Pap back in the day
About this time last year Paul uploaded a song he did that was written by Pap “Jesus, You Helped Me Today.” Here’s what he said about it:
“I believe this to be one of the earliest songs Pap wrote, and it has always been one of my favorites. Audiences seem to like it for it’s straightforward sincerity and for its melody. Last week, July 16th, was Pap’s birthday. Thanks for listening, and I hope you find this song as comforting as I do.”
After Pap died Paul started doing the song at our performances. It was always well received and we were recently asked to do it at a Memorial Service by a dear friend who lost her husband.
We were playing somewhere down in Georgia that first summer after Pap’s death and before Paul did the song he explained that Pap wrote it. He told the crowd he wished he’d asked Pap why he wrote the song-you know what kind of day he’d had that inspired the words. Paul went on to tell them we all have days that leave us longing for God’s presence, but then sometimes, unfortunately, we have a day that makes all the past bad ones pale in comparison and leaves us feeling desperate for God’s presence, comfort, and peace. He said he believed that’s the sort of day Pap must have had when he wrote the song.
As Paul said, I hope you found comfort in Pap’s song and I hope you have a wonderful Sunday!
Tipper
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Wow, this is just beautiful! I, too, wish we knew what inspired such heart-wrenched words. But, maybe it is best that we don’t know, because it is left open-ended for us, and we can apply it to our own individual challenging days. Pap was so talented, and so is Paul. For some reason, Paul’s voice and the tune and guitar picking reminds me of John Denver. LOVE this & needed it so much today ~ thanks so much for sharing!
That was an absolutely beautiful song. I enjoyed Paul singing it, too.
tipper that song fits in with my thoughts today…thank you for posting it…the words are ever true….and the singing was so sincere…such talent in your family….passed on from many generations I’m thinking
A beautiful song. Paul does a great job.
“Jesus you kept me from falling today.” Yes, he can pick us up, even carry us when we fall, but we cannot know how many times he keeps us from falling. The blessings we don’t even know we have been given are what I think Pap was contemplating when he wrote that song.
When we are at our lowest JESUS is truly the only one we can count on to not forsake us. Pap’s relationship with GOD is very evident in his message clearly written from his heart.. Pap has many other gospel songs he has written that I have listened to that has wonderful messages in them also everyone should really try to listen to them.
Deb
A beautiful ministering song, from a comforted heart ,shared , to comfort , move, and make melody in many more hearts 🙂
I agree with the audiences – soothing, hopeful melody and words combined with Paul’s mellow voice, and I’d term the picking as affectionate.
so love this song by your dad it gets to me whenever i hear it which is regularly as its on one of my playlists you all have a beautiful week
My grandpa Robert Wilson’s birthday was July16,1891.He was born and raised in the mountains until they moved to Pensacola FL for work in 1910.He was a true mountain man . I learned so much from him yet now I have so many questions I wish I could ask.
Tipper,
And Paul,
Thanks for that slow song, Paul. I think Pap’s Wilson bunch are People of God and youn’ze are always doing something for someone else. …Ken
I feel like I Know Pap somehow. My own story; ” Having searched the world over for a better friend I keep coming back to Jesus.” I’m trying to write a song about Pap and his Christian faith. I’ll share lines as they happen, in my head, of course. Poetry is a gift from somewhere. Maybe, just maybe, Jesus has something to do with it. God’s Grace is hard to understand, but I’m working on it.
Very nice song. You did great job on it, Paul.
The Lord is never too early or too late but always on time. Savior and Friend forever
Sincere song and enjoyed.
Beautiful song. My Daddy’s birthday was July 15 and he would be 99 if he were still alive.
I’ve always heard it said that songwriters write their best songs during times of real emotions.
Proverbs 18:24b . . and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” PSA46:01 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
My Dad almost never shared his deepest thoughts or feelings. Seems to me we all need that friend that doesn’t need explanations but only needs to know we need his help. Proverbs 18:14 says, “The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity” but the goes on to ask “but a wounded spirit who can bear?” There are those wounded spirit days. Sounds like maybe Pap had one of those.
You start off my Sunday in a great way. Thanks.
Beautiful, sweet song!
Heb. 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
No doubt Pap knew this and applied it in his daily walk and one day put it in a song. very nice.