Go Tell It on the Mountain

Go Tell It on the Mountain

Go Tell it on the Mountain--George Beverly Shea



The Negro Spiritual, "Go Tell it on the Mountain" may not have originated from John Wesley Work Jr., but he's the reason why we sing it every Christmas.  As the son of a church choir director, Work grew up in Nashville loving music.  Even though he earned his Masters in Latin and even though he taught ancient Latin and Greek, his first love was in music and he was the first African-American collector of Negro spirituals.  That was a very daunting task for Work because they were passed down orally from plantation to plantation.  Very few were ever written down.  Work proved up to the challenge publishing his first book, New Jubilee Songs as sung by the Fisk Jubilee singers, in Songs of the American Negro, six years later.  It was his second volume that "Go, Tell it on the Mountain" first appeared.  The original singers of the song fulfilled the same important task the angels gave the shepherds that first Christmas night outside of Bethlehem proclaiming, "That Jesus Christ is Born." 

The First Noel

The First Noel



Where does "Noel" come from?  Some scholars claim that Noel is "French" and means "a shout of joy" at the birth of Jesus.  Others claim it comes from the Medieval Latin word "Natalis" which means birth, which is why some would refer to Christmas as "His natal day."  There is another Latin word "novella", which could be the source of "noel" which means "news" which corresponds with the idea of Jesus' birth which causes shouts of great joy because of His birth at Christmas.  Other scholars say that the original English spelling is "nowell" instead of the French word "noel."

An example of this changing over the centuries is the English people took the parting phrase they gave each other, "Fare thee well," and made it into one word, "Farewell."  They also took the phrase "God be with you," and shortened it into "goodbye."  Similarly, if the word "nowell" was first a phrase rather than a word, then maybe it was something like "Now all is well!"  The early English greeted each other every Christmas morning by shouting "Now all is well;" because God has provided his son as a light for the world!"  Eventually, "Now all is well" became simply "Now well," and was later "Nowell."

"The First Noel" has been a popular carol for almost 30 years, and is about the oldest common carol in the English language.  It's known for its simplicity and sincerity.  After traveling through word of mouth for many years, "The First Noel" was finally written down with the tune correct, and printed for the first time in a collection of Christmas carols published in 1833.

The first Noel the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields as they lay, keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

They look up and saw a star
Shining in the east beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.  Refrain.

And by the light of that same star
Three wise men came from country far;
To seek for a king was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went.  Refrain

This star drew nigh to the northwest,
O'er Bethlehem it took it rest,
And there it did both stop and stay
Right over the place where Jesus lay.  Refrain

Then entered in those wise men three
Full reverently upon their knee,
And offered there in his presence
Their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense.  Refrain

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord;
That hath made Heaven and earth of naught,
And with his blood mankind hath bought.  Refarin

Away in a Manger

(The information is from Melissa Roberts on December 21, 2008)

"Away in a Manger" began in the American Lutheran tradition and offers a lullaby to baby Jesus and all who rest with him.  "Away in a Manger," like many tunes on the radio during the holiday season, has a colorful history and tradition rooted in Christian worship.  Long attributed to a lullaby Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer, sang to his children, the truth about "Away in a Manger," honors Luther and his spirit of seeking comfort and rest in God. 

Nobody is certin who wrote the first two verses of "Away in a Manger" (the third verse was written by Charles Gabriel).  For many years, Martin Luther, the Catholic friar responsible for the rise of Protestantism in Europe and founder of today's Lutheran churches, received credit for the song.  In reality, the words are much younger, dating from the late 19th century and originating in America, not Germany.  Richard S. Hill, librarian at the Library of Congress, researched the origins of "Away in a Manger" and found that it originated from celebrations of Martin Luther's 400th birthday among Lutheran churches in the U.S. in 1883.  Hill concluded from his research that an unknown person or persons wrote the words of "Away in a Manger" as a poem for use in a children's play at one such Luther birthday party.

Away in a Manger
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head

The stars in the bright sky
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes

I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side,
'Til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to say
Close by me forever
And love me I pray

Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there

I Heard the Bells of Christmas Day

(Written by Tom Stewart)

One of America's best known poets, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882), penned this particular carol sung each Christmas season, when he composed the words to "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" on December 25, 1864.  "Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14).  The carol was originally a poem, "Christmas Bells," containing seven stanzas.  Two stanzas were omitted which contained references to the American Civil War, thus giving the carol its present form.  The poem gave birth to the carol, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," and the remaining five stanzas were slightly rearranged in 1872 by John Baptiste Calkin (1827-1905), who also gave us the memorable tune.  When Longfellow penned the words to his poem, America was still months away from Lee's surrender to Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9th 1865; and, his poem reflected the prior years of the war's despair, while ending with a confident hope of triumphant peace. 

