100 Years of Great American Song - Texts

Of Love - Music by Dede Duson (b. 1938), words by Robert Fulton

Sit down and rest,

Life will wait for a few moments.

There’s still time to practice love for a little while

Time to let the fresh air of real peace into your life,

Be still, be still.

And learn again how to live,

Raise your eyes and see beyond this narrow life,

Learn to love,

And fill your heart with sunshine.

Be still.

The Road Home - Stephen Paulus (1949-2014); tune: Prospect, from Southern Harmony

Tell me, where is the road
I can call my own
That I left, that I lost
So long ago?
All these years I have wandered
Oh, when will I know
There's a way, there's a road
That will lead me home

After wind, after rain
When the dark is done
As I wake from a dream
In the gold of day
Through the air there's a calling
From far away
There's a voice I can hear
That will lead me home

Rise up, follow me
Come away, is the call
With the love in your heart
As the only song
There is no such beauty
As where you belong
Rise up, follow me
I will lead you home

You Do Not Walk Alone - Dominick DiOrio (b. 1984)

You do not walk alone.

May you see God’s light on the path ahead
When the road you walk is dark.
May you always hear,
Even in your hour of sorrow,
The gentle singing of the lark.
When times are hard may hardness
Never turn your heart to stone,
May you always remember
when the shadows fall –
You do not walk alone.

Alleluia - Elaine Hagenberg (b. 1979); words after St. Augustine (334-430)

Alleluia

All shall be Amen and Alleluia

We shall see and we shall know.

We shall know and we shall love,

Behold our end which is no end,

Alleluia, all shall be amen!

Agnus Dei - Robert Shafer (b. 1946), based on a song by Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)

Lift Every Voice and Sing - Words by James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938), music by J. Rosamond Johnson (1873-1954) 

Lift every voice and sing,

'Til earth and heaven ring,

Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;

Let our rejoicing rise

High as the list'ning skies,

Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,

Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;

Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,

Let us march on 'til victory is won.

Stony the road we trod,

Bitter the chastening rod,

Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;

Yet with a steady beat,

Have not our weary feet

Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?

We have come over a way that with tears has been watered,

We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,

Out from the gloomy past,

'Til now we stand at last

Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our weary years,

God of our silent tears,

Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;

Thou who has by Thy might

Led us into the light,

Keep us forever in the path, we pray.

Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,

our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee;

Shadowed beneath Thy hand,

May we forever stand,

True to our God,

True to our native land.

Sing Ye Praises To Our King, from Four Motets - Aaron Copland (1900-1990)

Sing ye praises to our King,

O sing ye praises to our King and Ruler.

Come and hear all ye men.

Come and hear my praises.

He doth bless all the earth,

bringeth peace and comfort.

Shout unto God all ye men.

Shout unto God all your praises.

Oh, How Can I Keep From Singing? - Traditional Folk Hymn, arr. Robert A. Harris (b. 1938)

My life flows on in endless song

Above earth’s lamentation.

I hear the real tho’ far off hymn

That hails a new creation.

No storm can shake my inmost calm,

I hear the music ringing;

It sounds and echoes in my soul,

Oh, how can I keep from singing?

What tho’ the tempest ‘round me roars,

I know the truth, it liveth!

What tho’ the darkness ‘round me falls,

Songs in the night, it giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm, 

I hear the music ringing;

Since love is Lord of heav’n and earth,

How can I keep,

Oh, how can I keep from singing?

I’m Gonna Sing ‘Til the Spirit Moves in My Heart - Moses Hogan (1957-2003)

I'm gonna sing 'til the spirit moves in my heart. I'm gonna sing 'til Jesus comes.

(Sing, Oh my Jesus, 'til he comes.)

It was grace (Oh yea) that brought me. (my Lord) It was grace (Oh yea) that taught me. (my Lord) It was grace (Oh yea) that kept me. (my Lord) And it's grace that will lead me home. (Hallelujah!)

