Today’s post was written by Paul.
Today’s video is a very different type of story song, one that I thought most listeners might not have heard. The name of it is “Dying from Home and Lost.”
I’ve been after Jamie Shook for several years to sing with me in a video, and I finally prevailed upon him.
In addition to music, another thing that Jamie and I have in common is that he is a tennis player. We played a doubles tournament together last summer in Atlanta and did fairly well. That was a ton of fun. As good as he is at tennis, I think he’s even better at singing high harmony, and I think this video is a good example.
He matches my lead so very well. If you’re wondering why I paused those few seconds before kicking the song off, it’s because we could hear the jam session going on in the basement of the church (West Union Baptist Church). Jamie and I joined the jam session right after shooting this video. If you’re wondering about the things on my head, the one on the right side of my head is a large mole (not quite a mole, but some sort of growth that the doctors say is harmless and not cancerous). The spot on the left side of my head is where I bumped my head into the corner of Granny’s hutch while I was picking something up out of the floor for her. I would have worn a hat to cover both spots, but I didn’t want to wear a hat in the church house.
According to hymnary.org, this song was written by S.M. Brown and published in 1898. That site lists no available biographical information on Brown. In the introduction of the video, I said that I don’t fully agree with the “theology” of the song. A better word might have been “doctrine.”
Based on the monologue of the song, the main character/speaker seems to know everything he needs to know about Christ in order to be saved. However, Brown may not have been saying that more was needed. He (or she) may have just been showing that human fear, doubt, and confusion could interfere in a dire moment, and so it’s best not to procrastinate and put off salvation, which is a common theme in many gospel songs, such as “O’ Why Not Tonight?” To hear that song performed by Pap and his brothers, go here.
The Louvin Brothers sang and wrote several gospel warning songs like this, including “Is this Your Last Chance to Pray?” and the masterpiece, “Are You Afraid to Die?”
I once heard Billy Graham say that in all of the Bible, there was only one death-bed conversion or saving, which was one of the thieves on the crosses next to Jesus. In pointing this out, I think Graham was discouraging people from thinking that they could always square things with God quickly just before dying. Anyway, I digress. To me, this song is haunting, well-written, and thought provoking.
Jamie and I had never sung together before until we shot this video, and neither of us had ever sung this song, so I am pretty satisfied with how it turned out. Maybe I can convince him to do some more songs with me in the future.
To hear Jamie and Wayde Powell, II singing in the Ellis Walden Band, follow this link. I believe Wayde, III is playing the mandolin.
Lyrics below:
Companion, draw nigh. They say I must die. Early the summons has come from on high. The way is so dark, and yet I must go. Oh, that such sorrow you never may know.
Refrain: Only a prayer, only a tear, O if sister and mother were here; Only a song could comfort and cheer, Only a word from that book so dear.
Ah! can you not bow and pray with me now? Sad the regret we have never learned how To come before Him, who only can save, Leading in triumph thro’ death and the grave. [Refrain]
Ah! can you not sing a song of His love, How He came down from the mansions above To bleed and to die on Calvary’s tree, Bringing salvation to sinners like me. [Refrain]
Alas! it is so; but thus it must be; No word of comfort or promise for me; To die without God; or hope in His Son, Covered in darkness, bereaved and undone. [Refrain]
O people of God who have His blest word, Will you not heed the command of your Lord And publish to all of Adam’s lost race, Pardon, forgiveness, salvation thro’ grace? [Refrain]
Hope you enjoyed this story song!
Original singles released on Spotify.
Shepherd of My Soul (Album released in 2016).
Paul
awesome song!
love this song and the duet you are doing. thank you.
This song makes me think of Civil War soldiers and cowboys whose risky way of life might find them dying far from home and kin. A very risky thing to be both dying and required to die to oneself at the same time. Yes, you two should sing more songs together.
Loved this gospel song. Ck’d out the two songs by the Louvin Bros, they too were great songs.
Am Catholic & would love to hear Gospel tunes at our church.
Paul & Jamie did a great job. Looking fwd to seeing them play & sing together again.
Take care, God bless have a good day. This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice & be glad in it!
Paul that post was well written. You and Jamie sound great! Both of you are so talented. I hadn’t heard that song before, but have heard many like it in the church from my youth. Our church now days sing more praise and worship songs, which are all great, but sometimes people who are not fully committed to our Lord need to hear these good old gospel songs. Sometimes you can talk to your blue and they just tune you out, but a song will speak to their hearts so they can hear. I’ve seem many a people come to fully accept and commit to Jesus while listen to a gospel song. I know, because at 15 years old, I was one of them. Thank you and Jamie for sharing your talents with us.
Very nice!!
Paul, that was beautiful, and your friend Jamie did a wonderful job also. Reminded me of Pap singing with you. It brought a tear to my eye. I hope you and Jamie get a chance to do some more songs together. Have a blessed Sunday!!
Oh my goodness- that was beautiful, Paul! You and Mr. Shook sounded wonderful together and I was just moved on this Sunday by the Holy Spirit in song. What a blessing. Let me end with this thought- some folks are happy with FIRE INSURANCE and they never go farther in their walk with the Lord.
I absolutely loved both of the songs in todays post. My parents were musicians who knew thousands of songs. My father was a lay minister and they knew hundreds of old hymns, but I’ve never heard either of these songs before. Paul and Jamie sound great together and I love your Pap’s beautiful voice! I grew up listening to guitar sounds and this brings back many precious memories, ( that’s a great song too!) Thank you for sharing this beautiful music.
Paul and Jamie hit a home run with this old gospel number.
Thanks
I bet the jam session in the basement was fun, too! What a great evening for meeting up with old friends, making a video, and playing music with a group of like talented people. You have mentioned Jamie Shook for many years, but always about tennis. I am glad to finally meet him, to put a name to a face, and to hear his very nice voice and guitar playing. I hope you guys are able to do more songs together. I enjoyed your description for this song, as I do all your others. This is a very interesting song with a message the world needs to seriously take to heart. You guys did excellent!
Donna. : )
As usual Paul does a good job. Our preacher often says this about salvation “knowing about God and truly knowing God are two different things”. He also says God does not send anyone to Hell, you send your own self by choosing not to get saved. Enough of that, it would be my wish to die at my home and also be buried at my home if possible. I know I will not be buried here. I have known people in my lifetime (many of them my family members) that had no fear of dying, they knew without a doubt they were saved. My mother in law was happy, when told her first words were “I will soon be joining Curtis,” her and my father in law were so much like Pap and Granny. Paul I have already listen to Pap and his brothers singing “0 ‘ Why Not Tonight”. One of the things I still enjoy is listening to Pap and the others singing the good old time hymns on YouTube. I am grateful these hymns are still sung at my church.
I love the guys laughing.!
Thanks for sharing…God Bless and happy Sunday…Church day.