 The nearer you are to roses the better they smell.
  The nearer you are to a turtle the cuter it is.
The nearer you are to a baby the faster you fall in love.
  If you get nearer to the nest you will get stung!
For this week’s Pickin’ & Grinnin’ In The Kitchen Spot Nearer, My God To Thee. The song was written in the 1800’s by Sarah F. Adams. A pastor requested she write something for an upcoming sermon and in just a few days she penned a beautiful hymn that is still popular today.
Pap and Paul do an interesting arrangement on the song. They do an alternating high lead and high tenor.
I love the language used in old hymns. It just seems more sacred, more meaningful and stronger. Maybe I should add some Yets, Thees, and Thys to my daily speech I would certainly get some attention.
I hope you enjoyed Paul and Pap’s unique arrangement of the song.
Tipper
I loved that rendition of Nearer to Thee! Whenever I hear one of the old hymns, I can’t help but go back in my mind to my childhood and singing them in church. Once when I was leading practice for a small worship team, several of us were singing a hymn that had the verse, ‘Wash all our guilty stains away.’ The page ended with the word ‘guilty’, but I turned two pages accidentally to one that started with the word ‘Hallelujahs’. After we sang, ‘Wash all our guilty Hallelujahs’, the laughter was too much to continue.
Lovely hymn the guys did a great job. Great pictures—beautiful baby!
Today I’m getting nearer some apples and blueberries I’m putting up. You know when I’m peeling apples my hands are busy and my mind has an opportunity to wander. Today I think about my grand mother making apple jelly from early transparent apples. Those apples are very mild so she added some currents and suddenly the plain apple jelly turned pink and had a slight tartness. It was wonderful.
Love Ya.
What a wonderful song! And I think you should try adding those extra old time words to your day to day, start a trend.
I love my baby girl! And also your turtle!
I adore old hymns! When I was little, I can remember my grandfather playing them on the piano while our family gathered around to sing.
I love the shots you have here. All are beautiful.
I know that hymn well. It is very beautiful and memorable. I wonder if the sermon had the same affect as the hymn!
I love the baby but the turtle scares me…they bite!
We too love the old hymns! We have one of the old red hymnals that our girls are learning to play out of.. As for the language my girls always say they wish people still talked like they did back then. One of their favorite movies are Little Women, and Pride & Prejudice, they love the language in them.
Oh I like the hymns and I’ve enjoyed reading everyone’s comments. Hymns speak to my heart, to my soul.
And I do wonder about my grand-nephews hearing only praise music. But, at the same time, I am ever so thankful (thank you Jesus!) that they are in church, regardless of the music the congreation prefers (if that makes any sense!)
Loved this arrangement. Love to hear them play/sing period. Authentic.
Love, love the old hymns- the words are beautiful!!
Trying to get back into the blogging swing of things and give a grateful shoutout for all the paryers and support!
Thankful blessings,
kari & kijsa
Love, love the old hymns- the words are beautiful!!
Trying to get back into the blogging swing of things and give a grateful shoutout for all the paryers and support!
Thankful blessings,
kari & kijsa
I love the old hymns, and teach them to my children. We bought hymnals from 1930 at a thrift store, and have put them to good use! Our 16-yr-old son said a year or two back, something to the effect of “I wish I knew as many old songs as you do, and could just start singing.” So, whether he likes it or not, he’s getting that wish . . . like they say, be careful what you wish for, right?? 😉
I did enjoy seeing your photos. Don’t you think a turtle has that cute ‘old man’ look? 🙂
I really enjoyed the hymn. This was a favorite of mine when I was growing up. It’s one of the good ones. In today’s bigger churches the music is often newer praise style and I so miss hearing the old hymns. Thank you for this!
Tipper,
This is quite lovely. I think you should dare yourself to write an entire post using only thee, thy etc. Could be fun!
I love the old stuff. Most churches nowadays dont use the older hyms….they are to busy rocking out with everything electric…ugh! There is just nothing like simple voices raised in the praise of the Lord!
I just love this hymn. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. I close my eyes and fill myself sitting in a small church in the country, in June, no air-conditioning, windows and doors open, my mind wandering between the music and the thought of that potluck that will take place after the service.
I’m enjoying the singing…
Yes, I for one do enjoy the old King James English in hymns.
Good to be near to thee today; sorry I’ve been away for too long.
Shalom to all.
May the kids enjoy new school year.
I love the old hymns. I think we are doing our children a great disservice by having them learn choruses from a screen at the front of the church. They won’t learn to read music as we did singing from the old hymnals. I don’t find it a holy experience to sing seven words eleven times while being drug around by a praise team. Thanks to Pap and Paul for keeping the flame of hymnity alive. Pappy
Tipper: I don’t think that ‘thee’ should change your post patterns. It is wonderful the way it is.
The guys did a wonderful job on a song that is so familiar. I never realizes it was so old. This is a real winner and keep up the good work of sharing.
Your Friend Fishing Guy
Morning Tipper! Lovely; the photos, song, words. Moved my
spirit. Have much music and, of course, literature with this language, where it seems more suitable and appropriate. I should try using a few thees and thous at the supermarket today, and watch how many question marks I get? :)) Petra
I too love “the old words” and find them comforting. I would imagine Catholics feel the same way about Mass being performed in Latin.
I do love hymns – they take you back in time! Thanks for sharing this great one 🙂
What a beautiful arrangement. I love their harmony! Yes, I do love old hymns. The language is more respectful~more sacred, as you say. I have several CDs that I listen to alot~all old hymns. Some of the newer Christian songs are a little too repetitive for my taste. I like a song to have ‘heart’~a true meaning to it. You can really learn a lot from those old lyrics. They make you stop and reflect on your heart and life and what God has done for you.
Mary
I got excited as soon as I saw the heading on this post. I just knew something good was coming.
The pictures were outstanding! Just wanted to smell the rose, snuggle the baby and talk to the turtle. Scary hornets nest though. Looks sorta like a monster hiding in those vines.
I love the old language, and I think that if thee wantest to useth it, then that’s what thou shouldest do. 🙂
Pap and Paul have the clearest tones and know just how long to hold a note to make it so sweet and pure. And, as I’ve said before, Paul knows his way around a guitar string. Can’t help watching his hands every time he plays.
Tipper, I adore your posts and you outdo yourself with every one. xxoo
Love how you put that post with the song! Very creative!
Oh, and I haven’t heard that song in years. How better than to be reminded of it than with Pap and the boys!
Tipper,
Love the arrangement of Pap and Paul. I haven’t heard this hymn for years. We used to sing it at church when I was a child. Funny how most churches don’t sing those old hymns anymore.
Thanks for stopping by my Writing Nook and entering your name in my Harvest Giveaway.
Blessings,
Mary
I had to laugh at this post because of the fact that I’m married to a musician who loves to joke around with the old terms used in hymns. Thees, thous, etc. However, I think the both of us lean towards the old hymns rather than the new songs that are sung at church. Mark always comments about the quality of parts, words and lessons that come from older hymns. We treasure them more because of those qualities. However, we do get a kick out of the KJV terminology at times. 🙂
I love old english in songs and hymns, but I don’t like it at all in Bible readings. Go figure!?