The liner notes are a bit skimpy on this one, I'm afraid. I'll quote it in full:

"Mary Alice (Amidon) remembers that we learned "Bright Morning Star" (the title they use for the song in question) from a record in the New World series entitled I'm a Long Time Traveling Here Below. It is sung by a man and a lady, accompanied by guitar. Mary Alice took to the song and introduced it to me; I worked out the harmony. We love the uneven phrasing of the melody and the powerful imagery of the words. (written by Peter Amidon)

Unfortunately, I don't have that particular New World album, so I can't tell you who sings it there. It sounds a bit aas though it might have been Estil C. Ball and his wife, from Rugby, Virginia, but I'm just guessing. Anyone have a copy of that one to find the Amidon's source?

The text they sing is similar to the Fuson text contributed above by Stewie, but I'll add it here for comparison.

We are the true-born sons of Levi;
We are the true-born sons of God.
We are the roots and the branch of David,
The bright and glorious morning star.

When Joshua and I crossed the Jordan,
Two leaves of corn were lifted high;
To the high priest and the grand master
We bore the ark of God and Son.

Come all ye knights, ye knights of Molite,
And learn to do what we have done.
You might have been a guard much brighter,
When in the new Jerusalem.

When Moses planted the rod of Aaron,
And in one night that rod did bud;
When Moses smote Egyptian water,
That very night it turned to blood.

(They then repeat the first verse)

Stewie's planting of "Aaron's rod" retains the rhyme more appropriately, of course.

Now, which of you whiz-kids who can contribute music to these threads has a copy of the New World album or of our Sharon Mountain Harmony and can add the tune here? Our cassette of Sharon Mountain Harmony may be found among the cassettes on our web site. It has not yet been re-issued as a CD (sigh!).

Sandy