Carolina In The Morning

"Carolina in the Morning" was written way back in 1922 but it remains a popular song nearly 100 years later! The list of artists who have sung it is long, including Al Jolson, Danny Winchell, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Jimmy Durante, Dinah Shore, Judy Garland and Danny Kaye. It has been featured on shows like "I Love Lucy," "My Three Sons" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show."

The song was written by Gus Kahn (words) and Walter Donaldson (music), neither of whom lived in the Carolinas, oddly enough! It debuted on Broadway in 1922.

Since we are from South Carolina, we personally think the lyrics are quite appropriate! 

Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the morning
No one could be sweeter than my sweetie when I meet her in the morning
Where the morning glories twine around the door
Whispering pretty stories I long to hear once more

Strolling with my girlie where the dew is pearly early in the morning
Butterflies all flutter up and kiss each buttercup at dawning
If I had Aladdin's lamp for only a day
I'd make a wish and here's what I'd say
Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the morning

Available on "Joyful Harps Encore!" or as an MP3 download.

For the Beauty of the Earth

Folliott Pierpoint was a scholar who lived in Bath, England in the 1800s. He was just 29 when the beautiful countryside inspired him to write what is now a favorite harvest hymn: For the Beauty of the Earth. But he didn't write it as a harvest hymn.

Pierpoint originally intended the poem to be eucharistic, that is, a hymn sung for mass or the Lord's Supper. The chorus he wrote reflected that intention. It said, 

Lord of all, to Thee we raise

This our sacrifice of praise.

He even titled it "The Sacrifice of Praise," which was how it appeared in an 1864 hymn book. But later the words were slightly altered to says instead:

Lord of all, to Thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

Since then, it has become associate with the season of harvest and thanksgiving. At a time when we reap and gather the Lord's material blessings in our lives, it's good to step back and not only thank Him but appreciate the non-material blessings He has given us as well.

For the beauty of the earth

For the Glory of the skies, 

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies: 

For the beauty of each hour

Of the day and of the night, 

Hill and vale and tree and flow'r 

Sun and Moon and stars of light 

For the joy of human love,

Brother, sister, parent, child.

Friends on earth and friends above

For all gentle thoughts and mild.

For each perfect gift of Thine

To our race so freely given.

Graces human and divine

Flow'rs of earth and buds of heav'n.

Chorus

Lord of all, to Thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

This hymn is found on our "Joyful Harps Hymns" CD or you can purchase the song as an MP3 download.