The Handcart Song (Robinson)
Solos to Sing, Submitted Music (1998-2006)
Ye Saints who dwell on Europe’s shore, prepare yourselves for many more,
To leave behind your native land, for sure God’s judgements are at hand.
For you must cross the raging main before the promised land you gain,
And with the faithful make a start to cross the plains with your handcart.
The land that boasts of so much light, we know they’re all as dark as night,
Where poor men toil and want for bread, And rich men’s dogs are better fed.
The land that boasts of liberty you ne’er again would wish to see
When you from England make a start to cross the plains with your handcart.
Cho.
For some must push and some must pull as we go marching up the hill;
So merrily on the way we go until we reach the valley O!
As on the road the carts were pulled ‘Twould very mush surprise the world,
To see the old and feeble dame thus lend a hand to pull the same.
And maidens fair will dance and sing, young men more happy than a king,
And children, too will laugh and play; their strength increasing day by day.
But some will say it is too bad the Saints upon the foot to pad
And more than that to pull a load as they go marching o’er the road
But then we say it is the plan to gather up the best of men
And women too, for none but they will ever travel in this way.
Push, push, push and pull. March, march up the hill;
Merrily, merrily, merrily go until we reach the valley O!
Long before the valley’s gained, we will be met upon the plains
With music sweet and friends so dear, and fresh supplies our hearts to cheer.
And then with music and with song how cheerfully we’ll march along,
And thank the day we made a start to cross the plains with our handcart.
When you get there among the rest, obedient be and you’ll b e blessed,
And in God’s chambers be shut in while judgements cleanse the earth from sin.
We do know it will be so; God’s servant spoke it long ago.
We say it is high time to start. For some must push and some must pull,
Until we reach the valley O!
Text: John Daniel Thompson McAllister
Music: John Daniel Thompson McAllister
Arranged By: Tammy Simister Robinson
Album: Submitted Music (1998-2006)
Composition Date: 2004
More Info: CMS 2004