Tag Archives: RP #3

Beulah Land demo

Rosa Celeste: Dante and Beatrice gaze upon the highest Heaven, The Empyrean
A while back I found an old hymnal from the early 1900’s that had a number of songs I had never seen in any modern hymnal. I’ve been working on new melodies for a few of them, and Beulah Land by Edgar Stites (1876) is one of them. My wife made the comment that she liked this one because of its warmth and homey-ness, not because of some great theological depth that we often think of hymns providing. But if thoughts of Heaven make us warm and feel at home, then Amen. That’s good theology right there.

Here’s a demo of the first verse I made using my new fancy Garageband app on my phone (so pardon the quality).

Beulah Land – Verse 1

I’ve reached the land of corn and wine,
And all its riches freely mine;
Here shines undimmed one blissful day,
For all my night has passed away.

Refrain

O Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land,
As on thy highest mount I stand,
I look away across the sea,
Where mansions are prepared for me,
And view the shining glory shore,
My Heav’n, my home forever more!

My Savior comes and walks with me,
And sweet communion here have we;
He gently leads me by His hand,
For this is Heaven’s border land.

Refrain

A sweet perfume upon the breeze,
Is borne from ever vernal trees,
And flow’rs, that never fading grow
Where streams of life forever flow.

Refrain

The zephyrs seem to float to me,
Sweet sounds to Heaven’s melody,
As angels with the white robed throng
Join in the sweet redemption song.

Refrain

New Hymn Re-Writes Coming Your Way

Daniel Hautamaki, one of our songwriters, has been working hard on a handful of new hymns for us for our third album. (This is usually what happens right after we start talking about doing another record.) One song that we’re extremely proud, and can’t wait for you to hear, is a new melody for B.B. McKinney’s The Nail Scarred Hand:

Have you failed in your plan of your storm-tossed life?
Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand.
Are you weary and worn from its toil and strife?
Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand.

CH: Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand,
Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand.
He will keep to the end, He’s your dearest Friend;
Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand.

Are you walking alone thro’ the shadows dim?
Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand.
Christ will comfort your heart: put your trust in Him.
Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand.

Would you follow the will of the risen Lord?
Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand.
Would you live in the light of His blessed word?
Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand.

Is your soul burdened down with its load of sin?
Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand.
Throw your heart open wide; let the Savior in.
Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand.