'Tenting Tonight' as a Hymn?

Subject: 'Tenting Tonight' as a Hymn?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 May 01 - 11:41 PM

From the number of past threads mentioning people's love for this song, it seems this is yet another of those widely-known lovelies I had never heard before-- so much music, so little time, so late starting! *G* Anyway this song has me in JUST GOTTA mode, and as a hymn.

So! Mudcatters! Ever hear it done as an alternative version with hymn lyrics? Cuz I wrote some, but... maybe there are some already out there... and... oh I JUST GOTTA do this one in church SOON.

And have you ever been to an old camp meeting or convention like this song evokes? If so, can I pick your brain?

(Thanks to Irish sergeant for infecting me with it. And yes, I did see what there was to see about how it came to be as a Civil War song-- if there is more about it in that vein perhaps that information would go better in one of the past threads about Civil War songs?)

~Susan

Subject: RE: 'Tenting Tonight' as a Hymn?
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 13 May 01 - 11:50 PM

Hi Susan,

That's one of my favorites too. I picked it out on the piano when I was about 5 years old or so. I have a midi of it, but it's not very hymn-like. (It was made from the sheet music at Levy, has a trumpet roll in it.) I'd love to hear your words and/or another more hymn-like midi.

Subject: RE: 'Tenting Tonight' as a Hymn?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 May 01 - 12:09 AM

Well Mary, I saw your name several times on the search through the old threads and I thought, "Isn't that GREAT!?!?!?!" Because while we were driving to Bethlehem to see Seamus Kennedy, I was suddenly struck by my promise to sing for you... remember? I was thinking how poorly I have done at telling you what I have sung! I had already dashed off the words I have so far, and set it aside, and so I did not connect the two things at all, but there it is, neat as can be.

And so this hymn I will dedicate to you, and sing for you, and make you a tape. I'll start posting some words tomorrow.

~S~

Subject: Lyr Add: Parody on Tenting on the Old Camp-ground
From: Burke
Date: 14 May 01 - 10:48 AM

This isn't what you're looking for exactly, but I found in when I searched the word tent in the sheet music at Library of Congress' American Memory Project.

IMPRINT
New York, New York: H. De Marsan

LYRICS
PARODY ON Tenting on the OLD CAMP-GROUND.

Written by Wm. H. HANFORD

We're drinking, to-night, in the old bar-room:
Give us a glass to cheer..
And merry, merry will we be,
Drinking of th' lager-beer.

Chorus: Many are the hearts that are jolly, to-night.
As we sit around the cards:
Many are the games we'll play here, to-night,
For th' good old lager-beer..
Drinking to-night, drinking to-night,
Drinking in the old bar-room.

We've been drinking, to-night, in the old bar-room,
We'll fill our glasses again.
And drink to the Bummers that meet with us here,
And TOAST them THE BEST OF MEN!

Chorus: Many are the hearts, &c.

We'll never get tired of the old bar-room,
Of ale and lager-beer:
And never forget our friends who've died
By drinking good lager-beer!

Chorus: Many are the hearts, &c.

We've been drinking, all night, in the old bar-room:
Many the glass we've drunk;
But now our hearts are getting light..
Let us drink to th' passing night!

Chorus: Many are the hearts, &c.

Subject: RE: 'Tenting Tonight' as a Hymn?
From: GUEST,Pete Peterson
Date: 14 May 01 - 10:50 AM

It does kinda sound like a hymn, doesn't it! Would love to see the words you have written. Hmmm. . . might go with that old ragtime piece (no words) called "At a Georgia Camp Meeting" by Kerry Mills. . . also many old gospel songs about camp meeting days. . .
So much good music. . . so little time

Subject: RE: 'Tenting Tonight' as a Hymn?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 14 May 01 - 02:01 PM

I thought it WAS a hymn. I certainly always considered it to be such, as is...

Subject: RE: 'Tenting Tonight' as a Hymn?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 May 01 - 03:03 PM

OK, here is a sample of the original, to see the structure:

TENTING TONIGHT
(Walter Kittredge)

A PART:
We're tenting tonight on the old camp-ground
Give us a song to cheer
Our weary hearts, a song of home
And friends we love so dear.

