|
Companions, Draw Nigh/Dying from Home and Lost
Public Domain Old-Time, Bluegrass Gospel; song written by the Rev. S. M. Brown, 1892;
ARTIST: Randolph from Mrs. Marie Wilbur; Pineville Mo. 1921;
SHEET MUSIC: http://books.google.com/books?id=g3JtLNe3nroC&pg=PA41&dq=COMPANIONS,+DRAW+NIGH&cd=
1#v=onepage&q=COMPANIONS%2C%20DRAW%20NIGH&f=false
CATEGORY: Traditional and Public Domain Gospel
DATE: 1892 (Brown); First Recorded in 1928 "Only A Tear" by Andrew Jenkins and Carson Robison
RECORDING INFO: Companions, Draw Nigh [Me III-A 7]
Rt - Cowboy's Prayer
Cooper, Wilma Lee. Cooper, Wilma Lee. Songs to Remember, Cooper, Fol (196?), p24 (Dying From Home and Lost)
Mainer, Wade. From the Maple on the Hill, Old Homestead OHTRS 4000, LP (1976), trk# D.06
Sizemore, Asher; and Little Jimmy. Sizemore, Asher; and Little Jimmy / Old Fashioned Hynns and Mountain .., Sizemore, fol (1933), p32 (Dying Boy's Prayer)
Sizemore, Asher; and Little Jimmy. Sizemore, Asher; and Little Jimmy / Favorite Mountain Ballads & Old T..., Sizemore, fol (1932), p14 (Dying Boy's Prayer)
Tuttle, Mildred. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume IV, Religous Songs and Others, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p 43/#609B
Wilbur, Marie. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume IV, Religous Songs and Others, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p 42/#609A [1921/11/20]
OTHER NAMES: "Dying from Home and Lost," "Only A Tear" "Only A Word" "Dying Boy's Prayer"
SOURCES: Folk Index; Meade; Randolph; Brown
NOTES: "Companions, Draw Nigh" is a gospel song written by the Rev. S. M. Brown and published in his Songs of Zion, copyright 1892 under the title, "Dying from Home and Lost." The song became popular around 1900 and was included in a Vaughan collection. See Link above SHEET MUSIC for more details. This version, collected by Randolph, Ozark Folksongs: Religious songs and other items By Vance Randolph; is from Mrs. Marie Wilbur; Pineville Mo. 1921, learned around 1900.
"Companions Draw Nigh" (also known as "The Dying Boy's Prayer" Blue Sky boys 1937) provides an account of a young man crushed in a construction accident and destined to die without prayer, song, or Bible present: "I must die without God or hope of his son, covered in darkness, bereaved an' undone."
Randolph, reporting this song from Arkansas and Missouri (OFS IV 41-3), says it seems to be part of a longer song written by the Reverend S. M. Brown and published in his Songs of Zion with a copyright date of 1892, and he quotes from a later print (James D. Vaughan's Crowning Praises, 1911, in which it appears) the detailed story of the young man in whose mouth the song is put, killed in a bridge-building accident in Kansas City. [Brown]
The song was recorded by a number of country performers including Louvin Brothers in 1958. It was first recorded as "Only A Tear" by Andrew Jenkins and Carson Robison for OKeh in 1928. It was recorded as "The Cowboy's Prayer" by Dewey Hayes in 1932. Andrew Jenkins and the Jenkins Family recorded it again as "Dying from Home
and Lost," on Bluebird in 1934. Wade Mainer called it "Companions Draw Nigh,"
for Bluebird 7384, on August 3, 1937- listen on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNKUxz5XPqw&feature=related
The Polk County Baptist association met in its twentysixth annual session with the Baptist church at Fair Play, Polk countyj Missouri, on Tuesday, August 16, 1892, at 11 A. M. Called to order by the moderator. Devotional exercises conducted by Eld. W. H. Burnham, D. D., who also proceeded to preach the annual sermon, subject, John 14:15, Baptist "Close Communion." The Doctor handled his subject with his characteristic ability for over an hour, giving able reasons for its practice, and showing its consistency from a Bible standpoint. Twenty-three churches were represented by letter and delegates. Three new churches were received, Slagle Creek, Providence and Mission Chapel No. 2. Committee on credentials was appointed, Burnham, Chamberlain, Gordon, Gilmore and Newport. Visitors were invited to seats, Eld. W. H. Williams, editor Central Baptist, S. M. Brown of Kansas City, corresponding secretary state board. Eld. Brown gave us a song, "Dying From Home And Lost," which must be heard to be appreciated, for nobody but Brown could give it the emphasis. He and Eld. Williams gave us such helpful sermons during the session.
Dying from Home and Lost- Brown Collection
'Dying from Home and Lost.' Contributed by O. L. Coffey of Sinill's Mills, Watauga county, in August 1939.
1. Companion, draw nigh. They say I must die;
Early the summons has come from on high.
The way is so dark! And yet I must go.
Oh, that such sorrow you never may know!
Chorus: Only a prayer, only a tear.
Oh, if sister and mother were here!
Only a song; 'twill comfort and cheer,
Only a word from that book so dear.
2. Ah, can you not bow and pray with me now?
Sad the regret — we have never learned how
To come before him who only can save,
Leading in triumph through death and the grave.
3 And can you not sing a song of his love?
How he came down from the mansion above
To bleed and to die on Calvary's tree,
Bringing salvation to sinners like me.
4 Alas, it is so. But thus it must be,
No word of comfort or promise for me;
To die without God or hope in his son,
Covered in darkness, bereaved and undone.
5. O people of God who have his blest word,
Will you not heed the command of your Lord
And puhlish to all of Adam's lost race
Pardon, forgiveness, salvation through grace?
COMPANIONS, DRAW HIGH- Mrs. Marie Wilbur; Pineville Mo. 1921; learned around 1900. Ozark Folksongs: Religious songs and other items By Vance Randolph
Companions, draw nigh; they say I must die.
Early the summons has come from on high.
The way is so dark, an' yet I must go;
An' Oh, such sorrow you never may know.
Chorus: Only a sigh, only a tear,
If only sister and mother was here!
Only a hope to comfort and cheer,
Only a word from that book so dear.
Oh will you not bow and pray with me now?
Sadly regrets, that we never learned how
To come before Him who only can save,
Reaching in triumph o'er death and the grave.
(Chorus)
Oh will you sing me song of his love?
How he came down from the mansions above
To bleed an' to die on Calvary's tree,
Bringin' salvation to sinners like me.
(Chorus)
Alas it is so, and forever must be
There's no word of kindness or comfort for me.
I must die without God, or hope in His Son,
Covered in darkness, bereaved and undone.
|