Lyr Req: The Handwriting on the Wall (Knowles Shaw

Subject: LYR/Info Req: Feast of Balthazar
From: Casey
Date: 30 Jun 97 - 02:12 AM

I am looking for any infomation about or lyrics from a song I think is called "Feast of Balthazar." Portions of words I know (or think I know) are:

"See the brave Captain Daniel as he stands before the throne"

"'Twas the hand of God on the Wall"

"Shall the record be found ____, "or shall it be found wanting?"

"The hand is writing on the wall"

Thanks so much for any help you can provide. Casey

Subject: RE: LYR/Info Req: Feast of Balthazar
From: Alison
Date: 30 Jun 97 - 02:37 AM

Hi

There is a classical work called "Belshazzar's feast" composed by Walton.

It was on TV here in Australia last night as part of "The Last night of the Proms."

Strangely enough the bass soloist bore an uncanny resemblance to Meatloaf, and I kept witing for the electric guitars to come in for a quick chorus of "Bat out of hell"!

This probably doesn't help you but it was a bit of a coincidence.

Slainte

Alison

Subject: Lyr Add: THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL (Knowles Shaw
From:
Date: 30 Jul 97 - 02:20 AM

I found this in a poetry book we have called Best Loved Poems of the American People, Selected by Hazel Felleman. I did not know this poem had a melody to go with it, making it a song.


THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL
Knowles Shaw

CHORUS: 'Tis the Hand of God on the wall!
'Tis the Hand of God on the wall!
Shall the record be "Found wanting!"
Or shall it be "Found trusting"
While the Hand is writing on the wall?

At the feast of Belshazzar and a thousand of his lords,
While they drank from golden vessels, as the Book of Truth records
In the night as they reveled in the royal palace hall,
They were seized with consternation—'twas the Hand upon the wall!

See the brave captive, Daniel, as he stood before the throng,
And rebuked the haughty monarch for his mighty deeds of wrong;
As he read out the writing—'twas the doom of one and all,
For the kingdom now was finished—said the Hand upon the wall!

See the faith, zeal and courage, that would dare to do the right,
Which the Spirit gave to Daniel—this the secret of his might.
In his home in Judea, or a captive in the hall,
He understood the writing of his God upon the wall!

So our deeds are recorded—there's a Hand that's writing now;
Sinner, give your heart to Jesus, to His royal mandates bow;
For the day is approaching—it must come to one and all,
When the sinner's condemnation will be written on the wall!


I do not know the melody for this since it was in a book of verse. How could I get a hold of it? I'd like to be able to sing it.
Thanks. Jean

Subject: RE: LYR/Info Req: Feast of Balthazar
From: Jean
Date: 30 Jul 97 - 02:27 AM

I typed this (post above) in verse form but somehow it all ran together when I posted it. The author is Knowles Shaw but I do not know anything more about it's source, how old it is etc. Jean.

Subject: RE: LYR/Info Req: Feast of Balthazar
From: Casey to Jean
Date: 31 Jul 97 - 02:38 AM

Thanks so very much.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Handwriting on the Wall (Knowles Shaw
From: GUEST,Sharon
Date: 08 Sep 11 - 03:44 PM

The following link has just music to this poem. Good poem & music.

Hope this helps!

http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/h/a/n/handwrit.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Handwriting on the Wall (Knowles Shaw
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Sep 11 - 05:57 PM

You can see sheet music for THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL by Knowles Shaw in On Joyful Wing: A Book of Praise and Song by John R. Sweney & William James Kirkpatrick (Philadelphia: John J. Hood, 1886), page 71.

There is another arrangement, by D. B. Towner, in Hymns New and Old: For Use in Gospel Meetings and Other Religious Services by D. B. Towner (Chicago: Fleming H. Revell, 1887), page 145.

And an arrangement by Ira D. Sankey in Gospel Hymns Nos. 5 and 6 Combined: For Use in Gospel Meetings and Other Religious Services by Ira D. Sankey, James McGranahan and George C. Stebbins (New York: The Biglow & Main Co., 1892), page 95.