How Can I Keep from Singing

• 2 Samuel 22:2-7
  (hymns)
• Job 35:10
  (hymns)
• Psalm 18:1-6
  (hymns)
• Psalm 19:4
  (hymns)
• Psalm 30:5
  (hymns)
• Psalm 34:1
  (hymns)
• Psalm 46:1-7
  (hymns)
• Psalm 61
  (hymns)
• Psalm 62:2
  (hymns)
• Psalm 62:7
  (hymns)
• Psalm 92:15
  (hymns)
• Psalms 95-96
  (hymns)
• Psalm 98
  (hymns)
• Psalm 100
  (hymns)
• Psalm 146:2
  (hymns)
• Psalm 150
  (hymns)
• Isaiah 51:1-11
  (hymns)
• Isaiah 52:7
  (hymns)
• Habakkuk 3:16-19
  (hymns)
• Matthew 7:24
  (hymns)
• Matthew 14:22-33
  (hymns)
• Matthew 28:16-20
  (hymns)
• John 7:38
  (hymns)
• John 12:44-45
  (hymns)
• John 14:1
  (hymns)
• John 14:27
  (hymns)
• John 16:33
  (hymns)
• Acts 16:25-30
  (hymns)
• Romans 4:1-25
  (hymns)
• Romans 5:1-5
  (hymns)
• Romans 8:37-39
  (hymns)
• 1 Corinthians 3:21-23
  (hymns)
• 2 Corinthians 4:5-12
  (hymns)
• 2 Corinthians 4:14-18
  (hymns)
• 2 Corinthians 5:14-17
  (hymns)
• 2 Corinthians 11:22-30
  (hymns)
• Ephesians 5:15-20
  (hymns)
• Philippians 1:12-30
  (hymns)
• Philippians 3:17-4:9
  (hymns)
• Colossians 3:15-17
  (hymns)
• 1 Thessalonians 6:16-24 (hymns)
• Hebrews 12:1-3
  (hymns)
• Revelation 21
  (hymns)

• Year C, Christmas season, First Sunday after Christmas Day
  This is recommended for Year C, Christmas season, First Sunday after Christmas Day by 3 hymnal lectionary indexes including Glory to God: the Presbyterian Hymnal #821.
• Year C, Lent, Fourth Sunday
  This is recommended for Year C, Lent, Fourth Sunday by 3 hymnal lectionary indexes including Glory to God: the Presbyterian Hymnal #821.

Text:

The text of this hymn first appeared in The New York Observer (1868), titles "Always Rejoicing," and attributed to "Pauline T." It appeared without attribution in The Christian Pioneer, Vol 23, page 53. William Bradbury included it in Bright Jewels for the Sunday School, published in 1869. Bradbury died a year before the collection was published. Robert Lowry was the designated editor. In that book, the initials “R.L.” appear above the music where the composer is credited, but the space for the author of the text is blank. However, “Shall We Gather at the River” (number 110 in Bright Jewels), which was unquestionably written entirely by Lowry, is attributed in the same way. The text was originally written in three long stanzas. Modern hymnals split the stanzas in half; the second half of the original second stanza is used as a refrain, and the first half of the original third stanza is omitted. It usually appears with four stanzas and a refrain. The theme of the text is Christian peace and joy, even in times of trial.

Tune:

Robert Lowry wrote the tune HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING (also called ENDLESS SONG from the opening line of the first stanza) to accompany these words, and it appeared with the text in Bright Jewels in 1869. It was originally written in triple meter (3/2), but some modern hymnals have changed the tune to a slightly irregular duple meter (4/4) with a little syncopation. The tune is pentatonic with a consistent rhythmic pattern (in its original form), and works well when sung unaccompanied.

When/Why/How

This hymn can be used anytime as a reminder of the joy of faith, especially in times of trial. Most arrangements of this tune are rather quiet and have a peaceful mood, such as “Reflections on 'Endless Song'” a thoughtfully paced handbell arrangement, or the piano solo version in the collection ”Then Sings My Soul.” A simple arrangement suitable for smaller choirs, using the altered version of the tune, is “How Can I Keep from Singing” for SAB choir and keyboard accompaniment. “Endless Song” is another choral arrangement by Douglas Wagner using Lowry's original meter. One setting that emphasizes less of the quiet peace and more of the joy of singing is “How Can I Keep from Singing” by Robert A. Hobby with an upbeat brass and organ accompaniment.

Tiffany Shomsky,
Hymnary.org

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