B PART (chorus):
Many are the hearts that are weary tonight
Wishing for the war to cease,
Many are the hearts looking for the right
To see the dawn of peace.

C PART:
Tenting tonight, tenting tonight
Tenting on the old camp-ground.


What I have so far is ROUGH DRAFT (tho I think an Inspired one) for the A PART and a B part I'm not quite happy with, and a C part that I think makes sense.

1.
Lord, we're meeting tonight on the old camp ground--
Sinners gathered here.
With our families and friends, we're listening to Your Word,
To feel Your presence near.

Chorus:
Many are the spirits that long for Your grace,
Waiting for Your peace to fill.
Many are Your children who hope to see Your face,
And do Your holy will.

Meeting tonight, meeting tonight,
Meeting on the old camp-ground.
Meeting tonight, meeting tonight,
Meeting on the old camp-ground.


2.
Lord we're praying tonight on the old camp ground;
Many the heart in tears.
And we've brought here to You, to lay upon Your cross,
Our hopes, our dreams, our fears.

Chorus:
Many are the spirits that long for Your grace,
Waiting for Your peace to fill.
Many are Your children who hope to see Your face,
And do Your holy will.
Praying tonight, praying tonight,
Praying on the old camp-ground.
Praying tonight, Praying tonight,
Praying on the old camp-ground.


3.
Lord we're singing to You on the old camp ground,
Praises to Your ear.
And our hearts are as one as we lift our voices high,
Nestled in Your heart so dear.
Chorus:
Many are the spirits that long for Your grace,
Waiting for Your peace to fill.
Many are Your children who hope to see Your face,
And do Your holy will.
Singing tonight, singing tonight,
Singing on the old camp-ground.
Singing tonight, singing tonight,
Singing on the old camp-ground.


4.
And we're tenting tonight on the old camp ground...
This ground You have hallowed for years.
In the light of Your love and summer's softest moon
Yet again, our vision clears.

Chorus:
Many are the spirits that long for Your grace,
Waiting for Your peace to fill.
Many are Your children who hope to see Your face,
And do Your holy will.
Tenting tonight, tenting tonight
Tenting on the old camp ground.
Tenting tonight, tenting tonight
Tenting on the old camp ground.


IMPROVEMENTS WELCOME. Come on guys. See past the pretty tune and help tinker the words.

~Susan

Subject: RE: 'Tenting Tonight' as a Hymn?
From: ddw
Date: 15 May 01 - 12:43 AM

Susan,

Mississippi John Hurt did a wonderful version of this old hymn. I don't know if it's on any of his commercial CDs, but I have it on the disks included in Stefan Grossman's "Masters of the Blues Guitar" book of his work.

I also have it on a CD of Civil War songs — can't remember the artists — that I picked up a Gettysburg a couple of years ago. I'll try to remember to look up the artists and post their names tomorrow night.

The short version of what I'm saying is that a lot of people have recorded it with both religious and secular words. Shouldn't be too hard to find.

cheers,

david

BTW, if you don't find it elsewhere let me know and I'll run off a tape for you.

ddw

Subject: RE: 'Tenting Tonight' as a Hymn?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 May 01 - 12:56 AM

ddw,

I LOVE Mississippi John Hurt. Where we live, there is nowhere to purchase any decent stuff, and we don't do online purchasing. We also don't have a computer that can search very far or hear music from online. :~( So if you could send me a tape I will listen to it till it comes out of my throat and then I'll put it in the gospel tape lending library.

~Susan

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: 'Tenting Tonight' as a Hymn?
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 15 May 01 - 07:26 AM

Why not keep most of the original words?

Many are the hearts that are weary tonight
_________________________________________
Many are the hearts looking for the right
To see the dawn of peace.

Subject: RE: 'Tenting Tonight' as a Hymn?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 May 01 - 11:21 AM

MiK--

I tried that but nothing came, until the other ones did come... but if you can resolve that missing line to fit the verse copy, then go for it!

~S~

Subject: RE: 'Tenting Tonight' as a Hymn?
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 15 May 01 - 11:46 AM

still rough...

Many are the hearts that are longing tonight
Longing for (Your peace to fill),
Many are the hearts, longing for the Light,
The Light.........da da da da.

