Last week Paul uploaded the old hymn “Where Could I Go But To The Lord.” It’s a song I grew up singing in church. It’s often used as an altar call at the close of services.
Although I’m very familiar with the song I didn’t know anything about the history of it. A quick google led me to Diana Leagh Matthews. She does a wonderful job telling the backstory of the old song.
Where Could I Go, But to the Lord was written in 1940 by James Buchanan {also known as J.B.} Coats.
Mr. Coats was born on April 6, 1901 in Summerland, Mississippi. By the time he was fourteen, he was teaching music classes and leading evangelistic singings.
The inspiration for the song came years earlier when Mr. Coats was sitting beside a dying neighbor, an old African-American man, Joe Keyes.
Mr. Coats asked Mr. Keyes if he knew where he would spend eternity.
The old gentleman said, “Where could I go but to the Lord?”
Fast forward to years later, and Mr. Coats, while teaching at a singing school, Mr. Coats wrote the song.
The question reminds us that whether we are riddled with problems, facing a beautiful day, or making our final journey home, there is no where else to turn except to the Lord.
J. B. Coats wrote numerous songs including A Wonderful Place, I’m Winging My Way Back Home, Where there is Love and Tomorrow May Mean Goodbye.
Hope you enjoyed the song!
When I was young our church sung another song written by Coats. I loved all the parts of “I’m Winging My Way Back Home.” You can hear a great version by Doyle Lawson here.
Tipper
Original singles released on Spotify.
Shepherd of My Soul (Album released in 2016).
The Wilson Brothers Words of Life Album released in the 70s.
As always praying for Granny.
My Daddy sang this song often in his beautiful baritone. Thanks, as always for the inspiration.
Enjoyed this song very much, Paul.
Amen ! Wonderful song ! Beautifully done ! Thank you !
Tipper,
Thank-you for keeping such beautiful and deeply meaning hymns alive for all of us to enjoy and ponder over. At a time of so much unhappiness and violence it is so good to take time to reflect on that that is good and whole. It is reassuring that all of us enjoy taking time to think about the good things and embrace those who provide us with such beautiful and deeply moving songs. Kathy Patterson
I enjoy singing this with out Congrgation at Lakeside church of Christ! What an honor and privilege it is to know that we can go to Him anytime! Here is southern Ky. I am wanting to be snowed in for a couple of days. I have meds and groceries and candles, if needed. We had snow around Thanksgiving but a 70 degree Christmas!
My Baptist Hymnal (ca. 1960s) does not include this song. I wanted to check the lyrics to answer Cousin Ed’s question. I was very disappointed to find that the hymnal no longer contains (or perhaps never did) contain this old hymn that I grew up singing in the Baptist church.
You awakened my curiosity more, so I went looking. Hymnary.org has an image of a page containing the song. At the bottom it says “Copyright, 1940, by Stamps-Baxter Music & Ptg. Co. Used by permission.”
All the lyrics match those from Paul except the words in question which do not appear. I sang along with Paul from the page and found it to be a word for word match, except for those additional words.
The most interesting thing I see is that song is titled “Living Below in this Old World of Sin” at the top of the page. Apparently the song has been copied or stolen and all that was done was a change of the title and the addition of those few words “won’t you tell me”. Perhaps then the song could then be considered a secular song so that the likes of Elvis Presley and Bill Gaither could making money off it while its real author or his estate got nothing.
Those extra words sound out of place and don’t seem to add anything to the song unless it was so that some bass singer could show off his deep voice.
Doesn’t it make you want to vomit when google’s AI refers you to Elvis when you look up an old fashioned hymn book?
I love to hear Paul sing these songs. My mother sang these while she was doing her housework when I was a child. I am now 85 years old and mama has been gone many years, but these bring a touch of my childhood back. Blessings to all of you and especially Granny.
11:15 AM and it’s snowing a little. Now I can trust the little Juncos again.
Ed, two birds with one stone, I didn’t see the first snow flake at my home this morning even though the news was telling about snow flurries. Now the sun is shining. The second, I have always heard the little birds you mentioned called “snow birds” they would usually show up before bad (snow) weather. I also remember seeing other small birds with yellow feathers on their breast but don’t know their name. Back in the past I was only interested in one bird-bobwhite quail!
