richards odes

Singing

We went to church each Sunday when I was just a child

Attendance was compulsory and no one ever smiled.

The kids all sat like statues and didn’t say a word

For in that ghastly service we were seen and never heard!

The best thing was the music for all the people sang

And with the lovely melody the rafters simply rang!

But there was a problem when I was very small

I could not sing. Through illness I could hardly breathe at all!

It was the greatest sadness, indeed, it made me cry

And in my infant misery, told my Granny by and by.

She bade me take my trouble to our dearest Lord above

And ask that he should let me sing, in his goodness and his love.

When I reached the age of seven all my illness went away

And I had the breath enough to sing and sing all day.

I sang when I was happy, I sang when I was sad

I sang to make things better when I was feeling bad!

I did not have the talent to make me feel too proud

But I had the lung-power for singing rather loud!

I owe my voice to God above and therefore all my days

I will sing, with all my heart, my great Redeemer’s praise