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In a Foreign Heathen Country/Called to Foreign Fields/A Call to Arms
Public Domain Old-Time, Bluegrass Gospel; Words & Music: John B Goins 1907
ARTIST: In a Foreign Heathen Country - Sarah Gunning, vocal (Rec: Mark Wilson, Medford, Ma, 5/08/74) on Meeting's a Pleasure: Folk-songs of the Upper South (MTCD341-2 and MTCD343-4) Original Words & Music: John B Goins in 1907
SHEET MUSIC:
http://books.google.com/books?id=AQMca_ptzbMC&pg=PA1&dq=%22Called+to+Foreign+Fields%22&cd=9#v=onepage&q=%22Called%20to%20Foreign%20Fields%22&f=false
CATEGORY: Traditional Bluegrass Gospel;
DATE: 1907
RECORDING INFO: Called to Foreign Fields
Alfred Karnes. Goodbye Babylon "Called to the Foreign Field"
LISTEN: http://dusttodigital.bandcamp.com/track/called-to-the-foreign-field
Roy Harvey. Document Records Complete Recordings in Chronological Order, Vol. 4: 1931. (Called to Foreign Fields)
Sarah Gunning, vocal (Rec: Mark Wilson, Medford, Ma, 5/08/74) on Meeting's a Pleasure: Folk-songs of the Upper South (MTCD341-2 and MTCD343-4).
OTHER NAMES: "A Call to Arms" "Called to Foreign Fields" "In a Foreign Heathen Country"
RELATED TO:
SOURCES: Meade
"Songs of Pentecostal Power" edited by Robert Emmet Winsett in 1908.
Meeting's a Pleasure: Folk-songs of the Upper South
NOTES: "In a Foreign Heathen Country" orginally titled "Called to Foreign Fields" is a hymn by John B Goins in 1907. It was recorded by Sarah Gunning, vocal (Rec: Mark Wilson, Medford, Ma, 5/08/74) on Meeting's a Pleasure: Folk-songs of the Upper South (MTCD341-2 and MTCD343-4).
"Called to Foreign Fields" is found in an excellent collection, "Songs of Pentecostal Power" edited by Robert Emmet Winsett in 1908. Winsett carefully selected the more popular gospel songs and if he didn't know the source, he usually added his initials R. E. W. Winsett. Winsett calls Songs of Pentecostal Power: Complete a "book of the very best spiritual soul-winning songs."
In a Foreign Heathen Country - Sarah Gunning, vocal (Rec: Mark Wilson, Medford, Ma, 5/08/74). Roud 16775. This is Sarah's family's title; someone later told her that its proper name was A Call to Arms. According to Gus Meade, however, this Pentecostal piece was, in fact, composed by John B Goins in 1907 as Called to Foreign Fields, and first published in Songs of Pentecostal Power. Alfred G Karnes supplied a very vigorous performance with harp guitar under that title for Victor (reissued on Dust to Digital 01 or Yazoo 2200; Roy Harvey also recorded the number). The song vividly captures the sense of wrenching dislocation that is frequently encountered within the memoirs of nineteenth century missionaries. I found mention of a 'John B Goins' associated with a Pentecostal church in Cleveland; perhaps this is where the composer resided (although he was apparently forced to leave the locale after a theological dispute over the merits of speaking in tongues).
In a foreign heathen country where the people know not God
I am going there to preach His precious word.
Where they bow to worship idols I am going there to stay
For to labor in the vineyard of my Lord.
Chorus: Oh, I'll soon be with my loved ones in my happy heavenly home
Even though the thought my soul with rapture thrills.
So goodbye, my friends and brethren, for my time has come to go
I must leave you on the dear old battlefield.
Many days I've clim'd the hillside, in the sunshine and the rain
Many days I've been in hunger and in thirst.
Just to tell them my Lord is coming back to earth again
With his my gifts and blessings always at the first.
I was called to bear a message to the heathen far away
Even though there a stranger I may roam
Just to tell them that my Lord is coming back to earth again
That's the reason that I left my native home.
Called to Foreign Fields- John B Goins 1907
1. In a foreign heathen country where the people know not God
I am going there to preach His precious word.
Where they bow to worship idols I am going there to stay
For to labor in the vineyard of my Lord.
Chorus: Oh, I'll soon be with my loved ones in my happy heavenly home
Even though the thought my soul with rapture thrills.
So goodbye, my friends and brethren, for my time has come to go
I must leave you on the dear old battlefield.
2. I was called to bear a message to the heathen far away
Even though there a stranger I may roam
Just to tell them that my Lord is coming back to earth again
That's the reason that I left my native home.
3. Many days I've clim'd the hillside, in the sunshine and the rain
Many days I've been in hunger and in thirst.
Just to tell them my Lord is coming back to earth again
With his my gifts and blessings always at the first.
4. I will stand the trials and hardship, just to tell them precious truths,
That the gospel of our Saviour doth contain,
And if they will but obey them and be faithful to the end,
Up in heaven we will meet you all again.
5. We'll not all be foreign laborers but the time shall soon arrive,
When our mision we have faithfully fulfilled,
When our message is delivered and 'tis said of us, "well done."
In triumph we'll leave the dear old battlefield.
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