Chatter, Pap, Tipper, Chitter - Jan 2016
Chatter, Pap, Tipper, Chitter – January 2016

It’s only been about a year since I posted the song He Whispers Sweet Peace To Me.

On August 24, 1872 Will R. Ramsey was born in Texas. During Ramsey’s early childhood, his family relocated to Arkansas. Once Ramsey was old enough, he was musically trained and eventually became the owner of Central Music Company. Ramsey is a noted songwriter and published song books for close to 30 years. The most famous song penned by Ramsey is He Whispers Sweet Peace to Me.

In the video I shared of us doing the song back in January of 2015 Pap and Paul handled all the vocals on the song. Sometime after we videoed the song Pap suggested we try a trio of harmony much like we did on Where No One Stands Alone.

Wow the trio sounded good! We’d get the song down pat and then someone would come up with a new idea for it. First Paul sung all the verses, then each of them sung a verse, then we switched to Paul singing 2 verses and Pap singing one with a trio of harmony on the last 2 choruses. And then just for good measure we threw in a key change!

Every time we played our new version of He Whispers Sweet Peace To Me Granny would say “That is good!”

Part of our inspiration for the song came from a group of men Paul found singing the song on Youtube. They are the Silver Trumpets and man can they sing.

 

The Silver Trumpets have fantastic harmonies, but I think what makes their singing so special is that their happiness shines brightly right through the words. Pap said “Now they’re singing it like they mean it.”

The first line of the song: Sometimes when misgivings darken my day and faith’s light I cannot see I ask the Dear Lord to brighten the way 

Unless you’ve heard me talk about the blog in person, you’ve never heard me say that the Blind Pig and The Acorn was born out of a rough, rocky, dark patch of life, but it was. So dark that just like the song says, I could not see.

The Blind Pig and The Acorn gives me great pleasure. I’ve fully known and understood that for many years. But since Pap died Paul has pointed out the Blind Pig and The Acorn, something so good and lasting, came from great heartache and sorrow.

Indeed, my journey was brightened in a way that I could never explain because of this blog and Pap’s family has been blessed in the process.

With the help of Blind Pig and The Acorn readers I have:

  • Achieved measurable success in my endeavor to celebrate and preserve my rich vibrant Appalachian Culture and Heritage
  • Had my days enriched by the comments you leave
  • Made friends from all around the world
  • Documented my life for my daughters and anyone else who might be interested
  • Recorded 100s of songs by Pap, Paul, my nephews, my daughters, and myself
  • Documented many of the stories Pap told me
  • Gained tangible wealth in the form of: seeds, vinegar, onions, squash, black walnuts, a walnut cracker, artwork, seeds, vinegar, onions, squash, a walnut saw, artwork, ground cherries, books, beloved books, photos of their family, photos of my family, apples, baskets, antiques, craft supplies, foxfire magazines, cookie cutters-pig and acorn, rings, stone ground cornmeal and grits, a hammer, old jars, old bottles, music, information, writings, cast iron pots, soap, honey, woven treasures, cds, hand forged crosses, poems, quilted pigs and acorns, jellies, jams, pickles, recipes, and on and on and on. Blind Pig readers are a generous bunch of folks

Thank you for reading what I write, for listening to what we sing, for helping me with my Appalachian endeavor. Without you there’d have been no reason to film all those videos like the one above, there’d have been no reason to ask Pap and Granny a million questions about the old ways and their lives.

I am rich beyond measure.

Tipper

*Source: GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame

 

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29 Comments

  1. And in return you’ve enriched so many others with your music and stories. You bless me with such beautiful music!

  2. Well, those Silver Trumpets are not from round here, but they sure can sing. I like y’all ‘s version best,however. God bless the Blind Pig Gang and all you do to teach, share and preserve this heritage.

    1. I so wish I still had my parents and grandparents. There are a million questions I wish I could ask them. As I get older, I think more about what their lives and experiences were.

  3. You thanked us for reading the blog–and that was kind, but understand that we read it because we LIKE it. So, keep it up. In the words of Winston Churchill, “Never give up, Never give up, Never give up…”

  4. Late this evening I saw the pictures, listened to both videos, read all the comments and marveled that you have so long inspired, instructed and informed us with your posts on Blind Pig. From your darkness–light; from your downcast spirit, hope for your and all of us. Thanks is too small a word to convey how much we’ve enjoyed and been enlightened and inspired by all your posts. Thank you, over and over again!

  5. That was so good!! Granny is right! Pictures are wonderful treasures, but to hear those voices is a treasure you will never, ever regret! My sister has started recording my parents telling stories as we sit around the table at family gatherings, and I’m sure some day with tears, we will sit together without my parents and listen to the many stories and the great wisdom that they have to offer. Thanks for sharing so honestly.

  6. Wow Tipper, this song and your post have truly touched my heart! So very glad that you were able to create something so good from your difficult time. Your blog and your family are true treasures! Likewise, I and all of the BP readers have been enriched and we are very rich beyond measure!

