Lyr Req: Who Will Sing for Me / Who'll Sing for Me

Subject: Oft I sing to my friends
From: GUEST,Rhiannon
Date: 23 May 01 - 01:15 AM

I'm looking for a song which goes 'Oft I Sing for my friends/When death's dark shape I see When I reach my End/Who Will sing for Me? I saw it in a book by Cynthia Voigt and I don't know whether she made it up or whether it is part of a complete song. Also she misquotes things occasionally, so it may not be accurate.

Subject: Lyr Add: WHO WILL SING FOR ME
From: Quincy
Date: 23 May 01 - 05:23 AM

Hi Rhiannon,

Found this on google.

WHO WILL SING FOR ME

Oft I sing for my friends
When death's cold hand I see
When I reach my journey's end
Who will sing a song for me.

I wonder who will sing for me
When I'm called to cross that silent sea
Who will sing for me
When my friends shall gather 'round
And look down on me
Will they turn and walk away
Or will they sing a song for me

So I'll sing to the end
Contented I will be
Assured that some friend
Will sing a song for me

I wonder who will sing for me
When I'm called to cross that silent sea
Who will sing for me


best wishes, Yvonne

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oft I sing to my friends
From: GUEST,Phillip
Date: 23 May 01 - 10:49 AM

Recorded by EmmyLou Harris on her "Angel Band" album, backed by a bunch of leading bluegrass musicians, including Jerry Douglas on dobro.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oft I sing to my friends
From: Sabine
Date: 28 May 01 - 03:01 AM

I'm singing this version from Guy Caravan or whatever his name is :o)

Oft I sing with my friends
When deaths cold form I see
When I reach my journey's end
Tell me who will sing for me.

chorus:
I wonder who will sing for me
When I come to the cross by silent sea
Tell me who will sing for me.

When my friends have gathered round
And they look down on me
Will they turn and walk away

So I sing until the end
And helpful try to be
Ever knowing there a some
Who will sing a song for me.
Or will they sing a song for me.

I must say that I'm not quite sure at the moment if I met all the words, but I will look it up when I'm back from work.

I found it on a LP "Folkfriends" which was made years and years ago at Germany together with Franz Josef Degenhard and Hannes Wader which were quite popular during the 70s and 80s. Hannes Wader wrote some additional German words to this song. Really great.

As I said before, I will look it up and give more information.

Regards

Sabine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oft I sing to my friends
From: Sabine
Date: 28 May 01 - 03:03 AM

Sh......

Those words Or will they sing a song for me.
belong to the chorus not to the last verse.

Sorry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oft I sing to my friends
From: Jeri
Date: 28 May 01 - 12:29 PM

Oddly enough, when one types [oft i sing] into the blue DigiTrad search box, one gets Who Will Sing For Me. ;-)

Subject: Lyr Add: WHO'LL SING FOR ME? (Thomas J Farris)
From: Ferrara
Date: 29 May 01 - 12:00 AM

There was an earlier thread about this song, where Dale Rose typed in two different versions. Here are some quotes from the thread:

****************** Subject: RE: Who Will Sing One Song For Me From: Dale Rose Date: 23-Sep-97 - 11:56 AM

Who Will Sing For Me? was written by Thomas J. Farris, who lived near Mountain View in Stone County, Arkansas. The song exists in at least a couple of different versions. ...

An excellent recording is by Emmylou Harris on her Angel Band album on Capitol~~1987, and an even better one (my opinion) is by Bill Clifton and Jimmy Gaudreau on their River of Memories album on Elf~~1994. Unfortunately, both incorrectly identify the source. The ELH album says it was by Ralph and Carter Stanley ... and Bill and Jimmy's recording says it was by Carter. ....

Here is the song as written by Mr. Farris in 1944. Complicating the matter is the fact that he reworked the song himself, and others have changed it even more. I will put up another version later. The tune is basically the same for all versions.

Who'll Sing For Me?
Thomas J Farris
from Grateful Praise Stamps-Baxter Music, 1944

I often sing for those I love,
Who've gone to live with Christ above;
No more on earth their forms I see,
When I am gone who'll sing for me?

Chorus Who'll sing for me (Who'll sing for me)
When I am gone, (when I am gone,)
As I so oft (As I so oft)
For friends have done? (for friends have done?)
It won't be long (It won't be long)
Till home I see, (till home I see,)
When I am gone (When I am gone)
Who'll sing for me? (who'll sing for me?)

