By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
APRIL 13, 2018 | One of my earlier recollections came when about age 4-5-6, when going to church with my parents. It was at Walnut Creek Baptist Church, still a vibrant congregation near Allentown, Ga.
For some reason, at that young age, my favorite hymn was No. 70. Now what the name of that song was, I just don’t remember. But it might have been “I Feel Like Traveling On.” You remember the lyrics.
My heavenly home is bright and fair I feel like traveling on
No pain nor death can enter there I feel like traveling on
Yes I feel like traveling on I feel like traveling on
My heavenly home is bright and fair I feel like traveling on
Its glittering towers the sun outshines I feel like traveling on
That heavenly mansion shall be mine I feel like traveling on
Yes I feel like traveling on…
The Lord has been so good to me I feel like traveling on
Until that blessed home I see I feel like traveling on
Yes I feel like traveling on…
You might remember that when I wake up about every morning, there’s some song traveling around in my brain. It stays there through walking the dog, through breakfast, and on the way to my office. Usually by the time I settle down at the office, other things kick in, and the song is forgotten. Except sometimes. That “song of the day” can return in the afternoon. Various type of lyrics, or just a tune, most from my earlier days, often pop into the mind each morning. The other morning it was “Oklahoma, OK,” and I can’t tell you why. Another day it was the “Traveling on” song that came to my mind.
Just as modern kids today have their iPhones and music players, those of us growing up in and after World War II were in another world with our popular music. And those popular lyrics, and music, of those days are in my mind often.
In my growing up years, radio was today’s television, giving news, but mostly playing music. Growing up in Macon, we were fascinated with a new sound from Macon’s own: Little Richard. Man, that was new and different music for us! But we also remember the songs of Sinatra, Crosby, Peggy Lee, Nat “King” Cole, Perry Como, and many others of that day. Spike Jones came on with his zany lyrics and surprising sounds. We loved ‘em all.
The Bibb County School System employed Miss Henrietta Collins who helped us appreciate music. She went to the public schools with her portable record player, pulled out classical records, and had us listen to them. We particularly remember when Miss Collins instructed us to listen to the “surprise” in Haydn’s Surprise Symphony. She also played the standard classics, from Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, Bach, Brahms and Handel. That gave us an early appreciation of a music I had never known before.
Later in life, in Metro Atlanta, we were re-introduced to classical music. That was from 40 years ago from WABE-FM, presenting symphonic music during the daytime. Few radio stations today concentrate on the classical masters. Today the classics are among the channels on Sirius on my car radio, and I often enjoy hearing these classics again.
Yes, the first gospel song I remember was Number 70 in an older Baptist hymnal. Can anyone tell me, for sure, the name of it?
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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