Bible School songs

Subject: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: Kent Davis
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 09:56 PM

Here's one I learned from my mother, who learned it in the late '40s or early '50s in Lashmeet, WV. What are some of your old favorites?

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy,
down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart,
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy,
down in my heart, down in my heart to stay.

I've got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus,
down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart,
I've got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus,
down in my heart, down in my heart to stay.

I've got the peace that passeth understanding,
down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart,
I've got the peace that passeth understanding,
down in my heart, down in my heart to stay.

Kent Davis

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: Azizi
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 10:07 PM

Here's one I remember from Atlantic City New Jersey in the 1950s

B-I-B-L-E
That's the book for me.
The Bible teaches right from wrong
so B-I-B-L-E

[I remember singing this song as a young child while walking down the sidewalk with a partner in a procession of other children with some lady at the head of the line. This lady led my sisters, and me, and other children to her church's Vacation Bible School. I remember that lady encouring us to sing that verse again by saying "Once again, now!" at the end of the song's last line. That line has become part of the song for me.}

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: Azizi
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 10:25 PM

Here's a Bible School song that I had posted on another Mudcat thread {posted with a correction to a typo. Note: the first two words of the verse are sung much slower than the rest of the verse}:

Ohooo the
the wise man built his house upon the rock
house upon the rock
house upon the rock
the wise man built his house upon the rock
{but the foolish man built on the sand}???

Then the
water came and sweep away the sand
swep away the sand
swep away the sand
the water came up and swep away the sand
but the rock house it still stands...

**

Btw, Kent, I know your "I got joy" song but I'm pretty sure that I didn't know this song as a child. I just heard my home church's {in Atlantic City} children's choir sing this song last summer.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: Azizi
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 10:38 PM

I meant to mention that Mudcatter Fliss {from Wales} shared her {his?} version of "A Wise Men Built His House" song on the RE: Back of Bus Songs thread here:

thread.cfm?threadid=36629#1387597

And

Guest Cathy shared her version of that song on that same thread here:
thread.cfm?threadid=36629#1982518

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: frogprince
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 10:50 PM

Interesting, Azizi; What we learned was just the same, only quite a bit different : )

The wise man built his house upon the rock (repeat twice more)
And the rains came tumbling down.
The rains came down and the floods came up (repeat twice more)
And the house on the rock stood firm.
The foolish man built his house upon the sand (twice more)
And the rains came tumbling down.
The rains came down and the floods came up (twice more)
And the house on the sand went smash
So build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ (twice more)
And the blessings will come down.
The blessings will come down as the prayers go up (twice more)
So build your house on the Lord.
            
Watch carefully now, and I'll teach you the hand movements to go
with it...: )                         Dean

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: Kent Davis
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 10:51 PM

The version of "The B-I-B-L-E" I learned from my mother was a little different:

The B-I-B-L-E,
Yes, that's the book for me,
I stand alone on the Word of God,
The B-I-B-L-E.

Kent

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: frogprince
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 11:00 PM

There were additional verses for "I've got the Joy" that I never heard in Sunday School, but rather got in gatherings of Christian servicemen who were partly worshipping and partly goofing off.

I've got the wonderful love of my blessed redeemer way down in the depths of my heart!   
WHERE?
Way down in the depths of my heart...

I've got the Christ who confuses cantankerous communists down in the depths of my heart... (not really about politics, just a dumb tonguetwister/challange to jam all the words in thing.)

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 12:52 AM

We had some other verses for "Joy, Joy, Joy":

I've got that faith that frustrates flagging feelings...
I've got that trust that tickles tired tonsils...
I've got that love that loosens lonely longings...
I've got the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit...

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: Azizi
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 02:25 AM

Here's another song I remember learning as a child in either {summer} Vacation Bible school, or church {Atlantic Cit, New Jersey, 1950s:

Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white
They are precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children
of the world.

-snip-

Note: this was sung at a time when Black Americans called outselves Negores or Colored people. It was also sung at a time when it was okay to refer to Native Americans as "red" people, and Asian people as "yellow" people. I think that on the conscious level, we repeated the words by rote memory, and it didn't register that we were calling ourselves "black". In the real world, we would have rejected that descriptor. To be called "blackie" was a real insult then {and unfortunately is still considered to be an insult today among African American children who are growing up at a time when "Black" is the accepted informal referent for African American people and other people of African descent}. But on another level, it was nice to know that skin color wasn't/isn't relevant to Jesus since all the little children "are precious in His sight". And maybe this song helped me {and other folks} develop & reinforce a positive sense of group esteem which I believe is an integral part of a positive self-concept.

I'm curious to know if other folks learned "Jesus Loves The Little Children" in their childhood. It would also be interesting to hear how any Native Americans or Asians {who might have learned that song or heard that song} felt about being referred to as "red" or "yellow". Since that "white" referent is still used, I assume that "White people" didn't/don't have any concerns about that particular skin color referent.

But I think that-all things considered-if I had a say so [which I don't have any, I'd probably vote against teaching that song to kids nowadays because I believe that Native Americans and Asians considere "red and yellow" skin color references to be inappropriate or politically incorrect.

**

Besides the African American spiritual, "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands", the only other children's "Bible School song" [?] that I remember-that indirectly anyway- talked about race relations, is this dour line song:

The ink is black,
The page is white.
Together we learn to read & write,
To read and write.

-snip-

Maybe this song didn't/doesn't have anything at all to do with races working together. But that's how I interpreted it as a child-and as and as an adult. I only have a vague memory of this song. It might not have even been a church song.

Here's another song I remember learning as a child in either {summer} Vacation Bible school, or church {Atlantic Cit, New Jersey, 1950s:

Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white
They are precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children
of the world.

-snip-

Note: this was sung at a time when Black Americans called outselves Negores or Colored people. It was also sung at a time when it was okay to refer to Native Americans as "red" people, and Asian people as "yellow" people. I think that on the conscious level, we repeated the words by rote memory, and it didn't register that we were calling ourselves "black". In the real world, we would have rejected that descriptor. To be called "blackie" was a real insult then {and unfortunately is still considered to be an insult today among African American children who are growing up at a time when "Black" is the accepted informal referent for African American people and other people of African descent}. But on another level, it was nice to know that skin color wasn't/isn't relevant to Jesus since all the little children "are precious in His sight". And maybe this song helped me {and other folks} develop & reinforce a positive sense of group esteem which I believe is an integral part of a positive self-concept.

I'm curious to know if other folks learned "Jesus Loves The Little Children" in their childhood. It would also be interesting to hear how any Native Americans or Asians {who might have learned that song or heard that song} felt about being referred to as "red" or "yellow". Since that "white" referent is still used, I assume that "White people" didn't/don't have any concerns about that particular skin color referent.

But I think that-all things considered-I'd probably vote against teaching that song to kids nowadays because I believe that Native Americans and Asians consider "red and yellow" skin color references to be inappropriate or politically incorrect.

**

Besides the African American spiritual, "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands", the only other children's "Bible School song" [?] that I remember-that indirectly anyway- talked about race relations, is this dour line song:

The ink is black,
The page is white.
Together we learn to read & write,
To read and write.

-snip-

Maybe this song didn't/doesn't have anything at all to do with races working together. But that's how I interpreted it as a child-and as and I can still see that meaning as an adult. I only have a vague memory of this song. It might not have even been a church song. But that song clip was/is very meaningful-in a positive sense-to me.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: Azizi
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 02:28 AM

Negores=Negroes

[All the other typos will have to fend for themselves].

:o}

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: Megan L
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 03:51 AM

Kent you opened the floodgates of memory I first learned Joy in my heart in the tongue of Sierra Leone from an uncle (our family never seemed to master relations beyond uncle or cousin so goodness knows how distant he was :) ) He had first went to live there in the 20s, he had a medical condition where he had a large powerful body(He had been a pick and shovel miner.) but his legswere tiny. Of the group of misionaries he went out with only two came home. He married the woman who got out with him and they went back living there for over 30 years.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: Kaleea
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 08:55 PM

Azizi, I also learned that version of Jesus loves the little children. It was also sung in many "Indian" churches, too, as were many of what I think of as "Sunday School Songs." I went to small, mostly "white" churches as a child. Later as a choir director, I taught the same songs to the kids. Kids always enjoy "Praise ye the Lord/Halleluia" where they alternate standing up & sitting down.
While growing up in Oklahoma, I have known only a handful of people who actually appeared to be "red," mostly the very old elders of the tribe, (mine or another) or some young kids (mostly whites) who spent the entire summer outside with little on but cutoffs & maybe a sleeveless shirt. Funny thing is, since the Irish on my Mother's side shows in my skin, most people other than family or tribal members) don't think of me as "Indian" or "red." I have rarely heard the word "red" used amongst family or tribal members. If so, it was an elder-long ago. I sometimes hear the term used by an accasional "Indian aka Native/indigenous American" person, usually from Arizona or New Mexico or West Texas, or even Mexico or South America, when they are describing our/their peoples as the color of the earth--sometimes the color used is copper or translates as copper.
& by the way-when I was in the Far East, years ago, I never saw anyone who was "yellow." The only people I've ever seen who were actually yellow had liver disease.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: Kent Davis
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 11:09 PM

Azizi,

I think my mother taught us "Jesus Loves the Little Children", but we also sang it in Bible school. "The ink is black", copyright 1956, by David Arkin and Earl Robinson, was apparently popularized by "Three Dog Night". It is indeed about the races working together, but isn't really a church song.

Kaleea,

It was probably 1980 before I heard "Praise Ye the Lord". Does anyone know how old it is?   

Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah
Praise ye the Lord,
Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah
Praise ye the Lord, Praise ye the Lord
Hallelujah
Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah
Praise ye the Lord, Hallelujah
Praise ye the Lord!

Kent

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: Azizi
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 12:35 AM

Kaleea, thanks for sharing your experiences with that "Jesus Loves The Little Children" song. That was interesting.

**

Dean, you said Watch carefully now, and I'll teach you the hand movements to go with the "Wise Man Built His House Upon The Rock" song . It was such a looong time ago that I was a child that I can't remember if we did any hand motions with this song or not.

**

I do remember a children's choir singing the Hallelu Hallelu Hallelu Hallejah Praise Ye The Lord song. But I think I was a teen when I first heard a choir sing this. I seem to recall the children standing when they started singing this but sitting down at some point when they said some part of the word Hallelu {pronounced hal lay loo}. Was it on the "lay" part of that word? I can't remember...

**

Does anyone else know this Children's Christain song?
{from my memories of Baptist church services or Vacation Bible School, Atlantic City New Jersey, 1950s}

JESUS WANTS ME FOR A SUNBEAM

Jesus wants me for a sun beam
to shine for Him each day.
In every way try to please Him
at home, at school, at play.

A sun beam
A sun beam
Jesus wants me for a sunbeam
A sunbeam
A sunbeam
I'll be a sunbeam for Him.

-snip-

Now that I think of it, for years the "tiny tot" choir was called "The Sunbeams", probably after this choir.

I have no idea who wrote this song. It had a moderate tempo. The choir sung this and other songs to the accompaniment of the pianist. {In those days in our Baptist church we didn't have any musical accompaniment [instruments] but a piano and an organ-and on a rare occassion, someone playing a tamborine. Nowadays, that same church has a drummer, and somtimes a guitarist in addition to the piano and organ.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: Azizi
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 12:40 AM

Also, does anyone else know this song:

FATHER WE THANK THEE

Can a little child like me
thank the Father fittingly?
Yes, oh yes be good and true,
faithful, kind, in all you do.
Love the Lord and do your part,
Learn to say with all your heart-

Father we thank Thee,
Father we thank Thee,
Father in heaven,
we thank Thee.

-snip-

{I'm curious who wrote this moderate tempo song, and when.}

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: SharonA
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 04:58 AM

For some reason, I remember a version of the "Jesus Loves the Little Children" that went:

...Red and yellow, black and white,
They are equal in His sight...

but I don't remember whether I learned it in Bible school as a small child, or whether the Civil Rights movement overlaid that on my memory.


As a preschooler, I was taken to meetings of something called Good News Club in a church member's home, and the club's theme song was:

Good news, good news: Christ died for me.
Good news, good news; if I believe
Good news, good news: I'll live eternally
That's wonderful, EXTRA!! good news.

(We were encouraged to shout "EXTRA!!" as loudly as possible. To us kids, that was the really good news.)


As for "I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy" song, we always said "Where?" at the end of the "down in my heart" line. I recall singing about having "the marvelous [something] that mystifies the Moslem way down in the depths of my heart". This was before it was un-PC to say "Moslem" instead of "Muslim". Nowadays the whole verse is so un-PC that I can't find it on Google. Then there's the verse that goes "And if the Devil doesn't like it, he can sit on a tack (Ouch!)".


Other songs I recall...

Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he.
He climbed up in a sycamore tree Lord Jesus for to see.
And as Lord Jesus passed that way He looked up in the tree,
And He said, "Zacchaeus, come down,
For I'm going to your house today;
For I'm going to your house today."


Deep and wide, deep and wide,
There's a fountain flowing deep and wide.
Deep and wide, deep and wide,
There's a fountain flowing deep and wide.


This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel. No! I'm gonna let it shine! etc.
Don't let Satan blow it out; I'm gonna let it shine! etc.
   (or make "whoosh" noise in place of the word "blow")
Let it shine on [your town's name here]; I'm gonna let it shine! etc.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: SharonA
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 05:07 AM

Just had another flashback: the local church's 1960ish version of "The B-I-B-L-E" had a very un-Biblical part to it (which, again, I can't find on Google):

The B-I-B-L-E
Yes, that's the book for me
It saved my soul and it made me whole
The B-I-B-L-E. Bible!

The first time I heard the "I stand alone on the Word of God" version, I was a young adult. Somewhere along the line, someone realized that the Book wasn't doing the saving.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: cetmst
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 06:33 AM

Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong;
We are weak but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me,
Yes, Jesus loves me,
Yes, Jesus loves me,
The Bible tells me so.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: Kent Davis
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 12:01 PM

To the tune of "The Old Gray Mare", with motions

I may never march in the infantry (march in place)
Ride in the calvary,               (hold "reins", bounce as if riding)
Shoot the artillery,               (shoot imaginary rifle)
I may never fly o'er the enemy    (hold out arms as airplane wings)
but I'm in the Lord's army       (point to self on "I" & up   
                                           on "Lord's")
I'm in the Lord's army, YES SIR!   (same motions, "yes sir" LOUD)
I'm in the Lord's army, YES SIR!   (ditto)

REPEAT FIRST VERSE WITH SAME MOTIONS

In the "Old Gray Mare" Lyric Request thread in 2005, Franz S. mentioned singing this "57 years ago". Can anyone take it back before 1948?

Kent

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: Joybell
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 06:22 PM

I made up my very first parody - when I was five - based on "Jesus Loves the Little Children." I've never told anyone. I was a solitary child. I sang it for myself. I wanted all the primary colours to be represented.

Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow blue and green
They are precious to be seen
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: frogprince
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 06:37 PM

I haven't been able to get this into the Sunday school canon yet. Nothing in my "mudcat experience" has done my heart more good than when Kaleea told me she would be teaching it to her little niece.
                                  Dean

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: Janie
Date: 25 Aug 07 - 07:49 PM

In addition to many of the above songs, we also sang "Ezekiel Saw A Wheel." (I'm thinking there were other rounds we were taught. If they come to mind I'll post them.), "This Little Light of Mine", and of course, "Yes, Jesus Loves Me."

We also sang and were taught "Jesus Loves the Little Children." The message was very clear and simple. Jesus valued all people the same, regardless of race or culture, and we should do our best to follow His example. In the 1950's, when the overt teaching of racism was acceptable throughout the dominant, white, culture, it was a good, proper, and fairly rare thing for a child to receive at least one clear message that racism was wrong. It is still a good idea to teach that. Perhaps the language is dated. But the message is not, and it seems to me that it would be a shame for the song to be deemed inappropriate because of what grown-ups choose to read into it. Young children, unless or until someone teaches them differently, understand the terms simply represent different hues of skin color that are characteristic of the several races of the human species. They are quite capable of seeing that nobody has skin that is actually white, black, red or yellow. And let's face it, inserting the 'correct names' to the races and cultures to replace the use of skin color doesn't scan very well.

Or perhaps it is a song that is still useful and valuable to teach to white kids, but, because of the connotations the use of the terms white, black, yellow or red may have within Asian, African American and/or Native American cultural communities (based on the historical experience of being on the receiving end of racism), does not offer the same message of universal value of all humans in at least some communitites and congregations, so it would have no useful purpose.    I don't know. I just wonder.

I'm causing some thread drift here so I will stop. Azizi, I'll pm you.

Janie

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: Mo the caller
Date: 26 Aug 07 - 08:18 AM

I remeber most of those songs. In England they were all in a book of "choruses" published by CSSM (which held bible clubs on the beach at seaside resorts).
Most of them were the choruses from older hymns, Sankey & Moody etc. but sung alone.
I think our version was
"Jesus died for all the children"
and we sometimes fitted an extra word in
"Red, brown, yellow; black and white"

The joy song at the top of the thread was usually sung with a loud spoken "WHERE?" after the first "down in my heart"

We also sang
"Joy, joy, my heart is full of joy"
rpt
Since the Lord saved me
I'm as happy as can be
(was there another line?)

2nd verse had
since the Lord lives in me.
Can't remember if there was more

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: Mo the caller
Date: 26 Aug 07 - 08:25 AM

No I've got 2 songs mixed up there.
It was
Running over, running over, my cup's full and running over (rolling hands round each other)
Since the Lord saved me I'm as happy as can be
My cup's full and running over.

Telling others, telling others, my lifes work is telling others (stretching hands apart)
Since the Lord lives in me.....etc

So how did Joy, joy finish?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: Azizi
Date: 26 Aug 07 - 11:14 AM

I want to clarify that back in the 1950s when the African American children's choir I belonged to sung the "red and yellow, black, and white" line to "Jesus Loves The Little Children" we didn't think anything was wrong with any of those color references for races when they were used the song. But way back then {and as I indicated in my previous post} sometimes nowadays, children didn't want anyone calling them "black" or "blackie".

As an adult, I'm concerned about the "red" and "yellow" references for racial groups {and not the "white" and "black" color references}.
And, yes, I know that there are really no white, or black, or red or yellow colored people in the world.

As merely a suggestion, as a means of conveying the message that Jesus loves everyone no matter what their race or color, how about changing the words of song to:

Jesus loves the little children,
All the children in the world.
Jesus loves each boy and girl
in every nation in the world.
Jesus loves the little children in the world.

-snip-

Maybe that version repeats the word "world" too much. But that's one purposeful folk process solution to what may not be perceived as a problem to other folks...

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: Azizi
Date: 26 Aug 07 - 11:19 AM

And though this thread is for Bible School songs we remember from our childhood, I want to take this opportunity to share a contemporary religious,open-ended zip song that I think works very well with children, youth, and adults.

THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD IS HERE

Byron Cage
[2003]

The presence of the Lord is here,
The presence of the Lord is here,
I feel it in the atmosphere,
The presence of the Lord is here,
The presence of the Lord is here.
The spirit of the Lord is here,
The spirit of the Lord is here,
I feel it in the atmosphere,
The spirit of the Lord is here,
The spirit of the Lord is here.

The power of the Lord is here,
The power of the Lord is here,
I feel it in the atmosphere,
The power of the Lord is here,
The power of the Lord is here.

Everybody blow the trumpet,
And sound the alarm,
Because the Lord is in the temple,
Let everybody bow,
Let all the people praise Him now,
The Lord is here!

A blessing from the Lord is here,
A blessing from the Lord is here,
I feel it in the atmosphere,
A blessing from the Lord is here,
A blessing from the Lord is here.

Everybody blow the trumpet,
And sound the alarm,
Because the Lord is in the temple,
Let everybody bow,
Let all the people praise Him now,
The Lord is here!

I can feel the presence of the Lord,
And I'm gonna get my blessing right now.

The presence of the Lord is here!
http://www.nligc.org/songs/presence.html

**

Here's the YouTube clip for that song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QyVPKbZzww

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: Mo the caller
Date: 26 Aug 07 - 04:09 PM

Finally remembered it, while washing up

Joy, joy, my heart is full of joy x2
My Saviour dear is always near
Thats the reason why my heart is full of joy

Sung as a round

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: Kent Davis
Date: 26 Aug 07 - 09:39 PM

My darling wife, as a child, attended a "Pentecostal" church in Southwestern Virginia. Sometime around 1970, she learned this song:

There was a man named Naaman,
There was a man named Naaman,
and he dipped, (dipping motion)
and he dipped, (dipping motion)
and he dipped, (dipping motion)
and he dipped, (dipping motion)
and he dipped, (dipping motion)
and he dipped, (dipping motion)
and he dipped, (dipping motion)
and he was made whole.

He was a leper,
He was a leper,
and he dipped, (dipping motion)
and he dipped, (dipping motion)
and he dipped, (dipping motion)
and he dipped, (dipping motion)
and he dipped, (dipping motion)
and he dipped, (dipping motion)
and he dipped, (dipping motion)
and he was made whole.

The song is based on II Kings 5, in which a Jewish slave girl tells Naaman, her leprous Syrian master, that the prophet Elisha could cure him. Elisha tells Naaman he will be cured if he dips 7 times in the Jordan River. At first Naaman refuses, having expected a more spectacular means of cure. He eventually obeys and is cured.
Part of the fun is getting the numbers of dips right. It is easy to lose count.

Anyone else remember this? I never heard it as a child, but have heard it many times as an adult.

Kent

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Aug 07 - 06:04 AM

My favourite was a "Missionary" hymn sung in infants' class in 1956

Over the sea there are little brown children
mothers and fathers and babies dear
They have not heard of the little Lord Jesus
No-one has told them that God is near
Swift let the message blow over the water
Telling the children that God is here.

there were other verses which I have forgotten now.

