Lyr Req: Hymn Written by Bascom Lamar Lunsford

Subject: Lyr Req: Hymn Written by Bascom Lamar Lunsford
From: cnd
Date: 09 Mar 21 - 06:07 PM

I'm looking for information on a hymn written by Bascom Lamar Lunsford with his wife, Freda. There is a brief reference to it in Pete Gilpin and George Stephens, Bascom Lamar Lunsford: "Minstrel of the Appalachians", p. 20, but unfortunately they didn't give a title. It was written by the Lunsfords some time before the publication of that booklet in 1966. Here is the entirety of the reference:

"[Lunsford's] mention of religion comes easily. He's also a composer and only recently joined with his wife Freda in writing a folk spiritual, a portion of which asks

"Has your burden been lifted
"Is your soul set free?
"Then won't you come over and stand with me"

I've tried searching a few lines of the song to no avail since they're fairly generic. Unfortunately the booklet doesn't indicate a title.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hymn Written by Bascom Lamar Lunsford
From: GUEST,#
Date: 09 Mar 21 - 06:24 PM

https://kzworld.info/throw/a-bluegrass-music-classic-on-the-porch/foSUeMmKso2JdXM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hymn Written by Bascom Lamar Lunsford
From: GUEST,#
Date: 09 Mar 21 - 06:36 PM

Doesn't help with a title, but I located that with a Google of

Bascom Lamar Lunsford, "Then won't you come over and stand with me"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hymn Written by Bascom Lamar Lunsford
From: GUEST,#
Date: 09 Mar 21 - 07:09 PM

I'll have to dig further, but five'll getcha ten the title is 'Stand With Me'. I crossed a few places that mention him and a song with that title. (However, I could also be out to lunch.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hymn Written by Bascom Lamar Lunsford
From: cnd
Date: 09 Mar 21 - 07:21 PM

Thanks for that, #, that's exactly what I was hoping to find. I'll get to transcribing the lyrics at a later date, but I do agree that "Stand With Me" is the title, confirmed here -- "Bascom has written a number of songs including "Doggett's Gap" and "Stand with Me," just two songs featured in this hour program."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hymn Written by Bascom Lamar Lunsford
From: cnd
Date: 09 Mar 21 - 07:26 PM

Additionally, here's a cleaner recording by the South Carolina Broadcasters: link. They also released the song in 2014 on Diamonds In The Rough Flaming Heart 2014 - you can listen to and purchase that version here

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hymn Written by Bascom Lamar Lunsford
From: GUEST,#
Date: 09 Mar 21 - 07:41 PM

Very cool. Many thanks, cnd.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hymn Written by Bascom Lamar Lunsford
From: cnd
Date: 09 Mar 21 - 09:17 PM

According to this video (an interview with Lunsford by filmmaker David Hoffman), Lunsford wrote the song on "the day Churchill died." He gave the date as February 24th, 1965, but the actual date was in January. The lyrics from the performances above by the South Carolina Broadcasters are substantially the same, with the exception of the last stanza, which was added in their 2014 performance at Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival.

STAND WITH ME
(Bascom and Freda Lunsford)

Can you see the Holy City from where you stand?
Saints and the angels in that hallowed land

CHORUS
Has your burden been lifted, is your soul set free?
Then won't you come over and stand with [or by] me

Stand with me, yes, stand with me
With our friends and loved our ones we can hear and sing

CHORUS

Can't you hear the angels singing from where you stand?
Can't you join in the chorus of that happy band?

CHORUS

Stand with me, yes, stand with me
With our friends and loved our ones we can hear and sing

CHORUS

[South Carolina Broadcasters only]
Can you feel the Holy Spirit where you stand
Let your soul be guided by the Savior's hand

CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hymn Written by Bascom Lamar Lunsford
From: The Sandman
Date: 10 Mar 21 - 03:38 AM

Bascam was full of contradictions.