Search Results

Text authorities

The Old Parson's Story

Author: Eugene Judson Hall Appears in 4 hymnals First Line: They say I am old and forgetful Lyrics: 1 They say I am old and forgetful, My style is as slow as a snail; My doctrines are all out of fashion, My mind is beginning to fail; They want a more flowery preacher, More full of forgiveness and love, To talk to them less about brimstone, And more of the mansions above. 2 For fifty long years I’ve been preaching, I’ve studied my old Bible well; I always have felt it my duty To show them the horrors of hell; Perhaps I’ve been wrong in my notions, I’ve followed the Scriptures, I know, And never have knowingly broken The vows that I took long ago. 3 I’ve seen many trials and changes, I’ve fought a good fight against wrong; The gals have grown up to be women, The boys have got manly and strong; The honest old deacons have vanished, Their pure lives have come to a close; They sleep in the silent old churchyard, Where soon I shall lie in repose. 4 My flock has been always complaining, The church was not rightly arranged, They voted to have a high steeple, The gallery had to be changed; They built up a fanciful vestry, They bought the best organ in town; They chopped the old pews into kindling, And tumbled the tall pulpit down. 5 And now, to my pain and my sorrow, They say, "the old parson must go"; I know I am childish and feeble, My steps are unsteady and slow. They want "a more spirited speaker," I’m told the new deacons have said, "To dance round the platform and holler, And wake up the souls that are dead." 6 I’ll try to believe that what happens Will always come out for the best; They tell me my labor is ended, ’Tis time I was taking a rest; I’ve little of comfort or riches, I’m certain my conscience is clear; And when in the churchyard I’m sleeping, Perhaps they may wish I was here. Used With Tune: [They say I am old and forgetful] Text Sources: Lyrics of Home-Land (Chicago: S. C. Griggs, 1881)

Tunes

Tune authorities

[They say I am old an' forgetful]

Appears in 2 hymnals Composer and/or Arranger: E. O. Excell Incipit: 53332 32211 17125 Used With Text: The Old Parson's Story

Instances

Published text-tune combinations (hymns) from specific hymnals

The Old Parson's Story

Author: Eugene Judson Hall Hymnal: The Cyber Hymnal #12455 First Line: They say I am old and forgetful Lyrics: 1 They say I am old and forgetful, My style is as slow as a snail; My doctrines are all out of fashion, My mind is beginning to fail; They want a more flowery preacher, More full of forgiveness and love, To talk to them less about brimstone, And more of the mansions above. 2 For fifty long years I’ve been preaching, I’ve studied my old Bible well; I always have felt it my duty To show them the horrors of hell; Perhaps I’ve been wrong in my notions, I’ve followed the Scriptures, I know, And never have knowingly broken The vows that I took long ago. 3 I’ve seen many trials and changes, I’ve fought a good fight against wrong; The gals have grown up to be women, The boys have got manly and strong; The honest old deacons have vanished, Their pure lives have come to a close; They sleep in the silent old churchyard, Where soon I shall lie in repose. 4 My flock has been always complaining, The church was not rightly arranged, They voted to have a high steeple, The gallery had to be changed; They built up a fanciful vestry, They bought the best organ in town; They chopped the old pews into kindling, And tumbled the tall pulpit down. 5 And now, to my pain and my sorrow, They say, "the old parson must go"; I know I am childish and feeble, My steps are unsteady and slow. They want "a more spirited speaker," I’m told the new deacons have said, "To dance round the platform and holler, And wake up the souls that are dead." 6 I’ll try to believe that what happens Will always come out for the best; They tell me my labor is ended, ’Tis time I was taking a rest; I’ve little of comfort or riches, I’m certain my conscience is clear; And when in the churchyard I’m sleeping, Perhaps they may wish I was here. Languages: English Tune Title: [They say I am old and forgetful]

The Old Parson's Story

Author: Eugene J. Hall Hymnal: The Gospel in Song #298 (1885) First Line: They say I am old an' forgetful Languages: English Tune Title: [They say I am old an' forgetful]

The old parson's story

Author: Jane E. Hall Hymnal: Echoes of Eden #d137 (1884) First Line: They say I am old and forgetful Languages: English

View 1 more instance

People

Authors, composers, editors, etc.

E. O. Excell

1851 - 1921 Person Name: Edwin Othello Excell Composer of "[They say I am old and forgetful]" in The Cyber Hymnal Edwin Othello Excel USA 1851-1921. Born at Uniontown, OH, he started working as a bricklayer and plasterer. He loved music and went to Chicago to study it under George Root. He married Eliza Jane “Jennie” Bell in 1871. They had a son, William, in 1874. A member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he became a prominent publisher, composer, song leader, and singer of music for church, Sunday school, and evangelistic meetings. He founded singing schools at various locations in the country and worked with evangelist, Sam Jones, as his song leader for two decades. He established a music publishing house in Chicago and authored or composed over 2,000 gospel songs. While assisting Gypsy Smith in an evangelistic campaign in Louisville, KY, he became ill, and died in Chicago, IL. He published 15 gospel music books between 1882-1925. He left an estate valued at $300,000. John Perry

J. E. Hall

Person Name: Jane E. Hall Author of "The old parson's story" in Echoes of Eden Hall, Jane E., of Battleborough, Vermont, has in I. D. Sankey's Sacred Songs and Solos, 18S1, under the initials "J. E. H.," (1) "The love that Jesus had for me" (Love of Jesus); (2) "We shall have a new name in that land" (The New Name). The music in Sankey to these hymns is also by the same person. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)