Love this song!!
Beautiful. I try to catch Paul every Tuesday and Thursday. His musical talent is truly amazing! Not to mention his knowledge of history behind everything. The Folk School would be blessed to have him (and the guys he plays with) as a Guest Artist!
The weather channel says it’s snowing here but I ain’t seen a flake of it!
oh how beautiful! I miss hearing a lot of these old songs!
I don’t remember “won’t you tell me” in the song I learned to sing in church. I thought I knew it “by heart” so haven’t had occasion to read the lyrics in decades. Is that part of the original or maybe an Elvis addition?
A wonderful old song – one I have long loved, sung and heard over the years and Paul did a wonderful version of it. What a beautiful story behind the song – thank you, Tipper for sharing it. May this be all of our owns heart assurance: ‘where could I go but to the Lord’ when our time here is completed. Have a blessing and peace filled Sunday Wilson Holler family and all Acorns. May it be a gentle one for Granny.
This was a beautiful song, and Paul did a great job. I enjoyed both the piano, and the guitar version. I don’t remember this song in our church. When I was growing up, the most used song for altar calls was “Just as I am”. It is played in our church during communion sometimes. Last Sunday, our song leader sang “Down to the River to Pray” during communion. I love that song too. I love all the old songs we sing. Have a blessed day all.
That’s such a wonderful old hymn and Paul sings it beautifully. I would like to find a church in Union County that sings the old ones. My church sings the new ones and they just aren’t the same.
Please pray for my son that is battling cancer.
Jammie, I will pray for him.
Thank you very much, Tipper. He’s in God’s hands so I appreciate all the prayers he can get. I’m trying to be optimistic although it’s breaking my heart.
Good Morning Tipper, Matt and Acorns. I love both of those songs TY for the links. This is the first time hearing the Doyle Lawson song. I’ve had a busy morning washing laundry (I’m goin to have to buy an extra set of twin sheets for my son’s bed. Now that the dryer don’t work it takes too long for them to dry on the line in the living room before he has to lay back down. LOL, poor fella. He has some pretty rough days. ) I got them hung up and fixed him a tiny breakfast. It’s a lot like having a baby some days. Praise the LORD that I still have him. He’s a good on and took care of me thru 3 knee surgeries over the years. I hate I’ve passed this on to my kids whatever it is. My Mama and Little Granny and Uncle had it too. His heart Dr thinks his Immune System is attacking his body. He goes to Virginia for 4-5 hours of tests on Tuesday. The LORD Tests us all every day. Our soul purpose in life is to love/glorify HIM. I have lived a less than perfect life for many years even after I was saved at 16. HE has been there for me always, even when what I did hurt HIM. I owe HIM everything and I’m determined not to let HIM down any more. I will take on the Armor HE has given me. I will read HIS WORD every day and write them on my heart. I keep everyone here, everyone up Wilson Hollow and our country as a whole in my prayers. I love Y’all.
Barbara, I try to show my faith by the way I live rather than talk about it. I get a devotional email each morning from Dr. Charles Stanley’s ministry. I remember one where he said Christians are not perfect, just forgiven. He went on to say Christians are God’s children, He may not like some of the things we do but he never stops loving us.
I have never heard that song before. Thank you, Paul for playing & singing it for us this morning. Your songs on Sunday morning bring me joy & comfort.
Prayers for Granny on this cold Sunday morning.
Wonderful song Paul!!! There ain’t no place to go but the Lord- for everybody here is bound to let you down-it’s the human condition! There’s nothing for me here really. If yall saw what I saw (whether a vision or dream I do not know) you’d want to go there! Everybody was about 30, in perfect health and smiling and wearing fine white priceless linen-unbelievably fine linen that is of quality not known on this earth! There was great happiness and radiance there. Believe that and make sure you’re going with the sheep to the right and not with the goats on the left. That day of terrible judgement will come with every sin and motive open for the Lord JESUS to judge and he shall do just that and justly!
Thank you for the post today. Paul’s song today brought a message I needed. I truly do not not know where I would be if I didn’t have the Lord to turn to and talk to each day. Prayers for Granny and the whole family are being lifted daily. The Lord is our Refuge. In him I will trust.
