Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning Star

Subject: Lyr Add: BRIGHT MORNING STAR
From: Ian HP
Date: 22 Aug 98 - 02:46 PM

BRIGHT MORNING STAR
Traditional

1. Bright morning stars are rising
Bright morning stars are rising
Bright morning stars are rising
Day is a-breaking in my soul.

2. O where are our dear fathers? (x 3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul.

3. Some are down in the valley praying (x 3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul.

4. Some are gone to heaven shouting (x 3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul.

5. Pale mist is softly fading (x 3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul.

6. Friends they are all gathering (x 3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul.

Verses 1.-3 from Young Tradition version, verses 1. & 5.-6. from Incredible String Band version

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bright Morning Star
From: BAZ
Date: 23 Aug 98 - 10:58 AM

Ian
Thanks for posting these songs. I can remember Joe Offer leaving me a message when I was posting a series early on. you sometimes wonder if anyone out there is reading them. There is one here that is for sure.
Thanks again.
Baz.

Subject: Tune Add: BRIGHT MORNING STAR
From: Ian HP
Date: 30 Aug 98 - 07:24 PM

Dick, I posted the words to this a week or so ago, so here's the tune.

T:Bright Morning Star
M:4/4
L:1/8
Q:73
C:Trad.
K:G
B,D|D3DE2D2|EGG4GA|A3GBAG2|BAA4B,D|
D3DE2D2|EGG6|A3GBAGD|
M:3/4 L:1/8 Q:73
EGG2E2|
M:4/4
D6

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bright Morning Star
From: open mike
Date: 23 Jul 03 - 10:29 AM

glad to see this song again...
i broke into song when i saw it!
wht a great way to start the day.
It brings back memories of a time
when a friend asked a group of
friends to sit outside her mother's
room and sing this song in the yard
as her mother was dying...what a send-off!

Subject: Tune Add: BRIGHT MORNING STAR
From: Mark Clark
Date: 23 Jul 03 - 12:29 PM

This is only to help out Ian's ABC code.

      - Mark

  X:1
  T:Bright Morning Stars
  C:traditional
  S:Ian HP (Mudcat Café)
  M:4/4
  L:1/8
  Q:1/4=96
  K:G Major
  B,D|D3DE2D2|EGG4GA|A3GBAG2|BAA4B,D| D3DE2D2|
  EGG6|A3GBAGD| [M:3/4] EGG2E2| [M:4/4] D6 ||
  

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Bright Morning Stars
From: LadyJean
Date: 23 Jul 03 - 11:56 PM

I was 16 when I heard Anne Jackson and Jennifer Armstrong sing Bright Morning Stars, on a bright North Carolina morning. It was the day I discovered how beautiful shaped note hymns are. Thank you for bringing it all back.

---

Messages from multiple threads combined. Messages below are from a new thread.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars
From: beardedbruce
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 05:38 AM

Ok, I did check the DT, but...

I have located verses for mothers, fathers, brothers and children, but not for sisters. Anybody have any idea of the response stanza to:

Oh where are our dear sisters? (x3)
Day is a breaking in my soul.

They are...
Day is a breaking in my soul.



And yes, I found the Judy Collin's version, but this is about the traditional one.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars
From: black walnut
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 07:24 AM

"American Folk Songs for Christmas" - Ruth Crawford Seeger - just has the mother and father verses, no siblings. Fathers shouting, mothers praying.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars
From: beardedbruce
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 07:49 AM

Here is what I have, from various sources. Everyone has the fathers and mothers: a few have the others. Only one source for the children- it may have been made up by that source. Any ideas?

Or should we start writing new verses?

                     8-{E


Trad. Lyrics
.................................
Bright morning stars are rising
Bright morning stars are rising
Bright morning stars are rising
Day is a-breaking in my soul

Oh, where are our dear mothers?(x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

They are down in the valley praying(x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

Oh where are our dear fathers? (x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

They have gone to heaven shouting(x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

Oh where are our dear sisters? (x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

They are….(x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

Oh where are our dear brothers?(x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

They are at the wars and fighting.(x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

Oh where are our dear children? (x3)
Day is breaking in my soul.

They are by the stream a dancing. (x3)
Day is breaking in my soul.

Bright morning stars are rising.(x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars
From: beardedbruce
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 12:26 PM

Not that I think it needs to be any longer...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 05:38 PM

Sillies! Dontcha reckon they must be SINGING?

