[Dixielandjazz] Fw: Who wrote "Precious Lord Take My Hand"?

[Stan McDonald]

Dear DJML, 

Sorry, I left out the "ML" in your email address, so am forwarding this correctly. Thank you.  

Stan McDonald
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Stan McDonald 
To: Edythe Harris 
Cc: Ellen ; Peter Gerler ; Tony Pappas ; dixielandjazz at islandnet.com 
Sent: Monday, May 19, 2008 12:15 AM
Subject: Re: Who wrote "Precious Lord Take My Hand"?


Hi Edythe, 

Thank you for reminding me in this touching  way of our Precious Lord. I knew it was written by Tommy Dorsey  -- and not the swing band leader of the same name -- but was unaware of the composer's heart-wrenching circumstances at the time.

I used to play and even sing it with the former band. I remember the closing words, "...By the river I stand, guide my feet, hold my hand. Precious Lord take my hand and lead me on."  God bless you and yours.

With love to you and Bill, from Stan, Ellen and our precious Andy McDonald

PS: On a lighter note, and not to be sacreligious, but did you know there was a Chinese version? Well, I once had a pianist who misheard the last line and thought it was: "Bind my feet, hold my hand...." (He'Il never live that down!)  

DJML Members: I don't know the date or provenance of the letter below, but wanted to share it. Edythe Harris (nee Roberts) is the daughter of one of the most wonderful people and best banjoists I will ever know: Gil Roberts, who recorded with the Blue Ribbon Syncopators (in Chicago) in the 1920's; played all over Europe into the 1930's; for King Farouk's harem in Egypt; and ultimately with my band, the New Orleans Jazz Doctors, at U. Mass from about 1955 into the 1960's and a few more times as late as 1987. I have many tape recordings from those days. Gil also recorded with the Black Eagles after 1981 when I left them. He passed away in 2002, at the age of 106 -- in the loving hands of our Precious Lord.

-- Original Message ----- 
  From: Edythe Harris 
  To: delores.benabou at verizon.net ; stanmm at comcast.net ; Tony.Pappas1 at verizon.net ; whitsettrios at yahoo.com ; cbat01202 at yahoo.com ; j.whitsett at comcast.net ; Harris.charles at comcast.net 
  Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2008 1:10 PM
  Subject: Fwd: Who wrote "Precious Lord Take My Hand"?


  ---------- Forwarded message ----------
  From: Ernestine Edmonds <eperry_ed at yahoo.com>
  Date: May 16, 2008 9:56 AM
  Subject: Who wrote "Precious Lord Take My Hand"?
  To: Joan D Bethea <jdbeth3 at aol.com>

  Who wrote "Precious Lord Take My Hand"? 

  Who Wrote "Precious Lord"? "THE BIRTH OF THE SONG PRECIOUS LORD" Back in 1932, I was 32 years old and a fairly new husband. My wife, Nettie and I were living in a little apartment on Chicago's Southside. One hot August afternoon I had to go to St. Louis, where I was to be the featured soloist at a large revival meeting.  I didn't want to go. 

  Nettie was in the last month of pregnancy with our first  child.  But a lot of people were expecting me inSt. Louis. I kissed Nettie good-bye, clattered downstairs to our Model A and in a fresh Lake Michigan breeze, chugged out of Chicago on Route 66. 
      However, outside the city, I  discovered that in my anxiety at leaving, I had forgotten my music case.  I wheeled around and headed back.  I found  Nettie sleeping peacefully.  I hesitated by her bed... something was strongly telling me to stay.  But eager to get on my way and not wanting to disturb Nettie, I shrugged off the feeling and quietly slipped out of the room with my music. 

      The next  night, in the steaming St. Louis heat, the crowd called on me to sing again and again.  When I finally sat down a messenger boy ran up with a Western Union telegram.  I ripped open the envelope.  Pasted  on the yellow sheet were the words:  YOUR WIFE JUST  DIED. 

      People  were happily singing and clapping around me but I could hardly keep from crying  out.  I rushed to a phone and called home.  All I  could hear on the other end was "Nettie is dead. Nettie is dead." 

      When I  got back I learned that Nettie had given birth to a boy  I swung between grief and joy.  Yet that night the baby died.  I buried Nettie and our little boy together in the same casket. Then I fell apart.  For days I closeted myself.  I felt that God had done me an injustice.  I didn't want to serve Him any more or write gospel songs. 

      I just wanted to go back to that jazz world I once knew so well. But then as I hunched alone in that dark apartment those first sad days, I thought  back to the afternoon I went to St. Louis   Something kept telling me to stay with Nettie.  Was that something God?  Oh, if I  had paid more attention to Him that day,  I would have stayed and been with Nettie when she died. 

      From that moment on I vowed to listen more closely to Him.  But still I was lost in grief.  Everyone was kind to me especially a friend, Professor Fry, who seemed to know what I needed. On the following Saturday evening he took me up to Malone's Poro College, a neighborhood music school.  It was quiet, the late evening sun crept through the curtained windows.  I sat down at the piano and my hands began to browse ov er the keys.  Something happened to me then.  I felt at peace.  I felt  as though I could reach out and touch God.  I found myself playing a melody, once into my head the words just seemed to fall into  place: 

      Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand!  I  am tired, I am weak, I am worn, through the storm, through the night lead me on to the light, Take my hand, precious Lord, Lead me home. 
      The  Lord gave me these words and melody.  He also healed my spirit. 

      I learned that when we are in our deepest grief, when we feel farthest from God, this is when He is closest and when we are  most open to His restoring power. 

      And so I go on living for God willingly and joyfully until that day comes when He will take me and gently lead me home

      -Tommy Dorsey

      Did you know that Tommy Dorsey wrote this song?  I surely didn't.   What a wonderful story of how God CAN heal the brokenhearted!  Beautiful, isn't it? 

      Worth the reading wasn't it? Think on the message for a while....................hope you will share