January 10, 2016
Pap and Paul have been fooling around with the old song “Let the Lower Lights be Burning” for the last few months. The song was written by Philip P. Bliss. I’ve always had a fondness for songs containing the theme of darkness being broken by the comfort of light. Maybe it’s because I’ve been afraid of the darkness before or maybe it’s just because the battle between dark and light is one easily recognized by us humans-in both a literal and a spiritual sense.
I found the following quote about Bliss on this website.
“P.P. Bliss One of God’s gifts to modern Christian music was Philip Paul Bliss (1838-1876).
A Pennsylvania farm boy who wrote some of the earliest gospel songs to gain wide popularity in both Britain and America, he had little formal music training and minimal schooling. Yet in the short span of 12 years (1864-1876) a devoted heart and a natural sensitivity to common folks inspired “Hold the Fort,” “Almost Persuaded,” “Let the Lower Lights Be Burning,” “Hallelujah! What a Savior!” and the music to “It Is Well with My Soul,” among many others.Evangelist D. L. Moody said of Bliss: “…I loved and admired him. I believe he was raised up of God to write hymns for the Church of Christ in this age, as Charles Wesley was for the church in his day. … In my estimate, he was the most highly honored of God, of any man of his time, as a writer and singer of Gospel Songs, and with all his gifts he was the most humble man I ever knew. I loved him as a brother, and shall cherish his memory….”
Growing up mostly around Rome, in western Pennsylvania, just south of Elmira, New York, the Bliss family was rich in heart, but poor. A hard-scrabble, transient childhood, allowed Philip Bliss few educational opportunities. Early learning the songs of his father, a devout and earnest man who loved to sing aloud, young Philip whistled and sang those same tunes, and occasionally “played” them on crude musical instruments. He did not hear a piano until he was ten. At age 11, he left home to ease the burden on his family, earning his own living in farms and logging camps, fitting in whatever schooling might be possible along the way. His sister remembered the touching scene that day he left home, the sweetly sensitive boy carrying all his clothes wrapped in a handkerchief and tossing his sisters two pennies over his shoulder as he made his way down the lane, not allowing himself to look back in a final farewell.”
As I researched the song I quickly discovered Paul and Pap’s words are not exactly the same as the original lines penned by Bliss.
A change in lyrics often occurs with songs that are learned by word of mouth and as times change different arrangements of songs are often developed to keep them in use or bring a newness to them.
While Pap and Paul’s words might be slightly different there is absolutely nothing wrong with their harmony. The smoothness of their signature two-part harmony really stands out in “Let the Lower Lights be Burning.”
I hope you enjoyed the song and the history!
—January 10, 2016
All these years later Pap and Paul’s harmony on this old song still makes my heart swell with feeling.
Subscribe for FREE and get a daily dose of Appalachia in your inbox
*Source: http://home.uchicago.edu/~coleman/public_html/lowerlights.html
Thank God these films and recordings are still being heard. Your precious father, Pap, and Paul were such a joy to hear and watch singing these beautiful, meaningful and heartfelt hymns. My heart and soul are so touched by their music. Thank you Paul and Pap. Truly a blessing to us all. Jennifer
Beautiful ❤️
Attending the church of Christ since I was a wee one and now as an aging member, I fully recognize the songs he, as a Church of Christ member, wrote. That song has always tugged at my heartstrings. Hearing their voices was plenty of blessing and beauty for me as we always have believed in a cappella only in worship. We go by book, chapter and verse and can find no reference in the NT at all of any instrumental music. Nevertheless, I sure do get the feels when I hear your dad, and your brother, too. Your family is so gifted and so blessed to have each other and your bless us with sharing part of your lives and love with us. I must listen to this again as it reminds me so much of those distant days when family was together before many followed THE LIGHT all the way to that eternal shore. Thank you, for being my favorite part of YOUTUBE. Praying for Granny, for you and your precious family!
Lovely.
Thank you.
This was one of my favorite hymns to sing in our Baptist church when I was a kid. We sang it in a little different rhythm but otherwise the same. I loved hearing Paul and Pap sing it. Fun fact…one of my husband’s aunts by marriage was a distant relative of Phillip Bliss. She was able to visit his hometown once where her picture was taken next to a memorial sign telling of his life’s work.
Just what I needed to hear!
So beautiful.
I commented but guess mine was not important. 5hx anyway
Mary-your first comment is posted. The comments don’t automatically post, I have to publish them and sometimes it takes me a little while to publish them. Thank you.
I agree with papaw, I go to an old fashion country church, that still worships and sings the old time hymns. None of us has had any formal musical training, but we sure believe in trying to make a joyful noise. We sang two old hymns this morning that have special meanings for me. They were “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”and “Where Could I Go But To The Lord”. For me today’s religious music is not the same, I want no part of it.