As with any composition that touches the heart of the hearer, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" flowed from the experience of Longfellow--involving the tragic death of his wife Fanny and the crippling injury of his son Charles from war wounds.  "My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue" (Psalm 39:3).  Henry married Frances Appleton on July 13th 1843, and they settled down in the historic Craigie House overlooking the Charles River in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  They were blessed with the birth of their first child, Charles, on June 9, 1844, and eventually, the Longfellow household numbered five children--Charles, Ernest, Alice, Edith, and Allegra.  "Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers" (Proverbs 17:6).  Alice, the Longfellow's third child and first daughter, was delivered, while her mother was under the anesthetic influence of ether--the first in North America.  "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the Earth, and subdue it: and have dominion..." (Genesis 1:28).

Tragedy struck both the nation and the Longfellow family in 1861.  Confederate General Pierre G.T. Beauregard fired the opening salvos of the American Civil War on April 12th, and Fanny Longfellow was fatally burned in an accident in the library of Craigie House on July 10th.  The day before the accident, Fanny Longfellow recorded in her journal: "We are still sighing for the good sea breeze instead of this stifling land one filled with dust.  Poor Allegra is droopy with heat, and Eddie has to get her hair in a net to free her neck from the weight.  After trimming some of seven year old Edith's beautiful curls, Fanny decided to preserve the clippings in sealing wax.  Melting a bar of sealing wax with a candle, a few drops fell unnoticed on her dress.  The sea breeze gusted through the window, igniting the light material on Fanny's dress and she was in flames.  Henry tried to put out the flames by throwing his arms around Frances--severely burning his face, arms, and hands.  Fanny Longfellow died the next morning.  As a result, Henry grew the trademark beard due to the burns he received on his face. 

The first Christmas after Fanny's death, Longfellow wrote, "How inexpressibly sad are all holidays."  A year after the incident, he wrote, "I can make no record of these days.  Better leave them wrapped in silence.  Longfellow wrote in his journal on December 25, 1862 "A merry Christmas say the children, but that is no more for me."  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance" (Psalms 42:5). Almost a year later, Lonfellow received word that his oldest son Charles, a lieutenant in the Army of the Potomac, had been severely wounded with a bullet passing under his shoulder blades and taking off one of the spinal processes.  The Christmas of 1863 was silent in Longfellow's journal.  Finally on Christmas Day of 1864, he wrote the words of the poem, "Christmas Bells."  The re-election of Abraham Lincoln or the possible end of the terrible war may have been the occasion for the poem.  Lt. Charles Longfellow didn't die that Christmas, but lived.  So, contrary to popular belief, the occasion of writing that much loved Christmas carol was not due to Charles' death.  Longfellow's Christmas bells loudly proclaimed "God is not dead."  "The LORD liveth, in Truth, in judgment, and in Righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in Him, and in Him shall they glory" (Jeremiah 4:2)  Even more the bells announced, "Nor doth He sleep."  "Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep" (Psalm 121:4).  God's Truth, Power, and Justice are affirmed, when Longfellow wrote: "The wrong shall fail, the right prevail."  "To finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in Everlasting Righteousness" (Daniel 9:24).  The message that the Living God is a God of Peace is proclaimed in the close of the carol: "Of peace on Earth, good will to men." 

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each blank accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"

The First Noel

Where does "Noel" come from?  Some scholars claim that Noel is "French" and means "a shout of joy" at the birth of Jesus.  Others claim it comes from the Medieval Latin word "Natalis" which means birth, which is why some would refer to Christmas as "His natal day."  There is another Latin word "novella", which could be the source of "noel" which means "news" which corresponds with the idea of Jesus' birth which causes shouts of great joy because of His birth at Christmas.  Other scholars say that the original English spelling is "nowell" instead of the French word "noel." 

An example of this changing over the centuries is the English people took the parting phrase they gave each other, "Fare thee well," and made it into one word, "Farewell."  They also took the phrase "God be with you," and shortened it into "goodbye."  Similarly, if the word "nowell" was first a phrase rather than a word, then maybe it was something like "Now all is well!"  The early English greeted each other every Christmas morning by shouting "Now all is well;" because God has provided his son as a light for the world!"  Eventually, "Now all is well" became simply "Now well," and was later "Nowell." 

