Well, I searched, I really did - but this came up only the third time I looked.

Thread #3715   Message #577513
Posted By: masato sakurai
22-Oct-01 - 03:28 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: 'Old Man Noah'
Subject: Lyr Add: NOAH FOUND GRACE IN THE EYES OF THE LORD


This seems to be the one.

NOAH FOUND GRACE IN THE EYES OF THE LORD
(Words and Music by Robert Schmertz, 1951)

The Lord looked down from His window in the sky,
Said, "I created man but I don't remember why.
Nothing but fighting since creation day.
I'll send a little water and wash 'em all away."
The Lord came down to look around a spell,
And there was Mister Noah behaving mighty well,
And that is the reason, the Scriptures record,
That Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

(Chorus)
Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord,
Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord,
Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord,
And he landed high and dry.

The Lord said, "Noah, there's gonna be a flood.
There's gonna be some water and there's gonna be some mud.
So take off your hat, Noah. Take off your coat.
Get Ham, Shem, and Japheth and build yourself a boat."
Noah said, "Lord, I don't believe I could."
The Lord said, "Noah, get some sturdy gopher wood.
Never know what you can do till you try.
Build it fifty cubits wide and thirty cubits high."

Noah said, "There she is. There she is, Lord."
The Lord said, "Noah, it's time to get aboard.
Take of each creature a he and a she.
And, of course, Missus Noah and your whole family."
Noah said, "Lord, it's getting mighty dark."
The Lord said, "Noah, get these creatures on the ark."
Noah said, "Lord, it's beginning to pour."
The Lord said, "Noah, hurry up and shut the door."

The ark rose up on the bosom of the deep,
And after forty days, Mister Noah took a peek,
Said, "We're not moving, Lord. Where are we at?"
The Lord said, "You're sitting right on Mount Ararat."
Noah said, "Lord, it's getting mighty dry."
The Lord said, "Noah, see my rainbow in the sky.
Take all your creatures and people the earth.
But be sure you aren't more trouble than you're worth."

~Masato

---

You'll find a great YouTube recording of this song here (click). A note posted below the video says this:
Robert Schmertz - he was an architect and professor in Pittsburgh who died in '75. He wrote a lot of folksongs that were picked up by Pete Seeger, Burl Ives, Statler Brothers and more. I think the Oak Ridge Boys' rendition might be the best-known of the interpretations. (it appears that the note was posted by a grandson of Schmertz)