cherry,
Sipped "bliss to old Rosin the Bow."

While sweetly I played on my viol,
In measures so soft and so slow,
Old Time stopped the shade on the dial,
To listen to Rosin the Bow.

And peacefully now I am sinking,
From all this sweet world can bestow,
But Heaven's kind mercy I'm thinking,
Provides for old Rosin the Bow.

Now soon some still Sunday morning,
The first thing the neighbors will know,
Their ears will be met with the warning,
To bury old Rosin the Bow.

My friends will then so neatly dress me,
In linen as white as the snow,
And in my new coffin they'll press me,
And whisper "poor Rosin the Bow."

Then lone with my head on the pillow,
In peace I'll be sleeping below,
The grass and the breeze shaken willow,
That waves over Rosin the Bow.

I think I actually like the lyrics of the old folk song better. It might not be as fun to sing though as the newer drinking song.

Soldier, Ask Not

Hymn of the Friendlies by Gordon R. Dickson, within book of the same title (1923–2001), published 1965

Soldier, ask not - now, or ever,
Where to war your banners go.
Anarch's legions all surround us.
Strike - and do not count the blow!

Glory, honor, praise and profit,
Are but toys of tinsel worth.
Render up your work, unasking,
Leave the human clay to earth.

Blood and sorrow, pain unending,
Are the portion of us all.
Grasp the naked sword, opposing,
Gladly in the battle fall.

So shall we, anointed soldiers,
Stand at last before the Throne,
Baptized in our wounds, red-flowing,
Sealed unto our Lord - alone!


I read the Dorsai books a long time ago. Some of them I read several times. I loved the songs he used in the books. This is a really good one.

There are lots of other songs that have been written about the Dorsai. You can find them on the Dorsai Irregulars Filk Song Collection. I'm going to be posting some of my favorite filk song lyrics because a few of the older sites seem to be disappearing and it would be a shame to lose them.

If you want to know more about Filk Songs...check out Filking 101:The Folk Music of Science Fiction.