I'm thinking now of my sweet home,
Where grief and pain can never come;
When I am called that home to see,
I hope my friends will sing for me.

Chorus

The time to go is drawing nigh,
Soon I to earth must say goodbye;
Just over there with Christ I'll be,
I want my friends to sing for me.

Chorus

Don't weep for me when I am gone,
Just keep sweet song still rolling on;
Until from earth you are set free,
Remember, friends to sing for me.

Chorus

There seems to be some part switching in the repeat segments. I will leave you to do that however you like. I couldn't figure out how to make it more clear, so I just kept the same pattern throughout.

....

Who Will Sing For Me?As recorded by Bill Clifton and Jimmy Gaudreau (Elf 103), and credited to Carter Stanley. I cannot verify the actual origin of this version. ....

Oft I sing for my friends,
when death's cold form I see,
but when I reach my journey's end,
who will sing one song for me?

Chorus(Jimmy's harmony part defies my ability to transcribe, so here are just the words)

I wonder who will sing for me?
When I'm called to cross that silent sea,
who will sing one song for me?

And when friends are gathered round,
and look down on me,
will they turn and walk away,
or will they sing one song for me?

Chorus

And so I'll sing until the end,
and helpful try to be,
ever knowing that some friend
will sing one song for me.

Chorus

*************** the above was from Dale Rose ********

Recently, I sang this in honor of a longtime friend who was part of our Open Sing community, after learning she had died of cancer. I added the last verse from Farris' original version. I just kept hearing the song in my mind after I learned of her death, so I decided it was the right song to sing for her.

The line in the chorus, "when I come [I'm called] to cross that silent sea" was changed in one version (Carter family?) to "when I come to the cross by the silent sea." Doesn't work nearly as well. .... Also, it would have been not at all appropriate for Ellen, who was Jewish and probably agnostic. I was glad to have the words as they are given above.

Rita

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oft I sing to my friends
From: Deckman
Date: 29 May 01 - 08:55 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Who Will Sing for Me / Who'll Sing for Me
From: GUEST,Dexter
Date: 26 Feb 12 - 09:46 AM

WHO WILL SING FOR ME

1. Oft I sing for my friends As death's cold form I see, When I reach my journey's end, Tell me, Who will sing for me?

CHORUS: I won(I won)der who will sing(will sing)for me When I come to the cross by the silent sea, Tell me, Who Will Sing For Me?

2. When crowds shall gather 'round And look down on me, Will they turn and walk away Or will they sang one song for me?

3. So I'll sing until the end And helpful try to be, Never knowing they'll be some Who will sing one song for me.

Tag: Tell me, Who Will Sing For Me?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Who Will Sing for Me / Who'll Sing for Me
From: maeve
Date: 26 Feb 12 - 10:00 AM

I will always hear Merritt Herring singing this at Pinewoods. Lots of us are singing for you, Merritt.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Who Will Sing for Me / Who'll Sing for Me
From: GUEST,999
Date: 26 Feb 12 - 10:04 AM

Complete discography and possibility of two accreditations.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Who Will Sing for Me / Who'll Sing for Me
From: Arkie
Date: 26 Feb 12 - 10:21 AM

Three reasons for my interest in this song. First, it has been sung at funerals here in Stone County, Arkansas since I moved here about 40 years ago, and was no doubt sung previous to my move. Second, the writer of one of the versions grew up here in Stone County. Third, is I really like the song. Dale Rose, a dear friend and highly respected and capable co-worker did extensive research on the song/songs which is mentioned above and presented in a previous thread. When the song was sung here in the county, someone would usually mention that it was written by Stone county native Thomas Jefferson Farris. Dale discovered that the version sung here in the county was not Farris' version but one written by j. T. Ely. Folklore is sometimes more powerful than fact. The song is still introduced as having been written by Farris.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Who Will Sing for Me / Who'll Sing for Me
From: GUEST,hg
Date: 26 Feb 12 - 03:52 PM

Hi Arkie, How's Dodd Mountain? I sure do miss Dale...

and springtime in the Ozarks....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Who Will Sing for Me / Who'll Sing for Me
From: mg
Date: 27 Feb 12 - 02:18 AM

Merritt also sang it at Rainycamp not too long before he died. I believe he recorded it...he had a fine CD out..probably still availab le somewhere. mg