Beaubassin Take Deux

Let's take another stab at a remake 
of the old folk song AURA LEE.
Imagine it as an uptempo bluegrass number, 
with a tempo of 90 beats per minute.
With this second revision of the lyrics, 
it should now be usable as a new Canadian folk song.
Beaubassin was an Acadian community 
on the Isthmus of Chignecto, 
in present-day Nova Scotia.

BEAUBASSIN

Hear the distant whistle blow, See the morning dew

Though my home is far away, here I am with you.

Gannets linger near the shore, will they fly away?

Here we are at Beaubassin, shall we greet the day?

When my heart is sad and blue, burdened and distressed

Then I hear your loving words, and I am at rest

Speak again, speak, my love, as in olden days

Cheer my fainting, weary soul, fill my lips with praise.

Hear the distant whistle blow, See the sun go down

We are still at Beaubassin, sleepy little town

Day is done, day is done, supper time is through

Though my home is far away, I am here with you.

words by Gary Hicks

to the tune “Aura Lee” by George Poulton (nineteenth century)

Free! "For the Storehouse" Available in Hymn Sheet

The new hymn “For the Storehouse of Your Mercy” is now available in hymn sheet with chords.

I consider this new hymn to be among the best I have written.

For the storehouse of Your mercy, for Your persevering grace,

From my heart I speak thanksgiving, From my lips I offer praise.

Was there ever deeper goodness than is offered from above?

Such an endless stream of kindness, such a reservoir of love!

I was blind to heaven’s mercy til the day I spoke Your name;

Full of fears and fond delusions, full of deadening guilt and shame.

Then Your mercy sought and found me, holy kindness drew me in,

And Your grace roared like the ocean, overwhelming all my sin.

Down from heaven, out from Calvary, still it flows to save and heal:

To the nations, for each person, there is mercy rich and real.

The transforming grace of Jesus, who is mighty still to save,

Floods the earth and fills the heavens, kills despair and robs the grave.

When the earth at last shall perish, and the heavens burn away,

Then in worlds yet uncreated we will thrive in endless day.

And the mercy of our Saviour, shining then more brightly still,

We will celebrate forever, on New Zion’s holy hill.

Set to the American folk tune “Beach Spring”, we have used this hymn on several occasions at church, led by the Praise Band. It will be sung next Sunday in our traditional service by one of our choirs.

You can receive a PDF copy via email, free upon request.

My email address is caedmullen@gmail.com

A chord sheet and lyric sheet are also available at no charge.