I'm gonna pray 'til the spirit moves in my heart. I'm gonna pray 'til Jesus comes.

(Pray, Oh my Jesus, 'til he comes.)

Can't you feel the spirit movin'. (Can't you feel it moving.)

I'm gonna shout 'til the spirit moves in my heart. I'm gonna shout 'til Jesus comes.

(Shout, Oh my Jesus, 'til he comes.)

I'm gonna sing 'til my Jesus ('til He comes.)

Wanting Memories, from Crossings - Ysaÿe M. Barnwell (b. 1946)

I am sitting here wanting memories to teach me
To see the beauty in the world through my own eyes
I am sitting here wanting memories to teach me
To see the beauty in the world through my own eyes

You used to rock me in the cradle of your arms
You said you'd hold me till the pains of life were gone
You said you'd comfort me in times like these and now I need you
Now I need you, and you are gone

I am sitting here wanting memories to teach me
To see the beauty in the world through my own eyes
Since you've gone and left me, there's been so little beauty
But I know I saw it clearly through your eyes

Now the world outside is such a cold and bitter place
Here inside I have few things that will console
And when I try to hear your voice above the storms of life
Then I remember all the things that I was told

I am sitting here wanting memories to teach me
To see the beauty in the world through my own eyes
I am sitting here wanting memories to teach me
To see the beauty in the world through my own eyes

I think on the things that made me feel so wonderful when I was young
I think on the things that made me laugh, made me dance, made me sing
I think on the things that made me grow into a being full of pride
I think on these things, for they are true

I am sitting here wanting memories to teach me
To see the beauty in the world through my own eyes
I thought that you were gone, but now I know you're with me
You are the voice that whispers all I need to hear

I know a please a thank you and a smile will take me far
I know that I am you and you are me and we are one
I know that who I am is numbered in each grain of sand
I know that I've been blessed again, and over again

I am sitting here wanting memories to teach me
To see the beauty in the world through my own eyes
I am sitting here wanting memories to teach me
To see the beauty in the world through my own eyes

Come Sunday - Music and words by Duke Ellington (1899-1974), arr. Alice Parker

Come Sunday, Sunday, that’s the day.

I believe that God put sun and moon up in the sky.

I don’t mind the gray skies, ‘Cause they’re just clouds passing by.

Lord, dear Lord above, God Almighty, God of Love,

Please look down and see my people through.

I believe God is now, was then, and always will be. 

With God’s blessing, we can make it thro’ eternity.

Lord, dear Lord above, God Almighty, God of Love,

Please look down and see my people through.

Somewhere, from West Side Story  - Music by Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990), lyrics by Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021); arr. Robert Edgerton

Somewhere

There's a place for us,

Somewhere a place for us.

Peace and quiet and open air

Wait for us, somewhere.

There's a time for us,

Some day a time for us,

Time together with time to spare,

Time to learn, time to care.

Some day,

Somewhere,

We'll find a new way of living,

We'll find a way of forgiving.

Somewhere,

Somewhere . . .

There's a place for us,

A time and place for us.

Hold my hand and we're halfway there.

Hold my hand and I'll take you there

Somehow,

Some day,

Somewhere!

Ain’-a That Good News - Words & Music: Traditional African-American Spiritual, arr. William Dawson (1899-1990)

I got a crown up in-a the kingdom,

Ain'a that good news!

I'm-a gonna lay down this world,

gonna shoulder up-a my cross.

Gonna take it home-a to my Jesus,

Ain'a that good news!

I got a harp up in-a the kingdom,

Ain'a that good news!

I'm-a gonna lay down this world,

gonna shoulder up-a my cross.

Gonna take it home-a to my Jesus,

Ain'a that good news!

I got a robe up in-a the kingdom,

Ain'a that good news!

I'm-a gonna lay down this world,

gonna shoulder up-a my cross.

Gonna take it home-a to my Jesus,

Ain'a that good news!

I got a Savior in-a the kingdom,

Ain'a that good news!

