Several days ago my status on FaceBook was “How can I keep from singing?” I appreciated the responses. Let me follow up. My question is the title of a song. It is a powerful song. If you are not acquainted with it, I want to introduce you to this great song.
I was first introduced to it by a friend. He had gone through a very difficult time in his life. His wife had been unfaithful and left him. Divorce followed. After much pain and suffering, he experienced a wonderful healing in his life. When he came to speak at our church, he had me play a CD with this song. It was a cut from an album by the singer, Enya. I list the text she sings, as well as a YouTube link.
My life goes on in endless song
Above earth's lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear it's music ringing,
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?
While though the tempest loudly roars,
I hear the truth, it liveth.
And though the darkness 'round me close,
Songs in the night it giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that rock I'm clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?
When tyrants tremble in their fear
And hear their death knell ringing,
When friends rejoice both far and near
How can I keep from singing?
In prison cell and dungeon vile
Our thoughts to them are winging,
When friends by shame are undefiled
How can I keep from singing?
As sung by Enya
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RBjwQroGNE
“How Can I Keep From Singing?” had been sung and recorded by many people. The folk singer, Pete Seeger, helped to make this song fairly well-known in the Folk-revival. He learned it from Doris Plenn, who had it from her North Carolina family. It can be found in SING OUT, Vol 7, No 1, 1957, recorded by Ed Trickett on Turning Toward the Morning, FSI-56.More lyrics: http://www.lyricsty.com/lyrics/p/pete_seeger/#share
As sung by Peter Seeger http://s0.ilike.com/play#Pete+Seeger:How+Can+I+Keep+From+Singing:3664185:s45385060.11681925.18425695.0.2.129%2Cstd_45faa7cd4ae84271a2be34296079dafa
Where did the song originate? Although Wikipedia is not my favorite and most reliable source, I have taken the following from the page about this song.
“Apparently the first publication of the words was on August 7, 1868, in the New York Observer. Entitled "Always Rejoicing," and attributed to "Pauline T” the text reads:
My life flows on in endless song:
Above earth's lamentation,
I catch the sweet, tho' far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear the music ringing;
It finds an echo in my soul--
How can I keep from singing?
What tho' my joys and comfort die?
The Lord my Saviour liveth;
What tho' the darkness gather round?
Songs in the night he giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that refuge clinging;
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can I keep from singing?
I lift my eyes; the cloud grows thin;
I see the blue above it;
And day by day this pathway smooths,
Since first I learned to love it.
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
A fountain ever springing;
All things are mine since I am his--
How can I keep from singing?
These are the words as published by Robert Lowry in the 1869 song book, Bright Jewels for the Sunday School. Here Lowry claims credit for the music, but gives no indication as to who wrote the words. These words were also published in a British periodical in 1869, The Christian Pioneer but no author is indicated. Ira D. Sankey published his own setting of the words in Gospel Hymns, No. 3 (1878), writing that the words were anonymous. In 1888, Henry S. Burrage listed this hymn as one of those for which Lowry had written the music, but not the lyrics.
Doris Plenn learned the original hymn from her grandmother, who reportedly believed that it dated from the early days of the Quaker movement. Plenn contributed the following verse around 1950, which was taken up by Pete Seeger and other folk revivalists. When tyrants tremble, sick with fear,
And hear their death-knell ringing,
When friends rejoice both far and near,
How can I keep from singing?
In prison cell and dungeon vile,
Our thoughts to them go winging;
When friends by shame are undefiled,
How can I keep from singing?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Can_I_Keep_from_Singing%3F
So, after all of this history and hearing the song by two different artists, I ask myself again, “How Can I Keep From Singing?” Well, as a believer in Jesus, I can’t! Why? Well think of all He has done for you. Then remember we are commanded to “sing to the Lord” time and again in the Psalms and throughout the scriptures. So, I want to obey the Word! Then, on top of that, Psalm 118;:14 says “The Lord is my….Song!” I can’t keep from singing!
All of the verses are great, but I especially like the second verse that Lowry published:
What tho' my joys and comfort die?
The Lord my Saviour liveth;
What tho' the darkness gather round?
Songs in the night he giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that refuge clinging;
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can I keep from singing?
We can't keep from singing "Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth!"
