New Book

 

Paperback and Kindle

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I really hadn't intended to even tell anybody about this book. It's mostly a re-hash of my other books of poems -- I just keep adding to the collection and then repackaging, with the addition of the most recent poems. "I don't understand all I know" (as Grandma used to say) about poetry. I just write stuff once in a while, when times get rough. Anyway, for what it's worth... 

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I am starting to work on another Heart Bells type book -- about hymns and gospel songs. It will be a while, though, because I'm actually going to try to write it from scratch. 

George Lynn

PHOTO: Kenneth Davis, Jr. (standing) - my college choir director - and George Lynn, composer of the worst Christian choral music I ever heard.

REMEMBER WHEN I TOLD YOU ABOUT THE HORRIBLE MUSIC THAT OUR CHOIR DIRECTOR'S FORMER PROFESSOR WROTE -- AND FORCED US TO SING??? 

HERE'S A SAMPLE:

Music composed by George Lynn

Dr. Kenneth Davis, Jr. was my choir director at Harding College. He thought George Lynn was just great. I never understood that, because Davis was a really excellent musician and choir director. He just had a blind spot when it came to George Lynn.

Honey In the Rock

1 

O my brother, do you know the Savior,

Who is wondrous, kind, and true?

He’s the Rock of your salvation!

There’s honey in the Rock for you.

Refrain:

Oh, there’s honey in the Rock, my brother;

There’s honey in the Rock for you.

Leave your sins for the Blood to cover;

There’s honey in the Rock for you.

2 

Have you tasted that the Lord is gracious?

Do you walk in the way that’s new?

Have you drunk from the living fountain?

There’s honey in the Rock for you. [Refrain]

3 

Do you pray unto God the Father,

“What wilt Thou have me to do?”

Never fear, He will surely answer,

There’s honey in the Rock for you. [Refrain]

4 

Then go out through the streets and byways,

Preach the Word to the many or few;

Say to every fallen brother,

There’s honey in the Rock for you. [Refrain]

This is the Chuck Wagon Gang version.

Author: Frederick Arthur Graves

Honey in the Rock - Chuck Wagon Gang

Here is another similar but slightly different older version of the song, as recorded by the Carter Family.

1

Oh my brother, do you know the Savior

Who is wondrous kind and true?

He’s the Rock of your salvation

There is honey in the Rock for you

REFRAIN

   Oh, honey in the Rock (oh, honey in the Rock)

   Sweet honey in the Rock (sweet honey in the Rock)

   Oh it tastes just like honey in the Rock

   Oh taste and see if the Lord is good

   Oh it tastes just like honey in the Rock

2

Have you tasted that the Lord is gracious?

Do you walk in the way that’s new?

have you drank from the living fountain?

There is honey in the Rock for you

3

Oh, there’s honey in the Rock my brother

There is honey in the Rock for you

Leave your sins fur the Blood to cover

There is honey in the Rock for you

Honey in the Rock - Carter Family

Yer not gonna b'lieve this!

 If you've ever been to Bald Knob, Arkansas, you know what a small town it is, right? But I'll tell you what -- this little town GETS AROUND. I was at Sea World in San Diego, California, once. Near the "needle" ride, they had a map of the USA painted on the pavement, with just one or two towns included in each state. Wellsir -- the town they had for Arkansas was BALD KNOB. (And, by the way, the town they had for Alabama was FAIRHOPE -- another small town!) Seriously, now. I have lived in both of those towns. I took pictures of that map, because I knew nobody would ever believe me if I didn't have proof.

Well now.... guess what -- I just found out there is actually a SONG about Bald Knob, Arkansas!

Here it is --

Bald Knob, Arkansas - Roy Acuff

Bald Knob, Arkansas - Open Road

Vern Williams Band

Bald Knob, Arkansas - Louvin Brothers

(The Louvin Brothers wrote the song, as far as I can determine.)

(But wait, there's more! You wouldn't believe how many videos of this song are on YouTube.)

PHOTO: Lester and Cleffie Burford's house on Victory Street, Bald Knob, Arkansas, 1986 (That's Cleffie coming out the door.)

Oh, wait -- yes I do...

The Gospel Plow

Well I got my hands on the gospel plow

And I wouldn’t take nothin’ for my  journey now

Keep your hands on that plow of  God

Hold on hold on

Keep your hands on that plow hold on

Well Matthew Mark Luke and John

All those prophets are dead and gone

Keep your hands on that plow of God

I never been to heaven but I’ve been told

The streets up there are made of gold

Keep your hands on that plow of God

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Like most folk and mountain gospel songs, the lyrics are very fluid, and can be ad libbed by the singer during the performance. 