  7. Tipper,
    For a shy, daddy’s girl, you sure know how to express things, especially about Appalachia and family music. Thanks for all the hard work to make the Blind Pig and the Acorn what it means to us. And i bet Pap and Granny expressed this often…Ken

  8. Tipper,
    I don’t know what happened to my original comment, but I do appreciate the blessings you have shared and the adversity which helped you find the Source of them, like a deep spring. Thank you!

  9. Luke 6:38 says, Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete with it shall be measured to you again.
    As a daily reader and frequent commenter I can say that if all the blessings that you mete out where returned in good measure, in tangible form, the Deerhunter would constantly be building warehouses to store it all. The vast majority is being sent on ahead to your future home.
    I too discovered the Silver Trumpets sometime back and have them saved as a sound file on my desktop. I love acapella singing and can’t imagine an instrument that could enhance them further.
    It is Chatter’s voice that is the crowning touch in the Trio version. nuf said!

  10. it brings tears for many reasons, one of which is the pure beauty of the harmony. I have sent hugs and sympathy to you and your family, Granny but would like to send a special hug to Paul. He and Pap are so in synch with each other musically and I’m sure were in many ways. You are so blessed to have this blog and all the music to look back on share.

  11. Thank you for being open to both pain and blessing, and in return, blessing many others. That’s the nature of fountains!

  12. Tipper, you and your family are a blessing to so many people who follow your blog. The closeness and love that you all show through the videos and stories that you tell each day is evident to all who are members here. Thank you so very much. We all love each and every one of you.

  13. You are rich beyond measure. I enjoy your blog so much; it just pulls me in and I feel like I know you and your family.

  14. The family photo is a keeper; loved it. The singing was just a beautiful and gives great inner peace as they sing. Finally, I have learned and continued to learn about your history and the Appalachian history. I thank you for all your efforts. Without it, we would never truly learn all the history of this area. God bless your day!

  15. I liked your pap’s and Paul’s version the best.
    Tipper you are right.You are blessed in many ways.All of us who are saved are blessed.
    Really enjoyed Don’s poem.
    God bless you and yours.
    LG

  16. Sorry you went through a dark time. I guess we all have those, but friends and faith seem to help pull us through. I’ m glad that the “blind pig” was one good result. Don’t know how you find the time to do it, but a lot of us look forward to the next day’s post and are never disappointed.

  17. Don’t imagine there’s anything to make a daddy much happier than playing like this with his children. He’s a happy man in this video!
    Bless you!

  18. Granny is right! That chorus harmony had the tears rolling down my face.
    Tipper, the blessings that you and the entire Blind Pig family have brought to the lives of many of your readers simply can’t be measured.
    Your piece and Miss Cindy’s comment reminded me of a poem by an unknown author which J. Vernon McGee included in his Through the Bible program, which he titled “In the Crucible”:
    Out from the mine and the darkness,
    Out from the damp and the mold,
    Out from the fiery furnace,
    Cometh each grain of gold.
    Crushed into atoms and leveled
    Down to the humblest dust
    With never a heart to pity,
    With never a hand to trust.
    Molten and hammered and beaten
    Seemeth it ne’er to be done.
    Oh, for such fiery trial,
    What hath the poor gold done?
    Oh, ‘twere a mercy to leave it
    Down in the damp and the mold.
    If this is the glory of living,
    Then better to be dross than gold.
    Under the press and the roller,
    Into the jaws of the mint,
    Stamped with the emblem of freedom,
    With never a flaw or a dent.
    Oh, what a joy, the refining,
    Out of the damp and the mold.
    And stamped with the glorious image,
    Oh, beautiful coin of gold.

  19. Tipper, I enjoyed listening to the Silver Trumpets, but Paul and Pap really did a beautiful job singing that song!! I love the harmonies with your father and brother. Remember, as a child of the King, you will some day be reunited with your father and you will all get to sing together praising the one that brings the peace to your soul. He will never leave you or forsake you.

  20. Your richness has spread to all of us. We are so blessed that you bring us along on your journey. Your blog is an inspiration to many and brings back many dear memories. Our lives are so much richer for it. Thank you.

  21. When I ran across The Blind Pig a few years back, not really sure how I found it… I was looking for something I could read and try to take my mind off of the problems facing us with our Daughters health, and it has truly been a blessing, so saying Thank you for the tremendous amount of time spent putting it together each day ,,seems so little.. So it’s not only been a joy to read and listen to all the great music, it’s been therapy for me… And what better song to sing today.. And as always a very good job.. O yea a good picture of yall too..

  22. Out of the greatest pain comes the greatest reward. I don’t know why that is but I do know that it is. Like the rainbow following the storm. You are lead, Tip, you’ve always been lead. Through the storms to the sunshine on the other side, Your real beauty is your willingness to follow.
    That picture at the top is a treasure, for sure. Pap will never be gone because he is always here.
    So, it will be interesting to see where your are lead next!

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