The Hour of Song

The following poem appeared in The Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) February 25, 1917 on page 6.

The Hour of Song by Wightman F. Melton

The following bit of verse by Wightman F. Melton, of Emory university, first appeared in the "Just From Georgia" column of  The Constitution. It was then copied by The Richmond Virginian and later reproduced in The Kansas City Star with the accompanying illustration:

Grandpa pitched his tuning fork, a many years ago.
And then he ran his shape note scale of "Fa-so-la-se-do,"
Of "Do-ra-me," and "Fa-so-la," and "Fa-so-la-se-do."

His songbook was the "Sacred Harp"--it opened at the end--
And Grandma sang the "tribble," for to make their voices blend
In "Do-ra-me," and "Fa-so-la," to make their voices blend.

"Amazin' Grace," and "Jordan's Banks," and "The Unclouded Day"
They sang without an organ, and they sang just that-a-way;
A "Do-ra-me," and "Fa-so-la," they sang just that-a-way.

The old folks looked to heaven as a place of endless song
And hoped the angels use shapenotes, or else they might go wrong,
A "Do-ra-me," and "Fa-so-la,"  or else they might go wrong.

"Children of the Heavenly King," journeyed they along,
They left their book and tuning fork, but took to heaven their song,
Of "Do-ra-me," and "Fa-so-la," they took to heaven their song.