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1.
I began life's journey when young And the glittering prospect charmed my eyes; I saw joy after joy successive rise Along the extended plain. But soon I found 'twas all a dream And learned the fond pursuit to shun, Where few can reach the purposed aim, And thousands daily are undone.
2.
1. Though dark be my way, since he is my guide, 'Tis mine to obey, 'tis his to provide; Though cisterns be broken, and creatures all fail, The word he has spoken shall surely prevail. 2. Since all that I meet shall work for my good, The bitter is sweet, the medicine is food; Though painful at present, 'twill cease before long, And then, O how pleasant, the conqueror’s song!
3.
Portree 01:27
1. Though hills amid the seas be cast, Though foaming waters roar; Yea, though the mighty billows shake The mountains on the shore. 2. To utmost ends of all the earth He causes war to cease; The weapons of the strong destroyed, He makes abiding peace.
4.
Now, in the heat of youthful blood, Remember your Creator, God! Behold the months come hastening on, When you shall say, "My joys are gone."
5.
1. Father’s gone and left me alone, No father’s hand to guide my feet; No father’s arm to lean upon, In the silent tomb Father sleeps. 2. O mine eyes with teardrops are dimmed, My heart is bleeding now and torn; O all my joys have passed away, And I cannot here longer stay.
6.
1. Once more, my soul, the rising day, Salutes thy waking eyes; Once more, my voice, thy tribute pay, To Him that rules the sky. 2. 'Tis He supports my mortal frame, My tongue shall speak His praise; My sins would rouse His wrath to flame, And yet His wrath delays.
7.
1. Glory to God the Father be, Glory to God the Son, Glory to God the Holy Ghost, Glory to God alone. Alleluia, Alleluia, Hosanna, Hosanna. Alleluia, Alleluia, Hosanna, Hosanna. 2. My soul doth magnify the Lord, My spirit doth rejoice In God my Saviour and my God: I hear a joyful voice.
8.
1. My soul, come meditate the day, And think how near it stands, When thou must quit this house of clay, And fly to unknown lands. 2. And you, mine eyes, look down and view The hollow, gaping tomb, This gloomy prison waits for you, Whene’er the summons come.
9.
1. Must Jesus bear the cross alone, And all the world go free? No, there’s a cross for everyone, And there’s a cross for me. 2. The consecrated cross I’ll bear Till death shall set me free; And then go home my crown to wear, For there’s a crown for me.
10.
1. The time is swiftly rolling on When I must faint and die, My body to the dust return And there forgotten lie. 2. Though I must now depart from you Let not this grieve your heart, For you will shortly come to me Where we shall never part.
11.
1. Life is the time to serve the Lord, The time to ensure the great reward; And while the lamp holds out to burn, The vilest sinner may return. 2. The living know that they must die, But all the dead forgotten lie; Their memory and their sense is gone, Alike unknowing and unknown.
12.
1. Grace, 'tis a charming sound, Harmonious to the ear; Heaven with the echo shall resound, And all the earth shall hear. 2. Grace first inscribed my name In God’s eternal book; 'Twas grace that gave me to the Lamb, Who all my sorrows took. 3. Grace taught my soul to pray, And made my eyes o’erflow; 'Twas grace that kept me to this day, And will not let me go.
13.
Lord, when Thou didst ascend on high, Ten thousand angels filled the sky, Those heavenly guards around Thee wait, Like chariots that attend Thy state.
14.
Peniel 01:48
1. Come, O thou traveller unknown, Whom still I hold but cannot see, My company before is gone, And I am left alone with thee, With thee all night I mean to stay, And wrestle till the break of day. 2. I know thee, Saviour, who thou art, Jesus the feeble sinner's friend; Nor wilt thou with the night depart, But stay, and love me to the end, Thy mercies never shall remove, Thy nature and thy name is love.
15.
1. Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me, Still all my song shall be, Nearer, my God, to thee; Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! 2. There let the way appear, steps unto heaven; All that thou sendest me, in mercy given; Angels to beckon me Nearer, my God, to thee; Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
16.
1. Sweet the moments, rich in blessing, Which before the cross I spend; Life, and health, and peace possessing, From the sinner's dying Friend. Here I'll sit forever viewing Mercy's streams in streams of blood, Precious drops, my soul bedewing, Plead and claim my peace with God. 2. Had I heart to hold its pleasure, Had I tongue to tell its bliss; Could I share with all my treasure, Oh that all my friends were His. Nothing else could quite so charm me, No my every idol hold; Satan now no more can harm me, I've a home in realms of gold.

about

The Lovely Social Band are a loose and shifting group of friends who like to sing shape note music together. We learned about The Friends of Friendless Churches and the beautiful places in their care and decided very quickly that we needed to sing in as many of them as possible; this album contains field recordings of the first of hopefully many trips in which we do just that. It’s been a joy and a privilege to arrive in beautiful, peaceful places steeped in history, to wander the grounds, to feel the countless lives contained within the walls, and then to fill them up with song.

This album would not have been possible if it wasn’t for the work of the Friends of Friendless Churches. This charity looks after and maintains historic church buildings across England and Wales that no longer have a congregation to care for them. Instead of paying us for this album, we would be grateful if you would consider making a donation to them, so that their work can continue into the future. You can do this by visiting friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/support-the-fofc/. Any money raised in sales from this album will be donated straight to them.

For more information about this style of singing, please visit fasola.org. The Shape Note community spans the whole world and will always give a warm welcome to visitors and newcomers.

credits

released May 16, 2022

The singers on this album are:
- Anne Altringham (Alto)
- Connie Des Marais (Treble/Tenor)
- Susannah Gill (Alto/Tenor)
- Richard Mayers (Bass)
- Bridget McVennon-Morgan (Treble/Tenor)
- Calum Woods (Treble/Tenor)

Recorded on location in Anglesey at the Old Church of St Afran, St Ieuan and St Sannan, Llantrisant (tracks 4, 5, and 6), the Church of St Figael, Llanfigael (track 2), the Church of St Peulan, Llanbeulan (tracks 1, 3, 8, 11, and 13), and the Church of St Mary, Tal-y-Llin (tracks 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, and 16) on 18th & 19th of September 2021.

Audio recording: Richard Mayers
Audio mixing: Richard Mayers and Connie Des Marais
Album art: Bridget McVennon-Morgan and Anne Altringham

Track 2 is © 2012 The Shenandoah Harmony Publishing Company.
Track 9 is © 1936 Sacred Harp Publishing Company Inc.
Track 10 is © 2007 Allison Blake Steel.
Tracks 3 and 14 are © 2021 Calum Woods.

This album ℗ 2022 The Lovely Social Band

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