Subject: RE: 'Tenting Tonight' as a Hymn?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 May 01 - 11:49 AM

I like it. Keep thinking about it...

~S~

Subject: RE: 'Tenting Tonight' as a Hymn?
From: Uncle Jaque
Date: 15 May 01 - 12:17 PM

I LOVE it!!!

Can't think of a thing to add, detract, or modify at this point.

Read an old book about Billy Sunday (Evangalist of the 1920-30's) years ago, and since have thought how nice it would be to revive that old Camp-Meeting practice - combining the fellowship and inspiration of a good old fashioned song-rich revival meeting with the informal camaraderie of a reenactment encampment.
Here in Maine we have an occasional revival at a Civic Center or sports center, and the Salvation Army runs sort of a Convention Ctr. on the coast near Old Orchard Beach, but no overnighters that I know of.

The Devil certainly appropriates a lot of otherwise good music for his agenda; I don't see why the Creator can't pull it off from time to time. I have long thought that the music for "Let It Be" (Beatles) or "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" (Simon & Garfunkle) was given for other lyrics than what they were released with.. but we must be careful with material still under copyright. As far as I know "Tenting" is well within Public Domain, and as such is fair game.
May I have your permission to work with your adaptation and share it with others? If I ever have opportunity to perform it (beyond an informal parlor or campfire setting) or record, I shall of course seek your permission and respect all intellectual property rights.

Subject: RE: 'Tenting Tonight' as a Hymn?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 May 01 - 12:30 PM

I think we should use this thread to work out a version, Uncle Jaque, and then give its rights if any to the Mudcat. I'd like to see that happen, with your participation, before each of us interested in it heads off to create an adaptation.

Why? I dunno-- feels right, God tickled me to start it, etc. A sense of stewardship... I'd like to see as many verses as possible too so I can sing it all night long! So I would like to claim editor's rights to whatever we create in this thread. OK all?

~Susan

Subject: RE: 'Tenting Tonight' as a Hymn?
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 15 May 01 - 05:05 PM

Susan and all; I'll be interested to hear what you come up with. I like what I'm seeing so far. And I believe that there was a religious version of the song. I seem to remember hearing it at Bible camp when I was of much tenderer years than I am now. Good luck and good hunting. Kindest reguards, neil

Subject: RE: 'Tenting Tonight' as a Hymn?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 15 May 01 - 06:21 PM

Susan- As an online vendor, I curious as to why you don't do online purchasing. Sort of limits you, doesn't it?

Subject: RE: 'Tenting Tonight' as a Hymn?
From: Burke
Date: 15 May 01 - 06:30 PM

Uncle Jacque, if you come to our Sacred Harp convention in Barneveld, NY in October you'll get good revival singing & good fellowship with people who go a long way to do it. We don't have a web flyer up yet, but here's the schedule for the whole country. New Jersey/New York City Fri.-Sun. this weekend.

Subject: RE: 'Tenting Tonight' as a Hymn?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 May 01 - 06:30 PM

Long story. Not my decision. And, yes, it does.

*G*

~S~

Subject: RE: 'Tenting Tonight' as a Hymn?
From: ddw
Date: 15 May 01 - 10:13 PM

Susan —

I may have gotten your hopes up unfairly. Actually MJH's song is "Praying On The Old Campground." In any event, I'll run off a tape ASAP and fire it off by snail mail. Give me a PM with your addy.

cheers,

david

Subject: RE: 'Tenting Tonight' as a Hymn?
From: Chicken Charlie
Date: 23 Jul 01 - 03:14 PM

"Repenting tonight on the old camp ground?"

Subject: RE: 'Tenting Tonight' as a Hymn?
From: Burke
Date: 23 Jul 01 - 04:55 PM

When this came up before I checked with some people who know lots about old hymns. They seemed to think it likely this is the original, although heavily influenced by hymns. One, who apparently has boxes & boxes of stuff thought he might have a later hymn version--somewhere. He never got back to me on it, I did not persue it further, & forgot to follow-up here.

Subject: RE: 'Tenting Tonight' as a Hymn?
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Apr 11 - 03:23 PM

There's a nice dulcimer rendition of this on youtube HERE with a good bit of info, including an old newspaper editorial.