Collected by
Mary Celestia Parler;
Transcribed by
Neil Byer
Mr. and Mrs. John Gammil
Mountain View Ark.
April 13, 1955
Reel 207, Item 1
Hicks' Farewell
("This song was composed by Elder B. Hicks, Baptist
minister of South Carolina, and sent to his wife while
he was confined in Tennessee by a fever of which he
afterwards recovered.")
The time is swiftly rolling on
When I must sink and die,
My body to the dust return
And there forgotten lie.
Let persecution rage around
And Anti-Christ appear,
My silent vows beneath the ground,
There's no disturbance there.
Through heats and cold I've oftime went
And wandered in despair,
To call poor sinners to repent
And seek the Saviour dear.
My brother preachers, fare you well,
And stand on Zion's wall,
To revive the strong, confirm the weak
And after sinners call.
My brother preachers, fare you well,
Your fellowship I love,
In time no more there shall you see
That soon we'll meet above.
My little children, you, my heart,
And Nature seems to bind,
It grieves me sorely to depart
And leave you all behind.
Reel 207, Item 1, con't
Oh, Lord, a father to them be
And keep them from all harm,
That they may love and worship Thee
And dwell upon Thy charm.
My loving wife, my bosom friend,
The object of my love,
The times I've spent with you,
My sweet and harmless dove.
My loving wife, don't grieve for me,
Neither lament nor mourn,
For I shall with my Jesus be
When you are left alone.
Now often you have looked for me
And oftimes seen me come,
Though I must now depart from thee
And nevermore return.
For I can never come to thee,
Let this not grieve your heart,
For you will shortly come to me
Where we shall never part.
MCP: Where'd you get that song?
JG: Got it out of the old Christian Harmony.
MCP: How long ago was it that you got it?
JG: It's been about four years....But the book is, I
guess, about seventy-five years old.
