Let's hear it for the Sallys

I see there is a Community Pricing offering of the works of William Booth. The Salvation Army which he founded does good work throughout the world.

General William Booth Enters into Heaven

Vachel Lindsay (1879–1931)

(To be sung to the tune of The Blood of the Lamb with indicated instrument)


I (Bass drum beaten loudly) BOOTH led boldly with his big bass drum—
(Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?)
The Saints smiled gravely and they said: “He’s come.”
(Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?)
Walking lepers followed, rank on rank,	5
Lurching bravoes from the ditches dank,
Drabs from the alleyways and drug fiends pale—
Minds still passion-ridden, soul-powers frail:—
Vermin-eaten saints with mouldy breath,
Unwashed legions with the ways of Death—	10
(Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?)

(Banjos) Every slum had sent its half-a-score
The round world over. (Booth had groaned for more.)
Every banner that the wide world flies
Bloomed with glory and transcendent dyes.	15
Big-voiced lasses made their banjos bang,
Tranced, fanatical, they shrieked and sang:—
“Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?”
Hallelujah! It was queer to see
Bull-necked convicts with that land make free.	20
Loons with trumpets blowed a blare, blare, blare,
On, on upward thro’ the golden air!
(Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?)

II (Bass drum slower and softer) Booth died blind and still by Faith he trod,
Eyes still dazzled by the ways of God.	25
Booth led boldly, and he looked the chief,
Eagle countenance in sharp relief,
Beard a-flying, air of high command
Unabated in that holy land.

(Sweet flute music) Jesus came from out the court-house door,	30
Stretched his hands above the passing poor.
Booth saw not, but led his queer ones there
Round and round the mighty court-house square.
Yet in an instant all that blear review
Marched on spotless, clad in raiment new.	35
The lame were straightened, withered limbs uncurled
And blind eyes opened on a new, sweet world.

(Bass drum louder) Drabs and vixens in a flash made whole!
Gone was the weasel-head, the snout, the jowl!
Sages and sibyls now, and athletes clean,	40
Rulers of empires and of forests green!

(Grand chorus of all instruments. Tambourines to the foreground) The hosts were sandalled, and their wings were fire!
(Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?)
But their noise played havoc with the angel-choir
(Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?)	45
O, shout Salvation! It was good to see
Kings and Princes by the Lamb set free.
The banjos rattled and the tambourines
Jing-jing-jingled in the hands of Queens.

(Reverently sung, no instruments) And when Booth halted by the curb for prayer	50
He saw his Master thro’ the flag-filled air.
Christ came gently with a robe and crown
For Booth the soldier, while the throng knelt down.
He saw King Jesus. They were face to face,
And he knelt a-weeping in that holy place.	55
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

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Comments

Bruce Dunning

I can just imagine you actually singing this George! [:)]

Jack Caviness

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/571910#Comment_571910

I can just imagine you actually singing this George!

George was there for the initial performance of the song [H]

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/571910#Comment_571910

I can just imagine you actually singing this George!

Actually, I have done that. I remember in school hearing a recording of Vachel Lindsey reading his own poem—quite an experience.

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/571914#Comment_571914

I can just imagine you actually singing this George!

George was there for the initial performance of the song

That was a few years before my time, but I understand that you were the one beating the bass drum. [;)]

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/571916#Comment_571916

He certainly had colorful language:

'Big-voiced lasses made their banjos bang,
Tranced, fanatical, they shrieked and sang'

I just picked up my new 1920s banjo repro in Phoenix ... tranced, fanatical and shrieking! Definitely loud.
http://www.whitemountainbanjo.org/db-100_bluegrass

Jack Caviness

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/571916#Comment_571916

George was there for the initial performance of the song

That was a few years before my time, but I understand that you were the one beating the bass drum.

My youngest was a drummer. I have all the rhythm of a rock [+o(]

Mike Childs

George: "I see there is a Community Pricing offering of the works of William Booth. The Salvation Army which he founded does good work throughout the world."

'Tis true! William Booth was a spiritual giant, and he had much of the spirit of Christ upon him.

I have an old recording of William Booth made not long before his death in 1912. The sound quality of the recording is scratchy, as it was made on very early and crude recording device. But you can feel the passion and compassion for the poor in his voice. It moves me every time I listen to it.

(I collect early recording, especially those I can find related to the Christian faith.)

I will have to get this collection.

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/571944#Comment_571944

George was there for the initial performance of the song

That was a few years before my time, but I understand that you were the one beating the bass drum.

My youngest was a drummer. I have all the rhythm of a rock

So you're a rock drummer ! I'll need to introduce you to classical music. [:D]

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/571915#Comment_571915

I remember in school hearing a recording of Vachel Lindsey reading his own poem—quite an experience.

Okay, I'll play name-dropper. I have a letter Vachel Lindsey wrote to my grandfather. My Mother used to recite the now-politically incorrect Congo as she made bread.

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/571964#Comment_571964

I'll need to introduce you to classical music.

Reminds me of a time my brother and I were quite mean to a cousin ... unfortunately we were all very much adults but we'd been provoked. Mom - honest she provoked us.

We had classical music on the car stereo. When she asked it if was long-hair music we responded in unison "oh, no, we don't listen to heavy metal".[:D]

Rosie Perera

When I hear the phrase Salvation Army, I can't help thinking of a very irreverent and silly song we used to sing in the band in college:

"Salvation Army, Salvation Army,
Put a nickel in the drum, save another drunken bum.
Salvation Army, Salvation Army,
Put a nickel in the drum, and you'll be saved."

I know they do a lot of good, and that's not a very nice song to laud their work, but I can't help it that it's lodged in my memory.

Jack Caviness

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/571964#Comment_571964

My youngest was a drummer. I have all the rhythm of a rock

So you're a rock drummer ! I'll need to introduce you to classical music.

I was a fan of classical music between the Country and Southern Gospel phases of my musical taste.

Michael Childs, I understand that in Mississippi, it is up to the funeral home to verify whether or not the cadaver is truly dead— http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/02/28/miracle-as-mississippi-man-wakes-up-in-body-bag-at-funeral-home/?intcmp=latestnews

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/572000#Comment_572000

When I hear the phrase Salvation Army, I can't help thinking of a very irreverent and silly song we used to sing in the band in college:

"Salvation Army, Salvation Army,
Put a nickel in the drum, save another drunken bum.
Salvation Army, Salvation Army,
Put a nickel in the drum, and you'll be saved."

I know they do a lot of good, and that's not a very nice song to laud their work, but I can't help it that it's lodged in my memory.

We will need to brainwash you to clean that out of your memory banks.