As usual, Pap and Paul did a fine job singing and playing together to praise the Lord! It was beautiful indeed and it seems Mr. Bliss -the writer-also had a lovely soul! Sometimes I feel unique, but it is in the reading of others comments and listening to this song, that reminds me we all need heaven’s light and that’s what moves us! Thanks, Tipper and Paul, for such a lovely way to get Sunday going in praise! Blessings to all, especially Granny and anyone in need at all of blessings and prayer! Amen
How wonderful is it to hear this song early Sunday morning before church!
Blessings,
Allison
Only a secular audience demands perfection anyway. God doesn’t care if you get every note and word correct. He only wants the sounds of your voice and the words of your heart.
I’ve been singing that song for a long time. When I follow the words as I sing, I find I have missed many of them. I do not apologize! My singing is a prayer to God and Him alone. If human ears hear and enjoy my prayer then more the better but that is not my intent.
I remember this song as a closing one every night at 4-H camp when I was 13 years old. I had not heard it since and so enjoyed the memory that you brought this October Sunday morning.
This is a hymn from my childhood and I enjoyed it so much! We have a camper at a campground right on the Chesapeake Bay and I can see the Windmill Point lighthouse from the shore if the weather is clear. When I see the lighthouse, the refrain of this hymn comes to mind. It’s not a real lighthouse anymore, just a light. The lighthouse was replaced by the light as it was too dilapidated to save.
Tipper;
That is one of my very favorite hymns and I’ve never heard it sung better than this! The voices themselves are a gift and the many hours of enjoyment they had singing together are an ongoing blessing, thanks to the technology that allowed these recordings to be enjoyed by so many people. Thank you so much for sharing this one; I hope you repeat it many times! Bless you all!!
If the sound of their voices and this lovely hymn of praise doesn’t move you, nothing will! I can’t help but think that watching and listening to their videos must be extremely bittersweet for you. My daddy passed away in 1981 and I find myself just barely every now and then remembering what his voice sounded like. Oh how I wish I could hear it again.
Happy Sunday to all! I hope you all are attending your local church to give praise, honor and glory to our Father God in heaven for sending His Son Jesus to redeem us from our sins so we too can have eternal life with Him.
Tipper, I enjoy reading the history of this sweet gospel song and the humble man God blessed to write it along with so many you mentioned. He truly was a man who had a heart for God. I always enjoy hearing Pap and Paul sing, for beyond their talents of singing and playing music, they too have humble hearts and truly love God. And as the old saying goes…the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. You and your family all have hearts that love our Lord.
Have a blessed day!
Lovely
Today’s post reminds me of Morris Stancil. He also wrote many songs and also was a most humble man. His best-known and most-requested song is “Because He Loved Me”. He left notebooks of songs he said just needed a little more work. Folks like him and Mr. Bliss are, I think, members of that group described in the Bible as “of whom the world was not worthy”. Time this morning to go tend the lower lights along this shore.
Tipper,
That song used to be one of the old standards at the church I attended in my younger years.
Pap and Paul singing the song brought back happy memories.
I think it is still a beautiful song with a deep meaning.
I am so blessed to worship in a congregation of musical voices and humble spirits. I make a joyful noise. I know nothing about musical notes and the like, but I can hear and the harmony of Mr. Wilson and Paul is so beautiful. I experience that kind of beauty at each of our services. The notes they sing is a sweet aroma to the Lord. Thank you for sharing and starting my Sunday on the right note. ❤️
Tipper,
Thank you for the beautiful song and the most interesting history of it on this rainy, autumn Sunday morning. I will pray that your Mama has another good week coming up. I have been working on crocheting some angel ornaments for family and friends; and when I get out my crochet supplies, I often think of Granny. Please take care and Safe travels for you all. ♥️
That was beautiful! There is nothing quite like family harmony.
These are precious memories to have.
Thank you! I love this old hymn! My Grandma use to sing to my twin sister and I as she would be putting us down at night time! We didn’t often get to stay overnight since there was 2 of us and she was quite elderly, but oh how we loved her and the chance to spend alone time with her❤❤❤ Thank you for this beautiful memory! God bless you and yours❤❤ ongoing prayers for Granny
What a great American writer of hymns and to die so tragically in a train disaster on his way to meet the great D.L. Moody. Wonderful selection of songs this morning by Pap and Paul. Our non-believer brothers are sinking and it’s our job as christians to rescue them.
Have a wonderful Sunday. Go to the church of your choice and as always praying for your mother, Israel and our country.
I’ve always loved all the songs you mentioned. I’ll be thinking of this one during church today. Loved the way Pap and Paul sang it.
Pap and Paul’s music always makes me tear up. It’s always so beautiful and peaceful! Thank you for sharing! Blessings to all!
Thanks for giving us that song and info. All is Well with my Sole is one of my favorite songs off all time. I do love all the old hymns and sing them often…of course off key, cause I can’t sing…lol. That song and ‘I’ll Fly Away’ are the two songs I want played at my passing. Prayers for Granny and you guys. Have a Blessed and well and safe Sunday.
.