The other one I remember was

"Stories of Jesus, tell them to me"

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: Bee
Date: 27 Aug 07 - 07:19 AM

I remember many of these from Bible Vacation School (in Cape Breton) in the early sixties (though not the last two mentioned). Oddly, though I know the song, I don't recall Jesus Loves the Little Children being sung there. Which is strange, because the last Saturday of BVS was dedicated to an outdoor picnic, games, etc., to which the children from the BVS in Sydney's mostly Black community also came, since there wasn't a suitable picnic place in the city. For many of the kids in my community, this would have been the only contact they had with Black children - not due to racial prejudice, but due to our community being very small and rather poor, so that only the families of the people who first settled there lived there. Those picnics were fun.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: HouseCat
Date: 27 Aug 07 - 03:24 PM

I recall my renegade auntie teaching us this song in Bible school:

1,2,3, the devil's after me,
4,5,6, he's always throwing bricks,
7,8,9, I've left him far behind,
HALLELUIA, HALLELUIA, AMEN!!! (Big Finish)



Part of my job as a Religious Ed director is to plan Vacation Bible School every summer. We use programs that come with music to suit the theme of the year (this year was a cowboy theme) and it is invariably painful to get through but the kids love it. Someday when I have time I'm going to write my own VBS program, (maybe God Loves Folkies?) and use all the good old fun songs I recall.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: Kent Davis
Date: 27 Aug 07 - 11:02 PM

Here's another I suppose many will remember:

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands (clap hands)
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands (clap hands)
If you're happy and you know it, and you really want to show it,
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands (clap hands)

If you're happy and you know it, stomp your feet   (stomp feet)
If you're happy and you know it, stomp your feet (stomp feet)
If you're happy and you know it, and you really want to show it,
If you're happy and you know it, stomp your feet (stomp feet)

If you're happy and you know it, shout "amen" (shout "amen")
If you're happy and you know it, shout "amen" (shout "amen")
If you're happy and you know it, and you really want to show it,
If you're happy and you know it, shout "amen" (shout "amen")

Kent

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: Mo the caller
Date: 28 Aug 07 - 10:16 AM

Didn't meet that one till long after Sunday school days, when my first child was at Playgroup in the early '70s.

We also had a 'nod your head' verse. Instead of 'Amen' we shout 'We are'. I often used this as the final song of a Playgroup session, but had to add an extra verse 'wave goodbye' after complaints that I was dismissing them in yelling mood. Now I use it as a dance at Family Barn dances, if the age mix is right

"You all go to the middle, clap your hands x2
You walk around the ring, and evrybody sing
If...

stamp your feet

touch the floor

stretch up high

You tiptoe to the middle, nod your head

shout hooray

Subject: RE: Folklore: Bible School songs
From: John Hardly
Date: 28 Aug 07 - 11:20 AM

When I was young, the Summer Bible School I attended was actually summer catechism -- we spent the morning memorizing Westminister Shorter Catechism, Book of John, several others. By the time a child went through our entire VBS, they would have memorized all of John, Romans, and Psalms if they passed all the "blue ribbon" requirements.

The pastor and his wife who ran the VBS were very creative and when they couldn't find a useful mnemonic-oriented song to borrow, they ended up writing their own songs for the tasks they thought important. Thus, some of these I've heard from other kids, but many are original to my particular VBS/Sunday School.

Every day we sang the intro to VBS -- a little four line chorus...

Come and bring your friends to Summer Bible School
Learning more of Jesus, that will be the rule
Come, come to Summer Bible School.

(as kids, we would yodel out the last "School")

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The pastor's wife wrote the geography song to the melody of "Oh Tannenbaum". Older kids would take their turns at the big map up front, showing with a pointer the points where the lyric was referring...

Now first the line of coast we make (the mediterranean coast)
And here and next, the Marshy Lake
And then comes dear old Galillee
Directly east of Carmel, see?

The Jordan River flows through both
Into the Dead Sea on the south
Meanwhile the great sea westward lies
Outsretched as far as sunset skies.

There was a verse for the major cities. I don't remember the words.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

We sang a variation of the Disciples song, to the tune of "Bringing In The Sheaves":


There were twelve disciples, Jesus called to help him
Simon Peter, Andrew, James, his brother John
Philip, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alpheus
Thadeus, Simon, Judas, and Bartholemew.

He has called us too, he has called us too
We are his disciples, I am one and you
He has called us too, he has called us too
We are his disciples, we his work must do

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

And the Books of the Bible song (to the tune of "Have you Ever Seen a Lassie?":

Let us sing the books of Moses, of Moses, of Moses,
Let us sing the books of Moses, for he wrote the law.
First, Genesis; second, Exodus; third, Leviticus; fourth, Numbers;
And the fifth is Deuteronomy, the last of them all.

Let us sing the books of history, of history, of history,
Let us sing the books of history, which tell of the Jews.
There's Joshua; and Judges; and the story of Ruth;
Then First and Second Samuel; and First and Second Kings;

Then First and Second Chronicles, which give us the records;
Then Ezra; Nehemiah; and Esther, the Queen.

Let us sing the books of poetry, of poetry, of poetry,
Let us sing the books of poetry, The songs the Jews sang.
Job the patient, Psalms of David, and the Proverbs of a wise one;
And then Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon.

Let us sing the Major Prophets, Major Prophets, Major Prophets,
Let us sing the Major Prophets, there are five of them all.
Isaiah; Jeremiah, who wrote Lamentations;
Then Ezekiel; and Daniel, the last of them all.

Let us sing the Minor Prophets, Minor Prophets, Minor Prophets,
Let us sing the Minor Prophets, there are twelve of them all.
Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk,
Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Kent Davis
Date: 28 Aug 07 - 07:54 PM

We also sang the disciples song, except that the places of Matthew and Philip were reversed. I think I learned it at the United Methodist Church in Kegley, WV, around 1974. My wife has used the "Books of the Bible" song in classes that she taught, but neither she nor I ever heard it until perhaps 5 to 10 years ago.

John Hardly and anyone else who knows these songs, in about what year and in what state, county, or province did you learn them?

Kent

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Joe_F
Date: 28 Aug 07 - 09:03 PM

I had a skeptical upbringing, but when I was little I liked songs with lights in them, so my mother dredged up songs from her Methodist Sunday school. In addition to "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam" & "Lead, Kindly Light," those included

Do not wait until some deed of greatness you may do.
Do not wait to spread your light afar.
To the many duties here around you now be true --
Brighten the corner where you are.

Brighten the corner where you are,
Brighten the corner where you are.
Someone far from harbor you may guide across the bar:
Brighten the corner where you are.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: John Hardly
Date: 28 Aug 07 - 09:10 PM

For me it was Indianapolis in the 1960s.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Mo the caller
Date: 29 Aug 07 - 12:12 PM

England, '40s & '50s

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: kendall
Date: 29 Aug 07 - 01:37 PM

Noah built himself an ark
There's one more river to cross
He built all from Hickory bark
There's one more river to cross
There's one more river
And that wide river is Jordan
There's one more river
There's one more river to cross.

Went to a Baptist church as a kid, but I discovered that the Mormon church was more interesting. There, we sang:

Young folks old folks everybody come
Join the "Darkies Sunday school and make yourself at home,
There's a chance to check your chewing gum and razors at the door
And you'll hear some Bible stories that you never heard before.

Along came Noah stumbling in the dark
He picked up a hammer and built himself an ark
40 days and 40 nights he sailed upon the foam
And, he kicked out a Lion just because she was a blonde.

There's more but you get the idea.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Kent Davis
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 12:32 AM

I think I learned this one in the early 1980s in Princeton,WV.

Booster, booster, be a booster,
Don't be grouchy like a rooster,
Booster, booster, be a booster,
And boost our Bible school.

The tune was the same one used for "S - M - I - L - E", which has been referenced in another thread:

thread.cfm?threadid=33052#438961

Kent

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Kent Davis
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 11:07 PM

My older daughter contributed this one, which she learned in Reno, Ohio, probably in the late summer of 2000, but maybe a summer or two later.