:~)

Singing or praising, that would be my guess. Most of these zipper-versed things have someone singing. We can put them in the kitchen: "Out in the kitchen singing."

~S~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars
From: open mike
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 05:54 PM

this sister would rather be in the garden singing!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars
From: beardedbruce
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 06:11 PM

ok... sounds good to me...

Lyrics to post in DT:
**********************************************

Bright morning stars are rising
Bright morning stars are rising
Bright morning stars are rising
Day is a-breaking in my soul

Oh, where are our dear mothers?(x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

They are down in the valley praying(x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

Oh where are our dear fathers? (x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

They have gone to heaven shouting(x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

Oh where are our dear sisters? (x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

They are out in the garden singing..(x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

Oh where are our dear brothers?(x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

They are at the wars and fighting.(x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

Oh where are our dear children? (x3)
Day is breaking in my soul.

They are by the stream a dancing. (x3)
Day is breaking in my soul.

Bright morning stars are rising.(x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

*******************************************


Thank you, open mike and WYSIWYG.

I know better than to put sisters into the kitchen without their consent.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 09:58 PM

:~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars
From: Compton
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 04:17 AM

Didn't Bellamy and the Young Tradition do this, eons ago??

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 05:58 AM

YT originally recorded Bright Morning Star on The Folk Trailer (1970). Although just about every other released recording has appeared on a double CD re-release from Castle Communications (ESM CD 409), this did not. It eventually resurfaced on the Free Reed Peter Bellamy tribute Wake the Vaulted Echoes (FRTCD 14). In the notes. Heather Wood says they learned it while on tour in Washington DC. Martin Carthy clears up the confusion over the title: "BMS is not called BMSs. Absolutely NOT. It is called Bright Morning Star. English folkies have pluralised it".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars
From: beardedbruce
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 05:58 AM

Thanks, all!

            8-{E

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars
From: Compton
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 02:02 PM

Good man, Countess..you knew more about it than I did...but I do have the original "Folk Trailer"!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning Star
From: ClaireBear
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 11:57 AM

Reviving this ancient thread to ask: Does that mean that the verse should be properly spelled and sung "Bright morning star's a-rising"?

Claire

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning S
From: beardedbruce
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 12:05 PM

I guess so. But one should sing whichever you like.

See you at the Getaway?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning Star
From: ClaireBear
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 12:19 PM

Yes indeed! I'm hooked, plain 'n' simple.

I'm asking about the song because I get to sing a solo at my son's baptism, which just happens to be scheduled for Pentecost, which this year just happens to be Mother's Day.

BMS is the only song I can think of that gracefully weaves in mothers, children, the quickening of the spirit associated with entecost (and with baptism) -- and is something I want to sing. My music director will want the words printed up for her, so I need to choose a spelling for her sake.

Of course, if anyone else has a better idee...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning S
From: beardedbruce
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 12:24 PM

ok. Edited from above:


Bright morning star's arising
Bright morning star's arising
Bright morning star's arising
Day is a-breaking in my soul

Oh, where are our dear mothers?(x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

They are down in the valley praying(x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

Oh where are our dear fathers? (x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

They have gone to heaven shouting(x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

Oh where are our dear sisters? (x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

They are out in the garden singing..(x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

Oh where are our dear brothers?(x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

They are at the wars and fighting.(x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul

Oh where are our dear children? (x3)
Day is breaking in my soul.

They are by the stream a dancing. (x3)
Day is breaking in my soul.

Bright morning star's arising.(x3)
Day is a-breaking in my soul


feel free to drop any sets of verses that you don't like. These are all the ones I found in my search. ( No single version had them all)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning Star
From: ClaireBear
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 12:27 PM

Thank you, Bruce! I don't have to give her the song til this evening, so just for the heck of it maybe I'll start a new thread and ask for ideas on appropriate hymns, but this one seems about perfect to me.

Claire

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning S
From: beardedbruce
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 12:28 PM

one of my favorite songs- when I can sing it without the tears.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning Star
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 02:56 PM

The Stanley Brothers recorded "Bright Morning Stars," with three verses (Bright Morning Stars are rising, fathers, mothers). Emmy Lou Harris sang the same three.
I have so far been unsuccessful in finding old notes about this shape note southern song, except that is usually sung unaccompanied.

The version arranged and adapted by Judy Collins is much enlarged.

Lyr. Add: BRIGHT MORNING STARS
Arr. & adapt. Judy Collins

Bright morning stars are rising (3x)
Day is breaking in my soul.