Happy Sunday! I saw this video on YouTube and thought Paul did a wonderful job singing this old hymn. Thank you Paul for sharing it with us.
It was so good to hear Paul sing this song. I haven’t heard it sung in years. The Baptist church I grew up in Ohio sang it and the old hymns every Sunday. I’m not too keen on the modern songs, which our church uses now. Thanks for giving the background on how the song was written.
Tricia, I have been going to same Southern Baptist Church all of my life. Many reasons for me liking this church, one being we still sing the old hymns, none of today’s songs and have a preacher that will preach about Hell and tell it like it is. Even spell check didn’t like that! My church, not the building, will be 211 years old this year-started in 1815.
I’ve got to learn to proofread my comments, make corrections before I print it, the doctor said he could scan me for cancer but I told him no, I don’t like the word, I will not accept the diagnosis like that, the Lord is the first place to go to, I’ve recently experienced a 25 lb weight loss without trying, please continue to pray
I died of Cardiac Arrest April 6, 2023. I was mowing my yard with a push mower. The day before I had gone to my heart doctor, they had followed my heart for Atrial Fib for years. The doctor had advised me that I should have a heart cath because my family history and my own. I said no. I did agree for a Holter Monitor for a month. They put it on me and I went home. The next day I mowed and got tired and had to sit down. I stopped the mower and sat on the mossy back yard. As soon as I sat I felt faint and leaned back to lay down. Everything went black and then I stood in the most glorious place I had ever felt or seen. As I turned to look there was a man stand with his back to me. He turned as I did. He instantly held his hand out in front of me and obscured his face and said, ” What are you doing here? J never sent for you. Go back and do what they say. ” I turned and instantly found myself looking up at the blue sky of my back yard. I sat up and typed into the monitor, “I think I just fainted.” I got up started the mower finished the last round and put the mower away. I noticed that my shorts were wet and very cold. I went in the house, took a shower, cooked supper, ate, washed dishes and went to bed. The next day was Good Friday. I spent the day doing cleaning and cooking, prepping for the Sabbath that evening and Saturday. I got it all done and went to bed about 7:30pm. At 10 pm my phone rang. It was the monitor company telling me to go to the ER by ambulance that I had had a cardiac event. She finally convinced me to call the squad. They got here but found nothing wrong but too me to he ER. The ER ran every test they could and found nothing wrong. I never felt better in my life. The sent me to the Med Center Cardiac unit I was admitted at 6 am. My Heart Dr came at 8am. My EKG was normal not even the A – Fib. She got on the phone to the monitor company and was back in my room at 8:30. She said the were calling in a team to do a heart cath. At 10 am I was in the OR and within 15 minutes I was being put to sleep for a stint. My Widowmaker ( Left Anterior Descending artery supplying all of the blood to the left ventricle) artery was 99% blocked. The stint opened it to 68 %. My point is The MAN said to me to “Do what they say.” Maybe, just maybe, you should too. He made them physicians for a reason. I will pray for you.
I hold you close in my mind always. I hope today, 3/31/26,
finds you feeling well.
Dotty
good morning friends, cold and nasty weather in North Georgia, thank you for praying for my brother and me, my brother seems to be doing real well, please continue to pray for me, as I have went to the emergency room about my dental infection to see how it’s affecting my heart, the doctor said he didn’t think it was, I asked him about my 25 lb weight loss, he said he could scare me for cancer, I told him I did not want to know about that, I don’t like the word, I will not accept the diagnosis like that, got some reflux medicine, some more antibiotics are coming, thank you for praying and God bless you very much, I enjoyed Paul song I heard it the other day, God bless Paul and Granny, God bless the Wilson and Pressley families, going to the Lord is the first thing we should do
Norman, I will keep praying.
Another good “golden oldie” hymn. I remember when we would sing it at my church. For me today’s seven elven religious songs don’t compare to these old hymns. The title of this song is a good reminder for me.
Going by the weather radar it looks like it is snowing all around Atlanta and northern GA. Used to be if it was snowing in Atlanta we could look out, we were going to get a “goodun.” The temperature is going to have to drop for that to hold true today
Agree with you on the wonderful hymns and the seven eleven blare,blast & repeat. There is so much wisdom in the hymns . In our area the same used to be said about the snow coming up from GA.