Roll the gospel chariot along, (make rolling motions with hands)
[REPEAT WORDS & MOTIONS TWICE]
And we won't tag along behind. (point thumb back, over shoulder)

If the sinner's in the way, we will stop & pick him up
(pantomime reaching down & picking someone up)
[REPEAT TWICE MORE]   
And we won't tag along behind. (point thumb back, over shoulder)

If the devil's in the way, we will roll right over him
(hard, fast rolling motion with fists)
[REPEAT TWICE MORE]
And we won't tag along behind. (point thumb back, over shoulder)

This is similar to a version in THE LONG WINTER, in the chapter "Pa Goes to Volga", by Laura Ingalls Wilder, copyright 1940. There it was used as a work song by men pumping a hand car down the railroad in the Dakota Territory. The time was the winter of 1880-81. That version and other information can be found here: thread.cfm?threadid=53453#822736   

Kent

Subject: RE: Bible School songs / Singspiration
From: Genie
Date: 31 Aug 07 - 07:50 PM

My mother used to sing "Brighten the Corner Where You Are" to me in Spanish - although she doesn't know Spanish from Swahili. *g*

It went something like:
"Brilla encelia (sp?) donde ust' e (x2)
Puedes con (something) ....
Brilla encilia (sp?) donde ust' e."

Maybe someone here knows it.

We also did a lot of songs that were in that little song booklet that I think was titled "Singspiration."   They included:

I've Got The Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down In My Heart
This Little Light
Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam
Jesus Loves The Little Children
Jesus Loves Me
Jacob's Ladder
and
Give Me Oil In My Lamp

My favorite verse of "Give Me Oil ..." is the one that goes:

"Give me umption in my gumption, let me function ..."

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Kent Davis
Date: 01 Sep 07 - 07:49 PM

Here are some cross-references, which I thought may be of interest:

"Give me Oil in my Lamp" Detail.CFM?messages__Message_ID=12728

"Jesus Loves Me" @displaysong.cfm?SongID=3186

"This Little Light of Mine" Detail.CFM?messages__Message_ID=606085

"There Were Twelve Disciples" Detail.CFM?messages__Message_ID=907867

"1, 2, 3, The Devil's After Me" http://www.dltk-bible.com/hallelujah_song.htm

"The B - I - B - L - E" http://www.dltk-bible.com/biblesong.html

"I'm in the Lord's Army" http://www.dltk-bible.com/in_the_lords_army.htm

"I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy" http://www.dltk-bible.com/ive_got_the_joy.html
Kent

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Genie
Date: 01 Sep 07 - 08:14 PM

Rock-a My Soul (In The Bosom Of Abraham)

I seem to recall a Bible School song about climbing up Sunshine Mountain, or something like that, but I can't remember how it goes. (I keep getting interference from Jacob's Ladder and Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam.)

Wait a minute!   It goes:
"Climb, climb up Sunshine Mountain ... "
and the kiddies act out climbing (as in Jacob's Ladder) and "sunshine," etc.

But I can't remember the rest of it.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Genie
Date: 01 Sep 07 - 08:17 PM

Wait, it's coming back to me:

Climb, climb up Sunshine Mountain, (climb with hands)
Heavenly breezes blow. (make breeze gestures with hands)
Climb, climb up Sunshine Mountain, (climbing motions)
Faces all aglow. (put fingers at corners of mouth and draw outward into a smile)

Anyone know the rest?

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Kent Davis
Date: 02 Sep 07 - 09:51 PM

Genie and others,

I found this on a Glasgow site: http://www.glesga.ukpals.com/folk/memorylanesongs.htm

The second verse is:
Turn, turn your back on sorrow,
Looking to the sky,
Climb, climb up sunshine mountain,
You and I.

Is this version you remember? If so, when and where did you learn it?

Regarding "Give me umption in my gumption", did anyone learn it as "Give me UNCTION etc."? Since the song (and the parable from which it is taken) relate to giving someone oil, I thought "unction" made at least as much sense as "umption".

I did find a version that uses "unction". It was posted from Belper, Derbyshire, in 2003 and refers to"that well known song from the late 70s".

Give me unction in my gumption, let me function
Give me unction in my gumption I pray
Give me unction in my gumption, let me function
Let me function to the break of day

Sing Hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna to the king of kings
Sing Hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna to the king

and the final verse was

Give me batteries in my torch keep me shining
Give me batteries in my torch I pray
Give me batteries in my torch keep me shining
keep me shining to the break of day

Ever ready, ever ready
Ever ready for the king of kings
Ever ready, ever ready
Ever ready for the king

Kent

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Mo the caller
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 12:16 AM

We sang Sunshine Mountain in the late 40s at Sunday school in London. It was "Turn, turn your back on DOUBTING" we sang.
I next heard it in a childrens event at a folk festival in the 80s (Mr. Sunshine, possibly) with the 'heavenly' and 'doubting' replaced by non-religious words.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Genie
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 06:06 PM

Not long after I posted what I first recalled of "Sunshine Mountain," the rest of the lyrics we sang came bacl to me. Here's how we sang it (with obvious gestures):

Climb, climb up Sunshine Mountain,
Heav'nly breezes blow.
Climb, climb up Sunshine Mountain,
Faces all aglow.
Turn, turn from sin and doubting,*
Look to God on high.
Climb, climb up Sunshine Mountain,,
You and I.


* or "doubtin'" to make it rhyme better.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: frogprince
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 10:35 PM

One more goofy old verse for "Oil in My Lamp":

Give me gas in my Ford, keep me rolling for the Lord,
Give me gas in my Ford, I pray
Give me gas in my Ford, keep me rolling for the Lord,
But I'd rather drive a Chevrolet.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Kent Davis
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 10:41 PM

My mother-in-law, age 69, remembers the song "Sunshine Mountain" with the same words Genie remembered. She learned it in a Vacation Bible School in the little mountain town of Bastian, Bland County, Virginia, in the late 40s. She also knows the gestures. From her childhood, she remembered "Deep and Wide", "I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy", "This Little Light Of Mine", and "I May Never March in the Infantry" (with the phrase "I may never fly over Germany" instead of "o'er the enemy").

Kent

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Azizi
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 07:26 AM

Kent, in your 27 Aug 07 - 11:02 PM post, you shared the words to "If You're Happy And You Know It". In spite of it's "say amen!" verse, I associate this song more with pre-school/kindergarten than with church or Bible school.

I've always heard {and read} these end lines with each verse of that song:

"If you're happy and you know it / then you're face will surely show it/ if you're happy and you know it/ clap your hands *

*substitute that verse's action command

-snip-

Are these lines not part of your memories of this song?

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: cetmst
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 07:49 AM

Wonder Workshop, Inc., a division of Christian Book Distributors has two 4-CD volumes of Ultimate Bible Song Collection for Children, a total of more than 200 songs for Sunday School and Bible School, as well as many other books and records.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Azizi
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 07:51 AM

Fwiw, here are the songs that have been mentioned thus far that I don't remember or haven't heard sung in the churches, Sunday schools {which meet on Sunday before the church service} or Vacation Bible schools {which are conducted by church members for a limited number of weeks in the summer months} that I've attended or my children have attended, or I otherwise know about:

* "Running over, running over, my cup's full and running over"

* "Sunshine Mountain"

* "I May Never March in the Infantry"

* "Oil in My Lamp"

* "I'm in the Lord's Army"

* "Roll the gospel chariot along"

* "Booster, booster, be a booster"

* "Young folks old folks everybody come
Join the "Darkies Sunday school"
Was this really a song that was authorized to be sung in church?

* "One more river to cross"

* "Zacchaeus was a wee little man"

* "Over the sea there are little brown children"

* "Give me umption in my gumption"

* "There Were Twelve Disciples"

* "1, 2, 3, The Devil's After Me"

and

* "Books of the Bible"

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Azizi
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 08:00 AM

Here's two more songs that I do remember from Vacation Bible School, Sunday School, and church {from 1950s Babtist church [African American], Atlantic City, New Jersey}

WE ARE LITTLE WORKERS
We are little workers,
Cheerful, faithful, strong.
Working for our Saviour
All the whole day long.
Do you think us tiny?
Well, we are 'tis true.
But we'd like to tell you
All that we can do:

Sing for Him
Pray for Him
Work for Him each day.
Worship Him
Honor Him
and His will obey.
Give Him love
Give Him {grace?]
Love His Bible too.
Even though we're little folks.
That's what we can do.

