Jerusalem Tomorrow

Thinking of bluegrass pioneer, Curly Seckler today. He suffered a mini-stroke but, thankfully was not paralyzed, and did not need to be admitted to the hospital. He is having some difficultly with speech, and working with a speech therapist. I’m sure your thoughts and prayers would be welcome.

In any case, here’s Curly Seckler with some live bluegrass gospel: “Building On Sand”.

From the style to the songwriting, this band has traditional, mid-century bluegrass down cold. Here, in rehearsal, are Hudson & Skinner and the Blue Ridge Cut-ups, with an original bluegrass gospel number, “Burden of Sin”.

Live bluegrass gospel from the soulful Coal Country with an old Stanley Brothers favorite, “Purple Robe”.

There’s a story so unkind in the Holy book we find
And it tells how Jesus stood alone one day
False accused and there condemned yet they found no fault with Him
The Man who wore the scarlet purple robe

(Chorus)
Purple robe my Savior wore oh the shame for me He bore
As He stood alone, forsaken on that day
And they placed upon His head piercing thorns and blood stained red
His raiment was a scarlet purple robe

In the common judgment hall he was mocked and scorned by all And a tear of sorrow fell upon His cheek
Soldiers of the wicked man smote Him with their evil hand
The Man who wore the scarlet purple robe

(Chorus)

Words of truth that day were plain from the lips of Pilate came
In this man I find no reason He should die
But the multitudes replied let Him now be crucified
The man who wore the scarlet purple robe

(Chorus)

imabitsnarky:

“Sea of Life” has been & always will be one of my favorite bluegrass tunes and no one plays it like Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Now, I’m a little iffy about the drummer in this video seeing as how drums are NOT a bluegrass instrument, BUT this new lead singer is rather impressive, especially on that final note. If there is one thing Doyle is notorious for, it is his ever changing band line-up, so I’m not even sure who these guys are. But I do know this, they sound pretty damn good. They might even be, dare I say it, better than the Russell Moore days?

Corey Hensley on lead vocals. Love his work.

(via batmansgirlfriend42)

elbanjolibre:

“I’ll Fly Away”, Loretta Lynn & Friends. Same lineup as the previous video, the Wilburn Brothers and Harold Morrison. Harry has another bad-ass jacket on! I’m becoming a huge fan of this guy.

(via joleebindo)

Live bluegrass gospel from The Purple Hulls. The conversation depicted here never actually took place. It’s a comforting reminder that God does things for a reason. That this seemingly cruel ceremony was both type and shadow of the most loving act in all of history. Anyway, the song is “I Just Wanted You to Know”.

God told Abraham, “Take Isaac up the mountain,
“And there make him a sacrifice to Me.”
I know tears fell down and breath was hard to come by
As Abraham was out there on his knees.

So hand in hand they carried up the mountain,
And he thought about the pain that lay in store.
Like shattered glass his heart inside was breaking
‘Cause he’d never known a pain like this before.

Too soon they reached the spot where they were going,
And he lay Isaac down on his death bed.
His heart raced as he drew the knife to strike him,
But the God of mercy stopped him and He said,

(Chorus)
I just wanted you to know exactly how it feels
To watch the son you love walk up a lonely hill
To feel the pain inside as your heart breaks in your chest
To lose the very thing that you love the best.

So now you’ve walked the walk and I know you’ll understand
The price that must be paid to correct the sins of man.
Well you know just how I feel when you’re walking up that hill
I just wanted you to know.

Bluegrass gospel from The Stanley Brothers: “Cry From the Cross”.

One morning in Jerusalem about the break of dawn
A great trial was in session, they tried our blessed Lord
They scorned him and they mocked him, they made him carry the cross
On top of Calvary mountain, they crucified my Lord

(Chorus)
Oh the cry (Jesus cried) from the cross
Forgive them blessed Father, He died upon the cross
Oh the cry (Jesus cried) from the cross
The son of God was dying, to save the world from loss

Saint Peter he denied him at that awful trial at night
He said he never knew him, it was an awful sight
He looked upon Saint Peter with eyes of perfect love
Saint Peter’s heart was broken, he prayed to God above

(Chorus)

Crying “Father, it is finished” then He bowed His head and died
The world was left in darkness, the graves were open wide
An earthquake shook Jerusalem the dead walked into town
The multitudes were frightened, God’s wrath came pouring down

(Chorus)

Live bluegrass gospel from Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys: “The Darkest Hour Is Just Before Dawn” (followed by “Who’s In Your Heart?”)