Here are three different renditions of this old folk gospel classic.

Keep Your Hand On the Plow - Mahalia Jackson

The Gospel Plow - Nashville Bluegrass Band

The Gospel Plow - Chance McCoy

Daniel Prayed

I heard about a man one day who wasted not his time away

He prayed to God every morning noon and night

He cared not for the things avail, he trusted one who never fail

Oh, Daniel prayed every morning, noon, and night

   Oh, Daniel served the living God while here upon this earth he trod

   He prayed to God every morning noon and night

   He cared not for the kings decree he trusted God to set him free

   And he prayed to God every morning, noon, and night

They cast him in the lion’s den because he would not honor men

He prayed to God every morning noon and night

The jaws were locked and it made him shout, and God soon brought him

safely out

Oh, Daniel prayed every morning, noon, and night

Now brother, let us watch and pray like Daniel did from day to day

He prayed to God every morning noon and night

We can gladly dare and do the things that God will take us through

Oh, Daniel prayed every morning, noon, and night

Daniel Prayed - Patty Loveless, Ricky Skaggs

Here's another version that is arranged like an old-fashioned convention song.

Daniel Prayed - Greater Vision

Here's the whole story...

Daniel 6

King James Version

6 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. 3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. 6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. 7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. 14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. 16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. 20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. 22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

23 Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. 24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. 27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

Ain't No Grave

CHORUS

There ain’t no grave gonna hold my body down

There ain’t no grave gonna hold my body down

When I hear the trumpet sound

Gonna get up outa the ground

There ain’t no grave gonna hold my body down

 

Well go down yonder Gabriel

Put your foot on the land and sea

But don’t you blow that trumpet 

until you hear from me [Chorus]

 

Well look way over yonder

See people dressed in white

I know it was God’s people 

I seen ’em doin right [Chorus]

Oh look way over Jordan

What do you think I see

I see a band of angels 

and they’re comin’ after me [Chorus]

Well I goin to the river of Jordan

Bury my knees in the sand

Gonna holler high Hosanna 

til I reach that promised land [Chorus]

Well meet me Jesus meet me

Meet me in the middle of the air

And if these wings should fail me 

there won’t be no other pair [Chorus]

Ain't No Grave - The Isaacs

Ain't No Grave - Twang

Twang is an all girl string band from Mountain View, Arkansas. Note the quintessential instruments that define Bluegrass music - mandolin, fiddle, guitar, banjo, and upright bass. (As with jazz performance, there are usually segments of bluegrass songs that feature each single instrument.)

There is another version of this song with wholly different lyrics on the verses. I would classify this performance as "praise" style.

Ain't No Grave - FBA Worship

Shame is a prison

Cruel as the grave

Shame is a robber 

And he's come to take my name

Love is my redeemer

Lifting me up from the ground

Love is the power

Where my freedom song is found

CHORUS

Fear is a liar

With a smooth and velvet tongue

Fear is a tyrant

Always telling me to run

Love is a resurrection 

Love is a trumpet sound

Love is my weapon

Gonna take my giants down

CHORUS

Oh there was a battle

A war between death and life

And there on a tree

The lamb of god was crucified

He went down to grave

And took back every key

He rose up as a lion

And he set all captives free

PRAISE INTERLUDE --

HE'S ALIVE ALIVE

ALIVE HALLELUJAH

ALIVE FOREVER AMEN

PRAISE AND GLORY TO THE LAMB

WORTH IS THE LAMB

WORTHY OF OUR PRAISE

WORTHY IS THE ONE WHO HAS OVERCOME THE GRAVE

LET THE PEOPLE DANCE

LET THE PEOPLE SING

WORTHY IS THE MIGHTY KING

If you walked out of the grave

I'm walking too

CHORUS

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Here is some interesting information about the history of the song and the composer Claude Ely -

Claude Ely, a songwriter and preacher from Virginia, describes composing the song while sick with tuberculosis in 1934 when he was twelve years old. His family prayed for his health, and in response he spontaneously performed this song. An African-American gospel song, "C'aint no grave," has been traced back to a 1933 Church of God in Christ hymnal by blogger Debi Simons.

 Blog post by Debi Simons

That version was recorded by Bozie Sturdivant in July 1942 (and released in 1943 as "Ain't No Grave Can Hold My Body Down") in a slower, gospel style 

Bozie Sturdivant

and in 1946-7 by Sister Rosetta Tharpe with barrelhouse piano, Tharpe having grown up in COGIC.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

The song in Ely's version was recorded (and copyrighted) in 1953, even though he wrote it as early as 1935.