-snip-

MY LORD IS SO HIGH

{Chorus}:

My Lord is so high
You can't get over Him.
So low
You can't get under Him.
So wide
You can't get around Him.
You must come in
at the door.

{Verse #1}:
Some people go by water
Some people go by land
But if
you want
to go to heaven
Well, you must go
hand in hand

{Chorus}

-snip-

I'm sure there are other verses to this song, but I can't remember any other verses.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Mo the caller
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 09:25 AM

Azizi, I think most of the ones you hadn't heard at Sunday School are sung in England. The first 4 on your list are, also 10 and 11.
No. 5 is a line from 3. 12 is a 'silly' verse from 4
6 I've only heard in Shant sessions as 'Roll the old chariot along'
7,13,14,15 I've never heard
8 I heard recently, sung at a church Harvest Supper, by a regular church-goer and church organist. He substituted the words "local Sunday school", because "you aren't allowed to say that sort of thing now"! I thought that many devout Christians would have found the verses offensive, concentrating on the'goings on' in the Bible. And the general tone of the song.
9 We certainly sang, can't remember where.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Mo the caller
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 10:55 AM

6 - shanty sessions - I meant

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Azizi
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 08:28 PM

Thanks Mo.

Btw, I didn't mean to type that list in bold font. I'm not sure how that happened.

Sorry about that.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Kaleea
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 10:31 PM

I don't know if it was authorized, but the wife of my Grandad's employee at the old auto salvage used to sing it to me. (she referred to herself as colored, not black.) When I was very small, she was singing it, & I asked her what's "darkie." She answered, that's ol' time for colored folks," and went right on singing.
My parents took us to a little church in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, called the Beams of Light Tabernacle, until I was about 6. We sang logs of songs about Light in Sunday school, the regular service, and also during vacation Bible school. They are some of my favs. There was one fav which I did not see in print until I was a few decades into adulthood. I only remembered the chorus:

   Sunlight, sunlight, in my soul today;
   Sunlight, sunlight, all along the way;
   Since my Saviour found me and took away my sins;
   I have had the sunlight of His love within.

I sometimes visit a local church which has this in their very old, but wonderful, hymnal.


Frogprince,
My neice will be 3 in two months, and is a terrific singer. Yes, we still sing your song & like it very much. Thanks!

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Kent Davis
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 11:07 PM

Azizi,

I have ususally heard "If you're happpy and you know it" sung as a VBS song, with the line "if you really want to show it". My wife also knows it as a VBS song, and with the same line. I have rarely heard it as "then your face will surely show it". I wonder if the version you know circulates mainly in schools and the version we know circulates mainly in churches. It could also be a Southern Appalachian thing, since she and I grew up there.

Mo the Caller,

Thank you. I had been wondering if some of these songs are associated with particular countries. The ones from Azizi's list which I also have never heard are:
#1 "Running over, running over, my cup's full and running over"
#2 "Sunshine Mountain"
#8 "Young folks old folks everybody come"
#9 "One more river to cross"
#11"Over the sea there are little brown children"
You identify these as known in England. However, Genie knew #2 and Kendall knew #8 and #9, so they are apparently not exclusively English. (Genie and Kendall are, I believe, from the U.S.) I hope others will chime in to help determine which songs are best known in which nations.

Kent

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: john f weldon
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 11:27 PM

Joy....
I used to sing...
Black & yellow pink & green
And all colours in-between... etc...

I seem to remember one that went...
Mommy told me something that a little girl should know...
It's all about the Devil, and I've learned to hate him so...

ugh, can't bear to continue with that. But what about ....

How would you like to be whiter than snow? Whiter than snow! Whiter than snow!

Even in the fifties that seemed pretty racist to me...
Agh. Ugh. ogh! Sunday School. A foretaste of hell!

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Kent Davis
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 11:51 PM

john f weldon,

I appreciate your sensitivity to racism. However, in this particular case, I wonder if it is misplaced. The song to which you refer appears to be based on Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." In other words, the protaganist is not asking to be made more Caucasian, but rather is comparing himself to a stained garment that needs to be bleached.

Kent

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: GUEST,Nana
Date: 05 Mar 09 - 10:33 PM

I enjoyed reading all the songs. I also grew up singing most of them and now whenever I am taking care of my grandchildren, which is often, I sing with them the church songs of my youth. I have a song for each letter of the alphabet. It has become a favorite time for the grandkids.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: GUEST,FRANCES.PARRIS
Date: 03 Sep 09 - 03:32 PM

In Vacation Bible School as a child in Kentucky in 1950's we sang a song that went like this: Vacation Bible School Is Here, Fala La Fala La Fala La........the rest ot it I do not know. It was a very short song, but if anyone remembers it, please give me the Lyrics. My fondest memories are at my church growing up with a deacon Father, and sunday school teaching mother. My love for the church was instilled in me as a child and has never left me. I owe all to my parents, pastors and church for the many wonderful life experiences I have had, but most of all to the Lord.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 03 Sep 09 - 03:45 PM

Send the Light
All Things Bright and Beautiful
His Sheep Am I
Hosanna in the Highest

I loved VBS when i was a kid.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: GUEST,EK Anne
Date: 03 Sep 09 - 05:01 PM

We learned this at the Seaside Missions during summer holidays in the west of Scotland in the early 1950's.

Wide, wide as the ocean,high as the Heaven above,
Deep, deep as the deepest sea is my Saviour's love.
I'm oh so unworthy - still I'm a child of His care
For His word teaches me that His love reaches me everywhere!

The tune was attractive and the last line, with lovely runs, reached a rousing climax on the final word. I vaguely remember gestures to accompany the first two lines, but my abiding memory is of the sheer joy of making what seemed to be a very musical sound.
As far as I was concerned, the religious message was only ever secondary -- the Mission was simply where you went for a good sing! And we also sang The House upon the Rock, and Running Over.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Joe_F
Date: 03 Sep 09 - 08:37 PM

When I was, oh, 11 or so, I went, for a little while, to an elementary school in North Bennington, VT, and that was my first experience with singing in harmony. We sang hymns -- in a public school! Never did me any harm; I was an atheist then & now. In the first meeting of the music class, when we first practiced the parts separately and then sang them together, it made an overwhelming impression on me. Then I went to a highschool where Bach was king, and was corrupted for life.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: GUEST,EK Anne
Date: 04 Sep 09 - 03:01 AM

Another one from the Seaside Mission --

I will make you fishers of men, fishers of men, fishers of men,
I will make you fishers of men if you follow Me;
If you follow Me, if you follow Me,
I will make you fishers of men if you follow Me.

Don't remember if there were any more verses but it was a rollicking tune and I'm sure we could have repeated these lines several times without feeling cheated.
The previous post mentioned the joy of communal singing and a little later than the Seaside Mission period I used to go to The Band of Hope with some pals. It was a temperance organisation, which was quite beyond our experience or appreciation -- but between listening to whatever message was delivered (in brief form, thankfully) and watching slide shows of the "cast out to die in the snow by her drunken husband" variety, we also sang lustily such hymns as Onward, Christian Soldiers, and my absolute favourite, which was Yield not to Temptation.
I have no idea what I thought this was about at the tender age of eight or so:-

Yield not to temptation for yielding is sin.
Each victory will help you some other to win.
Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue(!) -
Look ever to Jesus - He will carry you through.
Ask the Saviour to help you, comfort, strengthen and keep you.
He is willing to aid you -
He will carry you through.

