Tuesday, July 17, 2007

In My Ear, On My Mind, Out My Mouth

I almost always have a song going on in my head. Or, rather, about 5 songs going in rotation. Often, this is a great blessing to help me carry out work around the office or at home. The accompaniment seems to make the tasks go more quickly and effortlessly. However, many times, these songs come out of my mouth. Usually at the not-so-great of times. I remember friends who refused to walk home with me from the grade school bus stop because they couldn't stand the fact that I was constantly singing or - maybe worse yet - the mention of a phrase in conversation that matched a song lyric would make me break out into song. So, I had to keep myself in check... and start learning to keep those songs on the inside again. I have regularly failed at doing this. In recent months, I've found this task is the hardest on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.... usually the day after a good singing in worship or at Sacred Harp. So, little did I know, I had been walking around the office constantly humming this morning until I turned around and saw my co-workers laughing at me. (It's not the first time. It won't be the last.)

With a mixture of songs we sing regularly and other rarely-sung tunes I'm trying to learn, these are what are on my mind and coming out of my mouth today:

#455 Soar Away
lyrics
recordings

#142 Stratfield
lyrics
recording

#216 Delight
lyrics
recording

#350 Nativity
lyrics
recording

#542 I'll Seek His Blessings
lyrics
recording

*Music from the 1991 Denson edition of The Sacred Harp. Recordings from 2003 Shakopee, Minnesota Shape Note Singing and the 19th Annual Southwestern Seminary Sacred Harp Singing in Fort Worth, Texas.

If you are trying to find a recording of a particular Sacred Harp song, you might find it here in this good list of singings and limited recordings.

2 comments:

lydia said...

I also frequently walk around singing or humming various hymns or other songs. On my way to work in the mornings I usually have a hymn CD playing that I listen to for the 5 minute trip. Since I usually only hear one or two hymns, it is usually those two that I repeat throughout the day. I also have a bad habit of repeating the same phrase or verse over and over. The kids are always asking me if I know any more of the song or why I always sing "church songs." I usually respond by saying that church songs make me happy and I know they want a happy baby-sitter. :)

Elizabeth said...

I almost always, if it's stuck in my head or if I am thinking of a song, "I would not Live alway" is always there. I knid of find it annoying because it definately isn't my favorite song.
When I was in Florida, I was humming something and my almost sister-in-law, was like "What is that? Was that you? I thought it was a saxophone or something" Given the part of town we were in it wouldn't have been too odd to see someone playing music on the side of the road, but alas, it was little old me just a hummin away!