With shape notes and a Sacred Harp

Here's a dab of doggerel for your day. Maybe some of you will enjoy it.

With shape notes and a Sacred Harp. C. M. (April 22, 2015)

1. There was a man in olden days

B. F. White was his name.

He made a friend in E. J. King

And taught him how to sing.

2. Together with their talents they

Compiled a great song book,

With shape notes and a Sacred Harp--

Well, that was all it took!

3. Young E. J. died before they could

Get their book back from press.

So B. F. took it on himself

To try to do his best.

4. He formed a music convention

They called Southern M. C.

It laid a solid foundation

From "A" to "Zynder-Zee."

5. The singing spread both near and far

Across the southern land;

To shape notes and The Sacred Harp,

A loyal faithful band.

6. When B. F. died there were no more

Editions of his book.

But lovers of the songs therein

Kept singing their hearts out.

7. Cooper and James and J. L. White

Decided that they could,

All take the book and revise it

For singers' future good.

8. The Densons came and did their part,

To add a future store

Of tunes made in the old time way

To sing on more and more.

9. The singings waned, but then blossomed

To spread from shore to shore;

And soon they couldn't be contained

Within the U.S. border.

10. Living composers write new tunes

In both important keys.

They write with strength, they write with power

With praise and energy.

11. With three song books and lots of heart

We're singing still today;

With shape notes and a Sacred Harp

In the old fashioned way.

12. We're singing loud, we're singing proud,

We're singing still today--

With shape notes and a Sacred Harp

In the old fashioned way.