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Death Is Only A Dream/Death Is No More Than a Dream
Public Domain/Traditional Old-Time, Bluegrass Gospel; Words by Rev. C.W. Ray; Music by A. J. Buchanan music/ H.B. Pener wds 1892;
ARTIST: From Original Carter Family; Jan. 16, 1939
YOUTUBE:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iGo9CoNvvw&feature=related
Edward Clayborn - Death Is Only A Dream
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08nk2YJqjLU&feature=related
Gob Iron "Death is Only a Dream" Cat's Cradle 11.11.06
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzIOpSFqWFw&feature=related
The Original Carter Family & The Carter Children: It's Hard To Please Your Mind; Death Is Only A Dream
SHEET MUSIC: http://books.google.com/books?id=QoSONQFlehoC&pg=PT22&dq=%22Death+is+only+a+dream%22&hl=en&ei=hQ4cTL7ABMH78Aa-4q3HDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAA#v=
onepage&q=%22Death%20is%20only%20a%20dream%22&f=false
CATEGORY: Traditional Bluegrass Gospel;
DATE: 1892
RECORDING INFO: Death Is No More Than a Dream [Me III-F 48] - Ray, Rev. C. W./Buchanan, A. J.
Davis and Nelson. Paramount Old Time Recordings, JSP 7774A-D, CD( (2006), trk# C.19 [1929/04ca]
Death Is Only a Dream [Me III-F 48] - Ray, Rev. C. W./Buchanan, A. J.
Original Carter Family. 16/01/1939, Death Is Only A Dream
Carter Family. Greatest Old Time Gospel Hymns. Featuring the Phipps Family, Pine Mountain PMR 125, LP (196?), trk# A.09
Stanley Brothers. Earliest Recordings, Rich-R-Tone 6004, LP (1997/reis), trk# B.05 [1947/03ca]
Stanley Brothers. Bluegrass Bonanza., Properbox 29, CD (2001), trk# 3.13 [1947]
RELATED TO:
OTHER NAMES: "Death Is No More Than a Dream"
SOURCES: Folk Index; Hymn studies; Mudcat;
NOTES: "Death Is Only A Dream" or "Death Is No More Than a Dream" was first published in 1892 Living Songs for The Sunday School with words by Rev. C.W. Ray and music by A. J. Buchanan. At some point in the early 1900s it entered tradition and new versions like Edward Clayborn's 1927 arose. The Stanley Brothers version probably was learned from an early hymnal because they stick closely to the original lyrics. The song was also covered by African-American quartets like Bryant's Jubilee Quartet in 1931. The Carter Family version from 1939 has one new verse.
Here are some notes from a hymn study online: A song which likens death to a dream that one has while sleeping is "Death Is Only A Dream." The text was written by C. W. Ray. I have been able to find no further information on the author, except that he must have been a minister of some kind because for another song that he wrote, "Let Him Come In" with music by Harvey R. Christie, he is listed as "Rev. C. J. Ray." The chorus was added and the tune was composed by A. J. Buchanan. Neither do I have any further information on the composer. The song was copyrighted in 1892 by Rigdon McCoy McIntosh and probably first appeared in the 1892 Living Songs for The Sunday School, The Epworth League, Prayer Meetings, Revivals, and All Special Occasions of Christian Work and Worship edited by McIntosh and W. G. E. Cunnyngham for the Publishing House of the Methodist Episcopal Church South in Nashville, TN.
The copyright was originally owned by McIntosh and H. A. R. Horton, but was later obtained by Standard Publishing Co., or at least an arrangement was owned by them. J. W. McGarvey made reference to the song in "Chapel Address #1" of his Chapel Talks. It is said to have been the favorite song of country western singer Hank Williams Sr. (1923-1953). This is according to the official Hank Williams Sr. website. Among hymnbooks published by members of the Lord’s church during the twentieth century for use in churches of Christ, the song appeared in the 1935 Christian Hymns (No. 1) edited by L. O. Sanderson; the 1938 Spiritual Melodies and the 1965 Great Christian Hymnal No. 2 both edited by Tillit S. Teddlie; the 1940 Complete Christian Hymnal and the 1960 Hymnal both edited by Marion Davis; and the 1963 Abiding Hymns edited by Robert C. Welch. To my knowledge, it is not found in any of our hymnbooks currently in print.
DEATH IS ONLY A DREAM- 1892 version; Words by Rev. C.W. Ray and music by A. J. Buchanan
I. Sadly we sing, and with tremulous breath,
As we stand by the mystical stream,
In the valley and by the dark river of death,
And yet ’tis no more than a dream.
CHORUS: Only a dream, only a dream,
And glory beyond the dark stream;
How peaceful the slumber, how happy the waking;
For death is only a dream.
II. Why should we weep when the weary ones rest
In the bosom of Jesus supreme,
In the mansions of glory prepared for the blest?
For death is no more than a dream.
III. Naught in the river the saints should appall,
Though it frightfully dismal may seem;
In the arms of their Savior no ill can befall.
They find it no more than a dream."
IV. Over the turbid and onrushing tide
Doth the light of eternity gleam;
And the ransomed the darkness and storm shall outride
To wake with glad smiles from their dream.
DEATH IS ONLY A DREAM- Original Carter Family; Jan. 16, 1939
Sadly we sing and with tremulous breath
That we stand at the mystical stream
Through the valley inside the dark river of death
And yet it's no more than a dream
Only a dream, only a dream
Of glory beyond the dark stream
How peaceful the slumber, how happy the waking
For death is only a dream
Prepare me, my savior, prepare me, I pray
To cross o'er this terrible dark stream
O lead me and guide me and be near my side
It'll be nothing more than a dream
Only a dream, only a dream
Of glory beyond the dark stream
How peaceful the slumber, how happy the waking
For death is only a dream
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