I miss the old hymns that I remember from my childhood - there were no drums, no electric guitar and no mind numbing beat. It was just voices and maybe a piano or an organ. The choir led the congregation in singing - and the words of these hymns are poetic. I realize that there is a need for the modern "seeker oriented" worship music - but it is also necessary to have deeper songs (no offense intended to anyone who prefers the newer church songs).
I decided to have an "Old Fashion Sunday Hymn Sing" once a month on this blog.
I personally do NOT have a great singing voice - I used to play the guitar & piano but my voice is NOT an instrument. That's the great thing about this digital hymn sing, you can warble along without being embarrassed or without offending anyone else.
The hymns that we will be studying are taken from an old hymnal from a Baptist church that is no longer in existence - "The North American Hymnal" published in 1956 by "THE ROGER WILLIAMS PRESS"
I will also try to find a version of the featured hymn on "YouTube" to share with you each month.
Today's feature song is "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder" composed & written by James M. Black (1859-1938). Mr. Black was an American song & hymn writer - he loved to teach Sunday School. One day a child was missing from his Sunday School class and afterward he visited that child who had been ill with pneumonia. He sent a doctor to care for this young girl but was struck or tormented by the thought of any one of his Sunday School class members not being in heaven when "the roll is called up yonder." After visiting her, he immediately went home and wrote this hymn.
The YouTube video that I chose for this song is a Blue Grass version of this beautiful hymn - the sound is beautiful but the video is kind of funny. There are people in the background helping themselves to the goodies on the potluck table & then at one point a man walks in front of the camera rubbing his face pondering a shave (at least that's what it looked like to me) - Please forgive my making fun - the musicians are very talented so please listen to the "YouTube" below the typed lyrics - ENJOY!.
Turn with me to number 536 in your hymnals and let's sing:
When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder
by James M. Black (1859-1938) composed by by James M. Black (1859-1938)
1. When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more, And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair; When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore, And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.
CHORUS
2. On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise, And the glory of His resurrection share; When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies, And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.
CHORUS
3. Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun. Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care; Then when all of life is over and our work on earth is done, And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.
CHORUS
Chorus
When the roll............................... is called up yon - - - - - - der, When the
When the roll is called up yonder. I'll be there.
roll..................is called up yon- - - - - - - -der, When the roll..............is called up
When the roll is called up yonder I'll be there, When the roll is called up
yonder, When the roll is called up yonder I'll be there.
When the roll is called up yonder. I'll be there.
roll..................is called up yon- - - - - - - -der, When the roll..............is called up
When the roll is called up yonder I'll be there, When the roll is called up
yonder, When the roll is called up yonder I'll be there.
A special thanks to "Bruce Weeks" for sharing this song on YouTube
Other Hymns on this blog:
I love this song, and I love that you picked a bluegrass version of it. It's a song full of hope isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI love this song and all the others you have featured here. I find myelf singing these old hymns sometimes. I will just realize all of a sudden that I am singing.
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed day
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