"The First Noel" has been a popular carol for almost 30 years, and is about the oldest common carol in the English language.  It's known for its simplicity and sincerity.  After traveling through word of mouth for many years, "The First Noel" was finally written down with the tune correct, and printed for the first time in a collection of Christmas carols published in 1833. 

The first Noel the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields as they lay, keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

They look up and saw a star
Shining in the east beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.  Refrain.

And by the light of that same star
Three wise men came from country far;
To seek for a king was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went.  Refrain

This star drew nigh to the northwest,
O'er Bethlehem it took it rest,
And there it did both stop and stay
Right over the place where Jesus lay.  Refrain

Then entered in those wise men three
Full reverently upon their knee,
And offered there in his presence
Their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense.  Refrain

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord;
That hath made Heaven and earth of naught,
And with his blood mankind hath bought.  Refarin

What Child is This?

"What Chis Is This?" is one of the most moving and beautiful Victorian carols.  It's history can be traced back farther than the days of the infamous Henry VIII.  It dates from Elizabethan time, possibly even earlier.  The melody is the beautiful Greensleeves.  This haunting melody, is often associated with guitar or harpischord solos.  As an ancient English folk song, there have been more than twenty different know lyrics associated with it throughout history and many more might have been lost.  It was first published in 1652.  For much of its early life, the tune known as "Greensleeves" was associated with pubs as a popular drinking song.  Although God is mentioned in a closing verse of the best-known lyrics, nothing about the song closely resembled  a religious piece; it was simply one of the era's most popular folk songs.  The song was first registered in 1850 to Richard Jones with lyrics that were neither religious nor respectable.  Shakespeare mentions it by name in "The Merry Wives of Windsor" in which it is played while traitors are hanged. 

In 1865 Englishman William Chatterton Dix wrote" The Manger Throne," three verses of which became "What Child Is This?"  In the era while Dix was writing hymns and raising a family, Christmas was not the celebration it is today.  Neither was it a season where many openly celebrated the birth of Christ.  Conservative Christian churches forbade gift-giving, decorating, or even acknowledging the day.  These Puritan groups feared that if set aside as a special day, Christmas would become a day of pagan rituals more than a serious time of worship.  In this context, it was unusual for Dix to feel moved to write about Christ's birth, since many hymn writers of the period ignored Christmas altogether.

The song's powerful words presented a unique view of the birth of Christ.  While the baby was the focal point of the song, the viewpoint of the writer seemed to be that of an almost confused observer.  Dix imagined visitors to the humble manger wondering who the child was that lay before them.  He wove a story of a child's birth, life, death, and resurrection, but in each verse it was answered with a triumphant declaration the infant's divine nature.

Dix published "The Manger Throne" in England jsut as the U.S. Civil War was ending.  The song was quickly important from Britain to the United States.  Dix, who died in 1898, lived long enough to see "The Manger Throne" become the much beloved Christmas carol "What Child Is This?"

What Child is this, who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap, is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Haste, haste to bring him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear for sinners here,
The silent Word is pleading.

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Hail, Hail, the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary

So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him,
The King of kings, salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Raise, raise the song on high,
The Virgin sings her lullaby:
Joy, joy, for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

"Stories Behind the Best Loved Songs of Christmas, Ace Collins, 2001"
"The Spirit of Christmas: A History of Best-Loved Carols, Virginia Reynolds, 2000"

Christmas Traditions: The 12 Days of Christmas

The twelve days of Christmas are the twelve days between Christmas Day, December 25th, the birth of Jesus, and the Epiphany, January 6th, the day Christians celebrate the arrival of the Magi (Wise Men) and the revelation of Christ as the light of the world.  The Christmas song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" may sound silly and contrived to many of us.  But it actually had its origins in religious symbolism--and with a serious purpose.  It dates from a time of religious persecution.  The song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas," was written as a kind of secret catechism that could sing in public without fear of arrest--a learning or memory aid to Christians in fact.  The song can be taken at two levels of interpretation--the surface meaning, or the hidden meaning known only to the Christians involved.  Each element is a code word for a religious truth. 