Bright morning stars are rising
The night is almost gone.
The sycamores are bending their branches to the dawn.
The wind sighs on the river.
The willows bend to pray.
And dawn is breaking gently upon a brand new day.

Bright stars are rising (3x)
Day is breaking in my soul.

Bright morning stars are rising
The promise comes again,
That heals the broken-hearted
That pleads our wars to end.
The silver moonlight scatters like tears upon the lawn,
But eases sorrow.
We greet a bright new dawn.
Day is breaking in my soul.
Bright morning stars are rising. (3x)
Day is breaking in my soul.

Bright morning stars are rising.
My soul is now renewed.
My loved ones safe in heaven,
A better world in view.
And all our pain and pleasure,
Our struggles to break free,
Can lead us in this new dawn
To true serenity.

Day is breaking in my soul.

Bright morning stars are rising. (3x)

Day is breaking in my soul.

www.judycollins.com

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning Star
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 03:00 PM

Sorry- The Collins adaption already posted by Joe Offer in the thread 'Origins...'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning Star
From: ClaireBear
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 03:04 PM

I just found another verse from this site. I am guessing that it is nontraditional, but I may incorporate it anyway as it's so appropriate for the occasion and doesn't reek of modernity:

And how can I be lonely
My lord is ever near me
His wondrous love surrounds me
Day is a breaking in my soul

Does anyone recognize this verse?

Claire

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning Star
From: Joybell
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 02:01 AM

Someone already noted this somewhere or other -- and while one can't be too pedantic about these sorts of songs -- It's well known in folk-cultures that there is only one "Morning Star". My gut feeling is that this means the line reads:
Bright Morning Star's a-rising. Makes no difference to the way it sings of course.

I just used this song, with new verses, for a musical folk-play based on my interpretation of Snow-Drop (She became Snow-White after the Brothers Grimm re-named her). I believe Snow-Drop may once have been a nature spirit of the Winter-sleeping kind.

After the first verse I added:
2. Oh where is our dear Sister.
3. She sleeps beneath the mountain.
4. Arise and great the morning.

A seven-year-old with an amazing, powerful voice will sing it as a solo. Snow-Drop will then wake up and welcome the Spring.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning Star
From: GUEST,Cats
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 05:37 AM

A few years ago we found this in a copy of the Shaker journal. There were only 2 verses published, father and mother. The father verse was 'singing' and the mother verse was 'shaking'. It also said that Mother Ann, who founded the Shakers, was also called the Bright Morning Star. The forst line was 'Bright Morning Star arising'. Obviously there are so many variations that any of them could be the original, I don't know, but this is the version that I now sing.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning Star
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 05 Jan 10 - 04:31 AM

Anyone know the Christmas version as recorded by Steeleye Span on their album 'Winter'?

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning Star
From: beardedbruce
Date: 14 Apr 10 - 10:10 AM

Went to the Crooked Road NCTA concert, and this was sung.

One of my favorites.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning Star
From: Burke
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 06:50 PM

The 3 verse version by the Stanley Brothers & others varies the 3 repeated lines pattern. Instead of asking about each parent in a verse & answering in the next, the answer is in the 3rd line. They also seem to have swapped what each parent is doing.

Bright morning stars are rising
Bright morning stars are rising
Bright morning stars are rising
Day is a-breaking in my soul

Oh where are our dear fathers?
Oh where are our dear fathers?
They are down in the valley praying a
Day is a-breaking in my soul

Oh, where are our dear mothers?
Oh, where are our dear mothers?
They have gone to heaven shouting
Day is a-breaking in my soul

Repeat vs. 1

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning Star
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 23 Dec 13 - 12:55 PM

I got into an argument about this just the other day - I've sung (or led) it a few times, always as

"Bright morning star's a-rising"

which of course sounds pretty much the same as

"Bright morning stars a-rising".

Anyway, I was accused of singing about bright morning stars, plural. I explained about the "star's", apostrophe S, and said that I'd got it from the Young Tradition recording (which I'm lucky enough to have). My friend was having none of it & maintained that the YT sang it as

"Bright morning star a-rising"

no stars plural and no star's apostrophe S.

I've just listened to it again, and I'm sure there's an S in there - in fact they linger on the "a-" so long it sounds more like

"Bright morning stars are rising"

which would be wrong in a whole other way. (Unless you prefer the Stanley Brothers' take on it to Martin Carthy's, of course.)

What do other people think? Should it be

"Bright morning star a-rising"?