But it certainly proves, to me at least, the power of a good tune to foster a sense of community. (The only problem might come if the message becomes too intense/fanatical.)

Subject: ADD: Yield Not to Temptation
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Sep 09 - 03:45 AM

Here's Yield Not to Temptation (click), Anne. Is that the tune you sang it to? I like this version (click) better.

-Joe, who sang "Charlie and the MTA" at Catholic church camp-

YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION
Words & Music: Ho­ra­tio R. Pal­mer, 1868

Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin;
Each victory will help you some other to win;
Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue,
Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.

Refrain

Ask the Savior to help you,
Comfort, strengthen and keep you;
He is willing to aid you,
He will carry you through.

Shun evil companions, bad language disdain,
God’s Name hold in reverence, nor take it in vain;
Be thoughtful and earnest, kindhearted and true,
Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.

Refrain

To him that o’ercometh, God giveth a crown;
Through faith we shall conquer, though often cast down;
He Who is our Savior our strength will renew;
Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.

Refrain

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: GUEST,EK Anne
Date: 04 Sep 09 - 06:09 AM

Thanks, Joe, for the grand gospel version of Yield Not to Temptation - though it's certainly more of a "performance" than would have been expected in a Presbyterian country like mine! Here, we were encouraged to keep together and harmonies were unheard of, except for church and other choirs, so our version was like your first link, though perhaps a little beefier in tempo.
Harking back to a previous post, we also sang at primary school and I remember having to learn quite a lot of psalms and paraphrases by heart, to be sung in unison without benefit of piano accompaniment. Many years later I asked my teacher (from when I was aged 10 and 11) how she had managed to do this as she was not a music specialist, and she could remember the singing but not how we had acquired the songs!
These included - the 23rd psalm (to tune Crimond); the Old Hundredth (All People that on Earth Do Dwell); paraphrase 2 (O God of Bethel); psalm 148 (The Lord of Heaven Confess) - which had a difficult but glorious tune; paraphrase 18 (Behold! The Mountain of the Lord); and my own favourite - psalm 121, with its spare melody and convoluted syntax.

Amazing how these things still stick with an atheist after more than fifty years...

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: GUEST,marimary
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 10:32 PM

Looking for lyrics for an opening VBS anthem that goes something like this:

Vacation Bible School is here again
To learn about Jesus in story
On to Bible School
...........in glory

We sing, we play, we make things,
In sunshine or in rain
We're happy to be here for
Vacation Bible School again.

Can anyone fill in the missing lines?

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Deckman
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 10:40 PM

"Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the bible tell me so,
When I die he'll clean my soul,
What a ..... dirty little job for Jesus!"

Bob(deckman)Nelson ... who was raised in several Penticostal churches

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: GUEST,Steamin' Willie
Date: 10 Nov 09 - 04:33 AM

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No Hell below us
Above us only sky

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: GUEST,rsh
Date: 14 Nov 09 - 10:30 AM

i wrote a sunday school song it is to the tune of "i'm gettin' nothin' for christmas" what do you think?

My God is the very best God, the very best God indeed
I know that all He does, He does for me
He makes the sunshine everyday
He say's Salvation is the only way
He gave me Jesus as my Christ today
He's the very best God for me

Oh, Christmas is Jesus's birthday
I know that God gave me Him
Christmas is Jesus's birthday
And Jesus He died for my sins

If you like, teach it to your kids. I like it cause it teaches my daughter that the only way to the Father is through the Son.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: black walnut
Date: 14 Nov 09 - 11:05 AM

One door and only one
And yet its sides are two
I'm on the inside
On which side are you?

I remember singing that one just about every Sunday morning. Eek.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Bill D
Date: 14 Nov 09 - 01:38 PM

from Azizi in 2007---"I'm curious to know if other folks learned "Jesus Loves The Little Children" in their childhood. "

I missed this thread 2 years ago, but that is the ONE song I'm sure I learned in Vacation Bible School in Kansas. I was in the 3rd grade, and I know I attached no meaning to the list of colors except the one intended...that everyone was loved equally.

I eventually learned several of the other songs mentioned, but not sure which ones were in church, or school or just from songbooks.

(there was one about Noah & the Ark that I liked that we sang in Vacation Bible School, but I'm not sure right now which one.)

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: black walnut
Date: 22 Nov 09 - 11:08 AM

Yes, I learned that one too. And the Arky Arky song.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: GUEST,angela
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 09:31 PM

I am desperately looking for asong to sing with my Pre-k that I remember ( part of...therin lies the problem)from my youth. I know some of the lyrics:
Who put the blue in the sky above?
Why does the ocean roar?
What does a spider do with all those legs?
What happens is his feet get sore/

God did, God did.
He made the earth and sky
God did, God did
He knows who what and why

Has ANYONE ever heard of this song? I know the tune but not all of the lyrics!
Thanks so much!

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 09:48 PM

No one has mentioned "Only a Boy Named David" about him killing Goliath. My folks had red 45 with the song when we were little (I was born in 1954). Just saw part of a History Channel thing where it appeared that King David would have been up in the Haigh for war crimes and crimes against humanity. I'm thinking that's what every conquering force would have been doing at the time. Can't judge the past be present standards. Sort of lost my faith after the Luther League didn't want me to finger pick some bad Christian re-writes of folks songs (Blowing in the wind=The Answer my Friend is living in all men). No one seems to have missed me.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: GUEST,lamaner
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 12:06 AM

"Climb climb up sunshine mountain heavenly breezes blow. Climb climb up sunshine mountain faces all a glow. Turn turn from sin and doubting look into the sky. Climb climb up sunshine mountain you and I." the second verse talked about "Slide slide down gloomy mountain"

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Kent Davis
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 10:37 PM

Guest, lamaner,

Is this the second verse your remember?

Don't slide down Gloomy Mountain where the storm clouds blow
Don't slide down Gloomy Mountain faces looking so [make a very sour face]
Turn, turn from crosspatch pouting, look to God on high.
Climb, climb up Sunshine Mountain, you and I.
http://threeforthee.wordpress.com/category/uncategorized/

A song or version of a song with the title "Don't Slide Down Gloomy Mountain" is attributed to Essie Haynes in SALVATION SONGS FOR CHILDREN, #3, published 1947 in Santa Monica, CA. http://www.hymnary.org/hymn/SSC31947/d8

Kent

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: kendall
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 03:54 AM

Azizi, no, that song was not sung in the church but in the church's rec. hall.
Those sessions were led by the Mormon Minister and at that time no offense or insult was meant. I did'nt even know what we were singing!

What I heard was ..chewing gum, erasers at the door! Didn't know until years later the real lyrics.
If you recall, in those days there were very few black folks in the Mormon Church.Also at that time, there wasn't a black person within 200 miles of us.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: GUEST,Patsy Warren
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 05:20 AM

I remember 'If you're Happy and you know it (clap your hands)(stamp your feet) (shout we are)' It was a good way of getting all that noise and energy out of us kids I think!

Harvest Festival was a great time too, I still love this song to this day:-

We plough the fields and scatter
the good seed on the land,
For it is fed and watered by God's almighty hand,
He sends the snow in winter,
The warmth to feed the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine and soft refreshing rain,
All good gifts around us was sent from Heaven above
So thank the Lord oh thank the Lord for all his love.

This as a 4 year old was not only a nice little song but was one of those occasions in my childhood diary that I looked forward to. I remember ransacking my mother's food cupboard every September so that I could contribute some items of food. This was packaged up as food parcels and delivered to pensioners.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 07:08 AM

still popular with my kids-mr noah built an ark/the people thought it such a lark/mr noah pleaded so/but into the ark they would not go/CHORUS-down came the rain in torrentsx3-but only 8 were saved/v2-the animals went in 2 by 2 /giraffe the bear and the kangaroo/all were safely stowed away/against that great and fateful day/CHORUS/v3[similar to chorus]whenever you see a rainbowx3 remember God is love.       fun actions with it-not been able yet to work out guitar chords!

