Today’s post was written by Paul.
I thought the old song “Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown” would be fitting for Memorial Day since it speaks to the transition from this life to the next and encompasses the idea of being “decorated.”
When I grew up, many folks used “decoration day” interchangeably with “Memorial Day.” It was always a time when churches beautified their cemeteries and paused to remember and respect loved ones gone before.
Granny and I used to always go over and decorate Pap’s grave with a red, white, and blue wreath; red, white, and blue vase of flowers; and red, white, and blue stone topper of flowers. Everything matched nicely and was fitting for Pap as both our special loved one and as a veteran of the USMC.
Speaking of Pap, as you see, I’m playing his wonderful Dove guitar in this video. Being very old, the saddles, frets, and pins have all been replaced at least 3 times. Just before shooting this video last year, I asked Mr. James “Chip” Siller to replace the nut on it. The nut is the little white bar-like piece that the strings run across as they make their way down the neck from the head of the guitar toward the body of the guitar. This is the third nut for the Dove. This one, like the original, is made of bone. The Dove is my prize possession and not something I would entrust to just anyone.
A friend recommended James Siller as a luthier. I’ve known him for years but forgot that Chip is a luthier on the side. The groove for the B-string was worn or cut down by the string to the point that the b-string would buzz on several frets. Chip said he got this replacement to within one 1,000th of a millimeter (or something like that đ I think he got it perfect. I played all over the neck in this song, and the b-string never buzzed once. This nut should probably last till I’m too old to pick any more.
The lyrics to this beautiful song were written by Eliza Edmunds Hewitt (1851-1920). The tune (Crown of Righteousness or Stars in My Crown) was composed by John Robson Sweney (1837-1899). The song was first published in the 1897.
I learned the song from a recording of the great Dottie Rambo. My arrangement is a lot different from hers, especially the tempo and timing.
Thank you for watching!
Paul
Original singles released on Spotify.
Shepherd of My Soul (Album released in 2016).
The Wilson Brothers Words of Life Album released in the 70s.
Beautiful song! I have never heard that before.. Great job Paul!!
Lovely song! I remember it from many years ago. You always do an excellent job playing the guitar and I adore your voice.
A song from my childhood.
This was a very pretty song. I had never heard it before. Thank you Paul. We sang America the Beautiful as our closing hymn in church this morning. It was very beautiful. I hope everyone had a blessed day.
I love the song. Your playing was so pretty. I love how much you cherish The Dove. How old is it? Is it the oldest instrument you have in your stock? Just curious.
Thank you! It was made in 1964 đ and it is the oldest.
Paul, beautiful song!
There was a 1950 film by the name of Stars In My Crown about a preacher in a small town not long after the 1861-1865 Unpleasantness, starring Joel McCrea. The plot basically was that he was a pretty religious man, but he could be moved to violence, and even deceit, to save lives as well as souls.
Paul I havenât ever heard this beautiful hymn. Thank you for sharing it with us. Jesus is now and forever our Savior and King. Amen âď¸â¤ď¸
Enjoyed the song, thanks Paul
Paul, thank you for sharing. It was beautiful.
Blessings & warm hugs Wilson Holler family on Memorial/Decoration weekend. Thank you for sharing this beautiful oldie, Paul.
A thought-provoking song Paul and it fits with Memorial Day when/if we think of any memorial in the hereafter. We’d all, I think, like to finish well and have the assurance that we have. But we always end up confounded by two things. Will we remember here and now? Will we think there as we do here or will we think entirely differently? I think it likely the author of that song was not so much focused on stars in a physical crown as on the hope and desire to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou in to the joys of thy Lord.” (If correctly recalled.) That would be the crown on a life well lived. I’m studying on it.
Hi Paul and Acorns. It was great to hear your rendition of this song. TY
That was beautiful, Paul. Thank you. Prayers for Corie, also.
Happy Sunday and blessings for a safe Memorial Day to all! Paul, that was a beautiful song and one that us livings should ponder on each day, I know I do. I hope I will have at least a jewel/star or two in my crown to place at the feet of my Lord Jesus. Thank you for sharing your talents with us. I have no doubt your crown will be loaded with jewels/stars in your crown, as will Tipperâs and most all your faithful, devoted families who served God in spreading the good news of the gospel of Christ through music, scripture and living life for Godâs glory.
Thank you for that beautiful song today. I have never heard it before & it was so fitting to play today on Pap’s beautiful guitar.
I’m not going to say happy memorial day, for many it is not a happy day, it is a day of mourning, remembering someone that passed away, in the war or not, somebody died fighting for my freedom, my hat is off to them, and their loved ones, I respect for you and honor you I appreciate you and I thank you, I salute you, and I think about my mother father and grandmother and my brother Bennie and other family members that have done went on, I pray God is with you during this time , to comfort you, as you remember your family, and those who paid the price for our freedom,God bless you very much in Jesus name
Paul, this has been on mind ever since I read your comment about the great Dottie Rambo. My precious sister in law died at the age of 62 in 2016 from a very rare brain disease (something like only 350 known cases.) she begin singing with her Daddy when she was 3 years old. Her mind had gotten real bad when one day we along with her husband and children were spending some time with her at one of her favorite places- Lake Hartwell when she began to sing Dottieâs song âSheltered In The Arms Of God.â She would sing âdonât worry about me, I am sheltered in the arms of God.â She sung this song without any music and in my opinion as perfect as anyone has ever sung it. She knew she was dying and I believe she was trying to tell us in the best way she could to not worry about her.
Thank you Paul. You are a lovely person
Paul, thank you for sharing.
Praying for Papaw Tony.
So good. Thank you Paul.
Happy Decoration Memorial Weekend to everyone.
It has been awhile since heard this old hymn. I remember singing it at my church. I kinda think what you did or do in the âdashâ between the two dates on your headstone will determine the number of stars in your crown.
Paul, Tipper, I was talking to lady Friday that had lived in Maryland and West Virginia. She mentioned loving anything Appalachian and loved singing the old time hymns like this in the small church she had attended. I told her about the BPA. She said she would check it out.