The sun is slowly sinking,
The day is almost gone.
Still darkness falls around us,
And we must journey on.

(Chorus)
The darkest hour is just before dawn,
The narrow way leads home.
Lay down your soul at Jesus’ feet;
The darkest hour is just before dawn.

Like a shepherd out on the mountain
A-watching the sheep down below,
He’s coming back to claim us;
Will you be ready to go?

(Chorus)

Live bluegrass gospel from the Steep Canyon Rangers: “So Happy I’ll Be”.

I’m just waitin’ for the time to come
When all sorrows will be done
Then I’ll be goin’ home
To heaven above

And we shall sing with the angels up there
Tell the Saviour of the love and care
That He had for me
In this world below

(Chorus)
So happy I’ll be
When the Savior I shall see
And tell him of his love
That he had for me
No more sorrow grief or pain
All the time will be the same
So happy I’ll be
Forever more

Some happy time just wait and see
My blessed Saviour will come for me
Then I’m goin’ home
To heaven above

Where my loved ones have gone before
To that bright and shiny shore
So happy I’ll be
Forever more

(Chorus)

So just think of the day my friends
When the saints go marching in
Then I’m going home
To heaven above

Oh, so happy I will be
My blessed Savior I shall see
So happy I’ll be
Forever more

(Chorus)

Bluegrass gospel from The Stanley Brothers: “Pass Me Not”.

Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Refrain:
Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry,
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief;
Kneeling there in deep contrition,
Help my unbelief.

Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.

Thou the spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee,
Whom in Heav’n but Thee.

Bluegrass gospel from Grasstowne: “Lifting Up the Cross”

All dressed in your Sunday best
In the house of the Lord
You got up this morning
Do you really know what for?

You could have the best intentions
That ain’t what it’s all about
You may look good on the surface
But your soul is still in doubt

(Chorus)
Are you lifting, lifting, lifting, lifting
Lifting up the Cross?
For the Son of God Who died
For the sinners who are lost
The Bible said His blood was shed
To pay that awful price
Are you lifting, lifting, lifting, lifting
Lifting up the Cross for Christ?

One day a week you show up
You’re a godly man
You sing the songs of worship
You shake that preacher’s hand

Well, you can fool the congregation
Make ‘em think you’ve done your part
But the One Who really matters
Knows what’s in your heart

(Chorus)

Live country gospel from Pharis and Jason Romero: “It’s Me Again, Lord”.

Trouble’s come, and I can’t find an answer
Lonely nights are spent in agony.
I have no other friend that I can turn to
So, here I am, back upon my knees.

(Chorus)
It’s me again, Lord
Got a prayer I need answered
It’s me again, Lord
I got a problem I can’t solve
Now, I don’t mean to worry You,
But here I am facing something new.
And I need help that only comes from You
It’s me again, Lord

I know You’re mighty busy in Your heaven
Forming worlds and hanging stars to shine.
But You promised if I’d ask that I could see things
So, here I am, Lord, asking one more time.

(Chorus)

Country gospel from Emmylou Harris: “Where Could I Go But to the Lord?”

Living below in this old sinful world
Hardly a comfort can afford.
Striving alone to face temptation’s call,
Where could I go to the Lord?

(Chorus)
Where could I go, where could I go,
Seeking a refuge for my soul?
Needing a friend to help me in the end,
Where could I go to the Lord?

Neighbors are fun I love them every one
We get along in sweet accord.
But when I pass the chilling hand of death,
Where could I go to the Lord?

(Chorus)

Life here is grand with friends I love so well
Comfort I get from God’s own Word.
But when my soul needs manna from above,
Where could I go to the Lord?

(Chorus)

Live country gospel from Don Rigsby: “I Pressed Through the Crowd”.

Like the prodigal son
I wandered in darkness
The clutches of sin
They clung to my soul
My burdens were heavy
My sins were so many
But when I touched Jesus
He made me whole

(Chorus)
I pressed through the crowd
Reached out and touched Jesus
The sweet Holy Spirit
Came into my soul
I knew I’d been changed
My sins all forgiven
‘Cause when I touched Jesus
He made me whole

Like the woman who tried
Many physicians
When she touched Jesus
Was healed on that day
My sickness was different
My sins were so many
When I touched Jesus
He washed them away

(Repeat Chorus)