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 08:24 PM

Five constipated men in the five good books of Moses' must be the king of them all.

BTW...currently sung...starting with two people standing on chairs
I'm climbing up a sunshine mountain
Where the four winds blow ( puff, puff, puff, puff)
I'm climbing up a sunshine mountain
Faces all aglow.
I'm turning my back on Sorrow
Reaching for the sky
I'm climbing up a sunshine mountain
You and I
( those nominated as 'you' climb on chairs...repeat till everyone is on chairs. Each line has a movement or gesture..great fun.)

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: GUEST,Forgetful
Date: 08 Aug 10 - 10:34 PM

Anybody know the name of the song with lyrics something like this:

Lion cubs and (i forgot this part) and big fat fuzzy bears. Roly poly elephants leaping with the hares. (Something, something, something...) In fact, the way I hear it, they'll welcome you right in. And just before you know it, you'll be a kid again!

I can't remember the rest of the lyrics but the tune is stuck in my head. I sang this one year during vacation bible school over 30 years ago. It is a happy song singing about what heaven will be like. I remember that "the streets are paved in gold". It is a great song. I wish I knew the rest. Any help you can give is greatly appreciated

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 07:35 AM

dont know that one but it reminds me of ;if i were a butterfly¬-words and music in songs of fellowship

Subject: RE: Bible School song, Jesus Gave Her Water
From: GUEST,Liz
Date: 14 Nov 10 - 11:26 PM

I'm looking for the lyrics and music to this Children's Bible song that was sung in the 50's.

All that I can remember is, "Jesus gave her water that was not from the well."
I'd be most grateful if someone could help me with the rest.

Thanks.
Liz M.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Tinker
Date: 14 Nov 10 - 11:35 PM

Here is one version... I really enjoyed introducing this to a youth gathering this fall


He Gave Her Water

Words and music: Traditional

Well, there was a woman from Samaria
She came to the well to get some water
It was there she met a stranger
And he did her story tell
She left my savior singing
She came back to him bringing
The town to see that water Lord
And it was not from the well

Chorus:
Oh Jesus, he gave her water
You know my Jesus gave her water
Oh Jesus gave her water
And it was not from the well



Repeat Chorus

Well on that woman he had pity
She ran back to the city
Crying glory hallelujah
I'm gonna let his praises swell
Every time she'd doubt him
She's stop and think about him
The man that gave her living water
And it was not from the well

Oh, gave her water
Jesus gave her water
Oh Jesus he gave her water
I'm gonna let his praises swell
Jesus gave that woman water
He gave her that living lasting water
Oh, and it was not from the well
(Repeat)

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 15 Nov 10 - 02:40 AM

Jesus gave her water and it was not from the well.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: GUEST,Ruthann
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 06:21 PM

Jesus gave her water that was not in the well,
gave her living water that was not in the well,
she went away singing, she came back bringing others
to the water that was not in the well.

Just like Nicodemus, you must be born again,
just like Nicodemus, you must be born again,
he came to Christ at nighttime, he came at the right time.
Just like Nicodemus, you must be born again.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: GUEST,hb
Date: 15 Jan 11 - 12:13 AM

While the other kids were singing the well-known:

"Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong;
We are weak but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me,
Yes, Jesus loves me,
Yes, Jesus loves me,
The Bible tells me so".

some of us were quietly singing:

"Krushchev loves me this I know,
For the Kremlin tells me so.
Little ones who love him not,
All lined up aginst the wall and shot.

Yes, Krushchev loves me,
Yes, Krushchev loves me,
Yes, Krushchev loves me,
The Kremlin tells me so".

As time went by, "Krushchev" was replaced by "Kosygin".

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: GUEST,Jane Ann Liston
Date: 15 Jan 11 - 05:16 PM

I'm a Scot and certainly remember 'Wide, wide as the ocean' , 'Running Over' and 'The wise man built his house upon a rock' (all with actions) and 'I will make you fishers of men, also 'Zacchaeus was a very little man' and 'I don't want to march in the infantry', which sound like versions of songs previously mentioned on this thread. I introduced some of these, with the actions, to children at a London church (high C of E) about 10 years ago, which went down very well!

At Scripture Union there were some songs which more than leaned towards pop, with guitar accompaniment to appeal to teenagers, such as 'If any man will follow' and 'Jesus is the Saviour whom I love to know', the latter actually being a twelve bar blues!

Back to Sunday School. Let me add to the list 'In my heart there rings a melody', which always led straight on to 'Jesus, Jesus, Jesus', 'Do you want a pilot?' and 'Sailing Home', the last sung sitting down and swaying from side to side, with the object of knocking the child on the end of the row off the bench or pew! And of course, 'When the roll is called up yonder'. All good sings.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: GUEST,sopranoiam
Date: 06 Jun 11 - 03:17 PM

Hi....when I was young I learned the Books of the Bible Song to a specific tune. For those of you who have piano here's the basic tune:

E3-E3-G3-F3-F3-E3-E3-D3-D3-E3-C3-G2-A2-B2-C3-C3-D3-E3-E3-G3-E3-D3

I have looked and looked and it isn't anywhere. Does anyone out there happen to have that in a kid's music book that may have been published in late 50's or early 60's? That's when I learned it in the Methodist Church growing up. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Oct 11 - 02:36 PM

I found the song Guest.forgetful was looking for Heaven Is For Kids. Its sung by the King's Heralds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPS_vq8cjJc&api_format=3&vndel=results

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: GUEST,Susiegee Australia
Date: 27 May 13 - 02:51 AM

Jesus wants me for a sunbeam,
To shine for Him each day.
In every way try to help Him,
At home, at work at play.

A sunbeam, a sunbeam,
Jesus wants me for a sunbeam.
A sunbeam, a sunbeam,
I'll be a sunbeam for Him.

and

Jesus bids us shine, with a clear, pure light,
Like a little candle, glowing in the dark.
He looks down from Heaven, to see us shine,
You in your small corner, and I in mine.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 27 May 13 - 04:11 PM

I remember 'The church's door stands open, the church's door stands wide, and all God's little children can find their way inside.'
Also, 'At Easter time, the lilies fair, and lovely flowers bloomed averywhere, at Easter time, at Easter time, hoe glad the world at Easter time.'
When we sang 'We plough the fields and scatter' I imagined sowing seed then quickly running away! We were always annoying the Vicar by singing '...but it is fed and wor...hor..tered...'.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: GUEST,Missouri
Date: 17 Jun 14 - 09:39 AM

I am looking for sheet music to the salute song that we sung in VBS back in the 1970's at our Presbyterian Church in Deepwater. After we pledged allegiance to the bible, christian flag and american flag, we would sing a salute song to each one. Example: Our counties flag we salute today, the colors proudly bare...the emblem of the land we love, we pledge alligence too. God grant us might to uphold the right....(or something like that). Let me know if anyone has it. The internet shows that D.C. Bibighaus had the salute song in 1963...but I can't locate anything else.

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: GUEST,missouri
Date: 17 Jun 14 - 09:40 AM

If anyone has information regarding the salute song please forward to me at [e-mail]

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Nov 15 - 08:44 AM

Joy, joy, my heart is full of joy.
Joy, joy, my heart is full of joy.
The Saviopur dear is ever near.
That's the reason why my heart is full of joy!

Subject: RE: Bible School songs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 24 Nov 15 - 03:37 AM

100