1.  The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus.

2.  The two turtledoves are the Old and New Testaments.

3.  Three French hens stand for faith, hope and love.

4.  The four calling birds are the four Gospels.

5.  The five gold rings recall the Hebrew Torah (Law), or the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament.

6.  The six geese a-laying stand for the six days of creation.

7.  The seven swans a-swimming represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. 

8.  The eight maids a-milking are the eight Beatitudes.

9.  Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.

10.  The ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments.

11.  Eleven pipers piping represent the eleven faithful Apostles.

12.  Twelve drummers drumming symbolize the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles Creed.

The "true love" in the song refers to God himself.  The "me" receiving the gifts is every Christian.  So that "silly" song we sing at Christmas time has more meaning that one may realize.

When you sing the song, it starts out as "On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...."  then it's on down the line to "the second day of Christmas all the way up to the twelveth day of Christmas." 

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From Angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold!
Peace on the earth good will to men,
From Heaven's all gracious King!
The world in solemn stillness lay,
To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heavenly music floats,
O'er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains,
They bend on hovering wing.
And ever o'er its Babel sounds,
The blessed angels sing.

Yet with the woes of sin and strife,
The world hath suffered long;
Beneath the angel strain hath rolled,
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not,
The love song which they bring:
Oh hush the noise ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing.

For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophet bards foretold,
When, with the ever-circling years,
Shall come the Age of Gold;
When peace shall over all the earth,
Its ancient splendors fling,
And all the world give back the song,
Which now the angels sing.

It came upon a Midnight Clear was written by Edmund Sears and composer Richard Willis, a carol that speaks of angels and the nativity.  It's a popular nativity hymn sung every Christmas season.  The lyrics were written by Edmund H. Sears (1810-1876), and the tune was composed by Richard S. Willis (1819-1900).  The song is all about hope and peace brought by the angels as a message.

One of the first Christian hymns written by an American writer and published in the "Christian Register" in 1849, "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" emphasizes the social implications of the angels' message: achieving peace and good will toward our fellowmen in the midst of social difficulty.  The writing of this text occurred in a period in our country where there was much unrest, especially the foreboding of the tensions between the Northern and the Southern States, social upheaval due to industrial revolution, and the time of the "Forty-niner" gold rush.  The hymn text was considered to have addressed these difficulties, urging folks to listen once again to the angels singing.  The final stanza is a verse of hopeful optimism: "When peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling, and the whole world gives back the song, which now the angels sing." 

Edmund Sears, wrote a number of publications, but authored only two hymn texts, intended for the Christmas season.  His first carol hymn was written while a student in Harvard Divinity School, was "Calm on the Listening Ear of Night."  This hymn is also included in various hymnals today, but it's not as popular as "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" written 15 years later. 

(Suite101.com) 

Source:

101 More Hymn Stories by Kenneth W. Osbeck, Kregel Publications (1982)

Background Behind "Holy Spirit Thou Art Welcome in this Place"

YouTube - Dottie Rambo Home-Going-1 - Holy Spirit Thou Art Welcome

Dottie Rambo probably penned this song sometime in the early 70's. During that time she and her family (The Rambos: Buck, Dottie, and Reba) had the opportunity to sing behind the Iron Curtain. When they sang in that area they were instructed they couldn't tell or mention to anyone anything about Jesus, the blood of Jesus, or salvation. They could sing all their songs they normally sing, but they couldn't say anything about Jesus in-between songs. One evening following their concert, their organizer decided to send them to a local bistro not far from where they're staying. Dottie noticed when she was outside how dark, dreary, and oppressive the spirit was in that area behind the Iron Curtain. Dottie had purposed in her heart to find someone in the restaurant that may know Jesus so she could encourage them. She was told she couldn't mention Jesus at the restaurant. Dottie had a pamphlet with Psalms 23 on one side and Jesus with a little lamb on his shoulder on the other side. She had it in the palm of her hand and the waitress came by her table and saw it and the waitress mentioned Jesus's name and said she loved him. The people at her table were scared and were fearful they could be arrested. They immediately left and as she was walking outside she was thinking to herself, "Nobody here may want Jesus, but you're wanted 'here'". She was speaking in reference to her heart. Hence, the song was birthed by the time she had went into the van that evening. Many people when they sing that song misinterpret that Dottie was making reference to being welcome in the churches. Dottie was making reference to an individual's own heart. I was thinking about the different places where we as Christians should desire the Holy Spirit to be. First of all, we should desire for the sinner to repent so the Holy Spirit could take abode in their hearts. We should welcome the Holy Spirit to work in our lives as Christians like he so desires. Lastly, we should desire for the Holy Spirit to be welcome and have his way within the confines of the local church. I believe if the Holy Spirit is welcome to work within our lives like he should, it will spill over into the church.