And what were the Young Tradition singing?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning Star
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 23 Dec 13 - 01:12 PM

Not that it matters, but 'stars' (plural) are more commonly recorded (Judy Collins © sheet music; and others.

It is in the title in the Traditional Ballad Index (Shellans from Norman Lee Vass), but a note says "not sure 'bright morning stars' is the traditional title for this song."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning Star
From: Reinhard
Date: 23 Dec 13 - 03:24 PM

Martin Carthy is quoted very emphatically in the booklet of the Peter Bellamy anthology, Wake the Vaulted Echoes:

"Bright Morning Star is NOT called Bright Morning Stars. Absolutely NOT. It IS called Bright Morning Star. English folkies have pluralised it."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning Star
From: Reinhard
Date: 23 Dec 13 - 03:28 PM

Of course you could also sing "Bright Venus a-rising". That would not a-rise the singular or plural question ;)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning Star
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 23 Dec 13 - 03:55 PM

The first reference we have is bright morning stars

See Traditional Ballad Index. The plural stars is in the version collected from the Blue Ridge Plateau from Norman Lee Vass.

This seems to have precedence over them foreign folkies.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning Star
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 23 Dec 13 - 04:04 PM

kytrad remembers the song from 1949-1950, as stars. See main thread, origins.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning Star
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 23 Dec 13 - 04:27 PM

Shellans, "Folk Songs of the Blue Ridge Mountains," contains the song, Bright Morning Stars.

I have ordered a copy, so we will soon have the version cited in the traditional Ballad Index.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning Star
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Mar 14 - 03:45 PM

Lyr. Add: FOR THE DAY IS A-BREAKIN' IN MY SOUL
Sung by Norman Lee Vass, VA, 1957

I hear the Savior calling,
I hear the savior calling,
I hear the savior calling,
For the day is a-breaking in my soul.-

Oh, how I long to meet Him,
How I long to meet Him.
Oh, how I long to meet Him,
For the ay is a-breaking in my soul.

The golden bells are ringing, (3x)
For the day is a-breaking in my soul.

Oh, how I long to see them,
How I long to see them,
How I long to see them,
For the day is a-breaking in my soul.

I want to meet my Jesus, (3x)
For the day is a-breaking in my soul.

Oh, how I long to meet Him,
How I long to meet Him,
How I long to meet Him,
For the day is a-breaking in my soul.

The golden harps are ringing, (3x)
For the day is a-breaking in my soul.

Oh, how I long to see them,
How I long to see them,
How I long to see them,
For the day is a-breaking in my soul.

I want to meet my mother, (3x)
For the day is a-breaking in my soul.

And how I long to meet her,
How I long to meet her,
How I long to meet her,
For the day is a-breaking in my soul.

I want to meet my father, (3x)
For the day is a-breaking in my soul.

Pp. 89-90, with musical score.
The Traditional Ballad Index gives this song in it's brief note on "Bright Morning Stars," although it lacks that verse.

Shellans' version is from Whites of the Blue Ridge Mts.

Both White and Black congregations have versions of this hymn; its origins are uncertain. The earliest date I have is a recording from 1930s (mentioned in this or another thread).

Herbert Shellans, 1968, "Folk Songs of the Blue Ridge Mountains," Oak Publications.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning Star
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Mar 14 - 04:05 PM

Lyr. Add: BRIGHT MORNING STAR
White Southern hymn.

Bright morning stars are risig (3x)
Day is a-breakin' in my soul.

Oh, where are our dear fathers, (3x)
Day is a-breakin' in my soul.

They are down in the valley praying, (3x)
Day is a-breakin' in my soul.

Oh, where are our deer mothers, (3x)
Day is a-breakin' in my soul.

They have gone to heaven a-shouting, (3x)
Day is a-breakin' in my soul.

Unattributed, from "On Jordan's Stormy Banks: Religion in the South: A Southern Exposure Profile," edit. Samuel S. Hill, 1983, Mercer University Press.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning Star
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Mar 14 - 04:10 PM

rising !

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning Star
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Mar 14 - 04:42 PM

Verse from An Advent SourceBook, Thomas O' Gorman, editor-

Some are down in the valet prayin',
Some are deep in the mountain sleepin',
Some are up in heaven shoutin',
Dawn is a-breakin' in my soul.

"Appalachian Folk Hymn."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Morning Stars/Bright Morning Star
From: GUEST,Ann from Lancs
Date: 21 Apr 20 - 09:28 AM

The Young Tradition