Lyr Req: Family Bible

Subject: Lyr Add: THE OLD FAMILY BIBLE
From: Cappuccino
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 02:46 AM

May I offer this from (forgive me) a CD we've just put out? (!) The first note is from our sleeve notes... see www.skywriter.demon.co.uk for more details.

"The Old Family Bible – We were convinced that this fifty-year-old country song was by the great Willie Nelson, until the day after we gave it this bluegrass arrangement, when we discovered three other possible composers! The lyrics are pure backwoods country, with a 'family' theme that will please several modern-day traditionalists."

*

THE OLD FAMILY BIBLE (unknown)

There's an old family Bible on the table, its pages torn and hard to read,
But that family Bible on the table will ever be my key to memory.

At the end of day when work was over, and when the evening meal was done,
Dad would read to us from that family Bible, and we'd count our many blessings one by one.

I can see us sitting round the table, as from that family Bible Dad would read.
I can hear my mother softly singing, “rock of ages, rock of ages cleft for me.”

This old world of ours is full of trouble. This old world would oh, so better be,
If we had more Bibles on the table, more mothers singing “rock of ages, cleft for me.”

*

Let me know if you want the chords.

- Ian B

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 1-Mar-02.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Family Bible
From: Burke
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 08:15 PM

Works now & I think your right about it being the one really wanted.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Family Bible
From: Burke
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 08:11 PM

Sorcha, your link was fine, it's Joe's that didn't work. The Southern Harmony site has had trouble with it's images getting corrupted.

Sacred Harp has 2 settings for these words and I think an older edition had 3. There's Family Bible and The Old-Fashioned Bible. According the the online concordance the words are from Young's Christian Companion, 1826.

I know one person who freqently leads The Old-Fashioned Bible. He does it so fast it feels like a Gilbert & Sullivan patter song done fast. I don't know that I've ever sung Family Bible.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Family Bible
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 08:00 PM

Try this link

*** CLICK TO DIGITRAD DATA BASE LINK ***

and also check at COWPIE

* COWPIE *

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Family Bible
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 07:56 PM

weird, Burke. The link was originally posted here, I followed it to make sure it still worked, and re copied it. That has happened to me a couple times; when I try again later the link works. Volkslieder told me that last week, works now.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Family Bible
From: Burke
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 07:40 PM

Joe, that link got me this: You are not authorized to access this site.

It's not the same tune, but the tune for Old Oaken Bucket should work.

---

I think I fixed it, Burke. try it now. We have been having some problems with SuperSearch.
-Joe Offer

Subject: ADD: Family Bible
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 07:34 PM

The lyrics Sorcha linked to are bleow. The requested song is probably the one that's in the Digital Tradition here (click).
-Joe Offer (e-mail sent)-

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FAMILY BIBLE

1. How painfully pleasing the fond recollection
   Of youthful connexion and innocent joy,
   While blest with parental advice and affection,
   Surrounded by mercy and peace from on high;
   I still view the chairs of my father and mother,
   The seats of their offspring arranged on each hand,
   And the richest of books, which excels every other,
   The family Bible that lay on the stand.

2. The Bible, that volume of God's inspiration,
   At morning and evening could yield us delight;
   The prayers of our father, a sweet invocation,
   For mercy by day and for safety by night;
   O hymns of thanksgiving with harmonious sweetness,
   As warmed by the hearts of the family band,
   Hath raised us from earth to that rapturous dwelling,
   Described in the Bible that lay on the stand.

3. Ye scenes of enjoyment, long have we been parted,
   My hopes almost gone, and my parents no more;
   In sorrow and sadness I live broken hearted,
   And wander alone on a far distant shore;
   O why should I doubt a dear Savior's protection,
   Forgetful of gifts from his bountiful hand;
   O let me with patience receive his correction,
   And think of the Bible that lay on the stand.

4. Blest Bible! the light and the guide of the stranger,
   With it I seem circled with parents and friends;
   Thy kind admonition shall guide me from danger;
   On thee my last lingering hope then depends.
   Hope weakens to vigor and rises to glory;
   I'll hasten and flee to the promised land,
   And for refuge lay hold on the hope set before me,
   Revealed in the Bible that lay on the stand.

5. Hail, rising the brightest and best of the morning,
   The star which has guided my parents safe home;
   The beam of thy glory, my pathway adorning,
   Shall scatter the darkness and brighten the gloom.
   As the old Eastern sages to worship the stranger
   Did hasten with ecstasy to Canaan's land,
   I'll bow to adore him, not in a low manger,--
   He's seen in the Bible that lay on the stand.

6. Though age and misfortune press hard on my feelings,
   I'll flee to the Bible, and trust in the Lord;
   Though darkness should cover his merciful dealings,
   My soul is still cheered by his heavenly word.
   And now from things earthly my soul is removing
   I soon shall glory with heaven's bright bands,
   And in rapture of joy be forever adoring
   The God of the Bible that lay on the stand.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Family Bible
From: Burke
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 06:56 PM

The melody is in the tenor line. It works best pretty fast.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Family Bible
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 06:48 PM

Here! Not too readable, but possible.

Subject: Family Bible
From:
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 06:46 PM

Does anyone have the words or / and Music to Family Bible. It starts out There's a family bible on the table.