Holy Spirit Thou art welcome in this place
Holy Spirit Thou art welcome in this place
Omnipotent Father of Mercy and Grace
Thou art welcome in this place

Lord in Thy presence there's healing divine
No other power can save Lord, but Thine
Holy Spirit Thou art welcome in this place
Thou art welcome in this place

Holy Spirit Thou art welcome in this place
Holy Spirit Thou art welcome in this place
Omnipotent Father of Mercy and Grace
Thou art welcome in this place

Fill all the hungry and empty within
Restore us, oh Father revive us again
Holy Spirit Thou art welcome in this place
Holy Spirit Thou Art welcome in this place

YouTube - Danny Boy Ireland

YouTube - Danny Boy Ireland

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Today is the day we remember the Irishmen St. Patrick. Everybody is to sport some type of green upon themselves whether it be their apparel or a button that's green. That's how the tradition goes in America. In remembrance of this holiday, I thought I would share with you the background by what's considered the Irish national anthem, "Danny Boy".

The lyrics to "Danny Boy" were written by English lawyer and lyricist Frederick Weatherly in 1910. Although they were originally written for a different tune, Weatherly modified them to fit Londonderry Air in 1913, when his sister sent him a copy. Ernestine Schumann-Heink made the first recording in 1915. Weatherly gave the song to a vocalist, Elsie Griffin, who in turn made it one of the most popular songs in the new century. "Danny Boy" was originally said to be intended as a message from a woman to a man. Weatherly also provided the alternative "Eily dear" for male singers in his 1918 authorized lyrics. However, the song is sun by men as much or more than women. The song has interpreted by some listeners as a message from a parent to a son going off to war or leaving as part of the Irish diaspora. It is widely considered a national anthem. It is considered a signature song to the Irish and Irish Canadians.

Around the year 1970 the late famous gospel songwriter Dottie Rambo wrote words to a song entitled, "He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need." Former Louisiana governor Jimmie Davis has asked her to write a song and set it to the Irish tune of "Danny Boy." She made that a reality and "He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need" became one of the most popular gospel songs.

Thomas Dorsey:Take My Hand Precious Lord

Precious Lord, take my hand

Lead me on, let me stand

I'm tired, I'm weak, I'm lone

Lead me on to the light

Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

When my ways grows drear precious Lord linger near

When my life is almost gone

Hear my crey, hear my call

Hold my hand lest I fall

Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

When the darkness appears and the night draws near

And the day is past gone

At the River I stand

Guide my feet, hold my hand

Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

Precious Lord, take my hand

Lead me on, let me stand

I'm tired, I'm weak, Lord I'm worn

Through the storm, through the night

Lead me on to the light

Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

This famous hymn was penned down by Thomas Alexander Dorsey (July 1, 1899 to January 23, 1993). He was born in Villa Rica Georgia. He was known as "the father of black gospel music." Earlier in his life he was a leading blues pianist known as Georgia Tom. His gospel music combined Christian praise with rhythms of jazz and blues. He was the music director at Pilgrim Baptist Church from 1932 until the late 1970's. The hymn was performed by Mahalia Jackson and was a favorite of Martin Luther King Jr. Dorsey also wrote another famous song named "Peace in the Valley".

Thomas Dorsey's father was a minister and his mother was a piano teacher. After formally studying music in Chicago, he became an agent for "Paramount Records". He is credited with more than 400 blues and jazz songs. He began recording gospel music alongside blues in the mid-1920's. This led to his performing at the National Baptist Convention in 1930. He also became the bandleader of two churches in the 1930's. His wife Nettie died in childbirth in 1932 along with his first son. In his grief, Dorsey penned his most famous song, "Take My Hand Precious Lord." In 2002 the Library of Congress honored his album, "Precious Lord: New Recordings of the Great Songs of Thomas A. Dorsey (1973)" by adding it to the United States National Recording Registry.

YouTube - O Come All Ye Faithful in the style of Traditional

YouTube - O Come All Ye Faithful in the style of Traditional

O come All Ye Faithful

Joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem

Come and behold Him,

Born the King of Angels;

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

O Sing Choirs of angels,

Sing in exultation,

Sing all that hear in heaven God's holy word.

Give to our Father, glory in the Highest;

O come let us adore Him,

O come let us adore Him,

O come let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

All Hail, Lord, we greet Thee

Born this happy morning,

O Jesus! for evermore by Thy name adored.

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;

O come let us adore Him,

O come let us adore Him,

O come let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

The text to "O come All Ye Faithful" was originally written in Latin (Adestes Fideles) and was intended to be a hymn; it is attributed to John Wade, an Englishmen. The music was composed by fellow Englishment John Reading in the early 1700's. The tune was first published in a collection known as "Antus Diversi" in 1751. In 1841 Rev. Frederick Oakley is reputed to have worked on the familiar translation of "O Come All Ye Faithful" which replaced the Older Latin lyrics, "Adestes Fideles."

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Verse 1

Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinner reconciled
Joyfuo, all ye nations, rise
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem

Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King

Verse 2

Christ, by highest heaven adored:
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of the Virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with man to dwell;
Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Repeat Chorus

Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raiser, the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth
Risen with healing in his wings,
Light and life to all he brings,
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness
Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace.

Repeat Chorus

Come Desire of nations come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the Woman's conquering Seed;
Bruise in us the Serpent's head,
Adam's likeness now efface:
Stamp thine image in its place;
Second Adam, from above,
Reinstate us in they love.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Glory to the Newborn King

This song was written by Charles Wesley, brother of Methodist founder and circuit rider John Wesley. Wesley wrote numerous hymns. This song first appeared in Hymns and Sacred Poems in 1739 under the topic of "Hymns for Christmas Day." The tune that was originally used was different from the tune that's used in this song today. When Wesley wrote this song, he requested slow and solemn music for his lyrics. Then in 1840 Felix Mendelssohn composed a cantata in 1840 to commemorate Johann Gutenberg's invention of the printing press. He changed the tune to this song and today it's sung the way it's written. This hymn was regarded as one of the Great Four Anglican Hymns and published as no. 403 in "The Church Hymn Book." (New York and Chicago, USA, 1872)

The Background Behind the Song "He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need"

YouTube - The Rambos - He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need

Amazing Grace shall always be my song of praise

For it was grace that brought me liberty

I do not know just why he came to love me so

He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need

Chorus:

I shall forever lift mine eyes to Calvary

To view the cross where Jesus died for me

How marvelous the grace that caught my falling soul

He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need

Repeat Chorus:

This is a classic song that was penned by the late Dottie Rambo around 1970. Dottie had a brother named Eddie Luttrell who had cancer and was told he only had weeks to live. Dottie would pray and read the Bible to him by his bedside. She would persuade him to give his heart to Jesus. One day after singing at a concert she visited Eddie and asked him did he give his heart to the Lord. Eddie said the way he lived there's no way God would take him in. He reminded her of his addiction to drugs and his time in jail. Dottie reminded him the Lord left the 99 and went after that one lost sheep.

It was after that visit that she finished composing the song, "He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need." She previously had started writing a song about the grace of God but was unable to finish it. Now she finally finished the song. One day after singing at a concert in Ohio, she felt persuaded that Eddie gave his heart to the Lord. She visited him and he said he gave his heart to the Lord. He was very weak at his bedside and died shortly thereafter. She sang the song at his funeral and has sung it countless times ever since. Many groups have sung that song over the years. It's a classic that many churchgoing Americans are familiar with today.

There's an interesting story in regards to the tune of "He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need." Back in the early 60's, Jimmie Davis who was the governor of Louisiana at the time, had attended a concert in which he heard the Happy Goodmans perform. He heard them sing one of Dottie's songs entitled, "There's Nothing My God Can't Do." He enquired about the authorship of the song and the Goodmans told her Dottie Rambo wrote it. Davis contacted Rambo and he arranged for Dottie and her family to meet the governor at the mansion in Louisiana. He had Dottie to perform and as a result he offered her a publishing contract of $3000, which was more money than Dottie had ever made. Over the course of time, Davis had requested that Rambo compose a song to the tune of "Danny Boy", which was widely considered an Irish national anthem written by Frederick Weatherly in 1910. When Dottie finished the song, "He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need", she set it to the Irish tune of "Danny Boy", a Londonderry Air song. Over the years, Dottie's song has touched countless lives of millions of people. If it wasn't for God's grace, imagine where we would be today. We would be in hell.