I'm-a gonna lay down this world,

gonna shoulder up-a my cross.

Gonna take it home-a to my Jesus,

Ain'a that good news!

What Is This Thing Called Love? - Words and music by Cole Porter (1891-1964), arr. Monica Pabelonio

What is this thing called love?
This funny thing called love?
Just who can solve its mystery?
Why should it make a fool of me?

I saw you there one wonderful day
You took my heart and threw it away
That's why I ask the lord in heaven above
What is this thing called love?

I saw you there one wonderful day
You took my heart and threw it away
That's why I ask the lord in heaven above
What is this thing called love?

Embraceable You - George Gershwin (1898-1937) and Ira Gershwin (1896-1983), arr. Kirby Shaw

Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you
Embrace me, you irreplaceable you
Just one look at you
My heart grew tipsy in me
You and you alone
Bring out the Gypsy in me
I love all the many charms about you
Above all, I want my arms about you
Don't be a naughty baby
Come to papa, come to papa do
My sweet embraceable you

When You Wish Upon a Star - Music by Leigh Harline (1907-1969); lyrics by Ned Washington (1901-1976)

When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires
Will come to you

If your heart is in your dream
No request is too extreme
When you wish upon a star
As dreamers do

Fate is kind
She brings to those who love
The sweet fulfillment of
Their secret longing

Like a bolt out of the blue
Fate steps in and sees you through
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true

Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal - Traditional, arr. Alice Parker (1925-2023)

Hark I hear the harps eternal ringing on the farther shore
As I near those swollen waters with their deep and solemn roar

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah praise the lamb
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, glory to the great I am

And my soul though stained with sorrow, fading as the light of day
Passes swiftly o'er those waters to the city far away

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah praise the lamb
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, glory to the great I am

Souls have crossed before me saintly to that land of perfect rest
And I hear them singing faintly in the mansions of the blest

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah praise the lamb
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, glory to the great I am
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah praise the lamb
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, glory to the great I AM

Light of a Clear Blue Morning - Words and music by Dolly Parton (b 1946), arr. Craig Hella Johnson

It’s been a long, dark night,

And I’ve been waiting for the morning.

It’s been a long, hard fight,

But I see a brand new day a-dawning.

I’ve been looking for the sunshine,

‘Cuz I ain’t seen it in so long.

Ev’rything’s gonna work out fine,

Ev’rything’s gonna be alright,

It’s gonna be okay.

I can see the light of a clear blue morning.

I can see the light of a brand new day. 

I can see the light of a clear blue morning.

Ev’rything’s gonna be alright,

It’s gonna be okay.

Shenandoah - Traditional, arr. James Erb (1926-2014)

O Shenandoah, I long to see you
And hear your rolling river
O Shenandoah, I long to see you
‘Way, we’re bound away
Across the wide Missouri

I long to see your smiling valley
And hear your rolling river
I long to see your smiling valley
‘Way, we’re bound away
Across the wide Missouri

‘Tis seven long years since last I see thee
And hear your rolling river
‘Tis seven long years since last I see thee
‘Way, we’re bound away
Across the wide Missouri

Unclouded Day - Traditional Gospel, arr. Shawn Kirchner (b. 1970); Text by Josiah K. Alwood (1828-1909)

Oh, they tell me of a home far beyond the skies,

They tell me of a home far away,

And they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise:

Oh, they tell me of an unclouded day.

Refrain:

Oh, the land of cloudless days,

Oh, the land of an unclouded sky,

Oh, they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise:

Oh, they tell me of an unclouded day.

Oh, they tell me of a home where my friends have gone,

They tell me of a land far away,

Where the tree of life in eternal bloom

Sheds its fragrance through the unclouded day.

Refrain

Oh, they tell me of a King in His beauty there,

They tell me that mine eyes shall behold

Where He sits on a throne that is bright as the sun,

In the city that is made of gold.

Refrain