Songs I Remember

I was rummaging through a box tonight and ran across an old songbook and while thumbing through it memories flooded my mind. One time when Keith and I were sitting in church together and the congregation was singing "out of the songbook", Keith leaned over and said, "Linda, let's sing it EXACTLY the way it's written." We both were in choir at school and knew how to read music, so we began. Oh my word! We weren't too far into the song when we realized our Pentecostal congregation wasn't singing the song the way it was written. We almost couldn't sing for laughing, because we sounded REALLY OFF from everyone else. I tried hard NOT to laugh for fear of being "called down" by Daddy, but it was impossible. I'm glad we weren't caught that time!

As I was looking through the songbook I had so many wonderful memories of singing around the piano with Grandpa Pound leading our family in song making sure EVERY part was sung. I saw him go find Mother in the house, take her by the hand, and start leading her through the house. I heard her giggle and asked, "Daddy, where are we going?" (I'm sure she already knew) Grandpa didn't answer, he just kept walking taking her straight to the piano. He then motioned her to sit down, and then he sat beside her. He had already picked out a new song he wanted her to learn and play for him. She started playing, then I heard him stop her and say, "No, that's not the right timing." They worked at it until they got it right, and the most beautiful music would come from the living room. In a little while Grandma would go sit on the couch with her "tatting" and listen and "tat". As a little girl I would come in and stand by the piano and watch Mother's hands sweep across the piano keys. I LOVED listening to the piano as Mother played, and loved hearing her and Grandpa sing! There are so many memories of when the family came together for Thanksgiving or Christmas. I can hear the Pound Family singing as if it were yesterday. Grandpa took the lead, or whatever part wasn't being sung, Mother sang alto, C.W. lead or tenor, and Uncle James sang bass. Those were glorious times in a little girls life.

Some of the songs I saw in the songbook I remember learning for the first time around the piano at Grandpa's house, then we would go to church in Bloomington, CA and Grandpa would teach it to the congregation. What fun we had! If Grandpa didn't hear EVERY part he would stop everyone and point out the people he knew should be singing lead, alto, tenor, and bass, and make sure they knew their part, THEN we could sing the song. The singing was like Heavenly music. I wish I could explain to you how I felt as a little girl when I would hear and sing with Grandpa leading the congregation.

Does anyone remember these songs?

1. I Have Found the Way
2. I'm On the Stairway to Heaven
3. When I Reach That City
4. Let Me Walk In the Light
5. The Love of God
6. When the Redeemed Are Gathering In
7. How Long, O Lord?
8. Living By Faith
9. He Is Coming - Vs. 1 When the Lord went back to heaven to prepare for us a place His disciples stood and gazed yup in the air....
10. Thank you, Dear Lord - Cho. Thank you, thank you dear Lord, for all you have done for me; You rescued my soul from the bondage of sin, and gave me victory.
11. I Know I'm Saved
12. Joy Bells In My Soul - Cho. Waves of glory, wondrous glory, Over me like the sea billows roll; And the joy bells, mighty joy bells, Keep a song ringing out in my soul.
13. Way Up In Glory Land - Cho. When I get inside the portals, way up in glory land. I'll sing and I'll shout hallelujah, way up in glory land.
14. In the Sweet Forever - Cho. In that beautiful city (beautiful city) Of the sweet forever (some happy day) Where the river of life (where the river of life) Goes ebbing by (goes ebbing by) We'll look upon the beauty (look upon the beauty) that fades no never (fades not away) And happy we''ll be (and happy we'll be) While the ages fly. (while the ages fly).
15. Take the Name of Jesus With You - I loved it when Daddy would sing this song at the close of the service, just as everyone was starting to gather their things together and head home.
16. I Want To Hear "You're Welcome"
17. I'm Bound for That City
18. When I've Gone the Last Mile of the Way
19. He Saved My Soul - Vs. 1 The Savior said come follow me and from your sins I'll set you free. He saved my soul, from sin and shame. When I bowed down upon my knees and cried "Dear Jesus, save me please." He saved my soul, O praise His Name.
20. When Our Lord Shall Come Again

I've gone through about half of the book and found some of the ones I remember so I'll stop now. If you happen to be one of the ones who remembers these songs, I know you're having your own special "memory moment". There was something about singing these songs that made our spirits soar and our hearts were made glad. Or, if it was a song about "being ready to meet Him" then you were made to think about your soul, and see if you were "right with God". There were many nights during "song service" conviction would come sweeping through the congregation and I had such a longing to be SAVED! Other times when we were singing about "being brought out of sin" and "what the Lord had done for us", there would be a great excitement feel our hearts, and there was dancing in our feet, because we had been "set free". I get excited remembering the great times we had in the presence of the Lord. I still get "happy" (as the old timers called it) when I go to church and we sing the songs of the redeemed! There's nothing like being in a Pentecostal power-packed service!