Folk

It’s funny that when I first saw the daily prompt today, the old folk hymn, Will the Circle be unbroken started immediately playing in my head. I didn’t write about it then because it weirdly makes me think of my grandmother, and I miss her dearly. 

The church I went to for the longest period as a child was a Lutheran one with an organist. We sang all of the traditional churchy hyms that would be familiar to many people in sure, but on what must have been in months where there were 5 Sundays, or just special times a year or some other kind of awesome coming together, we had a kind of “folk service” where more folksy hymns were sung like Circle and The Old Rugged Cross.

Now in actuality, I think it was singing The Old Rugged Cross after church one Sunday that got me into trouble with my grandmother. She said it reminded her of her father and made her sad, and I am sure I tried not to sing it, but knowing myself the way I do, if it was in my head I was probably humming it without thinking or something. Anyway, I remember that my Dad yelled at me for it too, something he never did, and so that memory stuck. 

Since those two songs were always part of that worship service together, I always associate one with the other and with that memory. It isn’t a bad memory, it’s actually very sweet that my grandma was so moved by a hymn that reminded her of her father. She was not a very emotive person, so it must have meant a great deal to her.

Clearly this memory was poignant enough for me today that I couldn’t share it right away. I’ve been weepy and emotional for a few days in what I desperately hope is just PMS and not some incipient mood episode. 

Thoughts on that in a separate post. In the meantime, that hymn (it seems a little sad, but it’s supposed to be a song of faith, I’ll post the full lyrics below):

I was standing by my window,

On one cold and cloudy day

When I saw that hearse come rolling

For to carry my mother away
Will the circle be unbroken

By and by, lord, by and by

There’s a better home a-waiting

In the sky, lord, in the sky
I said to that undertaker

Undertaker please drive slow

For this lady you are carrying

Lord, I hate to see here go
Will the circle be unbroken

By and by, lord, by and by

There’s a better home a-waiting

In the sky, lord, in the sky
Oh, I followed close behind her

Tried to hold up and be brave

But I could not hide my sorrow

When they laid her in the grave
Will the circle be unbroken

By and by, lord, by and by

There’s a better home a-waiting

In the sky, lord, in the sky
I went back home, my home was lonesome

Missed my mother, she was gone

All of my brothers, sisters crying

What a home so sad and lone
Will the circle be unbroken

By and by, lord, by and by

There’s a better home a-waiting

In the sky, lord, in the sky
We sang the songs of childhood

Hymns of faith that made us strong

Ones that mother Maybelle taught us

Hear the angels sing along
Will the circle be unbroken

By and by, lord, by and by

There’s a better home a-waiting

In the sky, lord, in the sky
Will the circle be unbroken

By and by, lord, by and by

There’s a better home a-waiting

In the sky, lord, in the sky

Image from Pixabay