The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #2113   Message #9832
Posted By: Jean 102631.3274@compuserve.com
30-Jul-97 - 02:20 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: The Handwriting on the Wall (Knowles Shaw
Subject: Lyr Add: THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL (Knowles Shaw
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