One of my favorite tunes is Danny Boy. It’s not often that you hear a completely fresh spin on a classic song that makes you pause and smile the way this one did for me. I absolutely loved the new lyrics you’ll hear on this video.
Mack Wilberg, has long been a composer and arranger I have admired and tried to learn from. He recently performed his new arrangement of “I Would Be True” that was paired with a powerful video that should make any musician smile.
The video shows behind the scenes of the more than 500 volunteers who participate in the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square as well as the Orchestra at Temple Square. This choir has been referred to as America’s Choir and possibly the best choir in the world. It’s 100% volunteer and boy do they sound amazing. The video starts out by saying “Every week, 500 volunteers come together to love their neighbors around the world…”
The reality is that every week, hundreds of thousands of musicians come together to share their talents and show love to their neighbors by serving in their congregations. When you think of the number of pianists, organists, singers and other talent that gathers each week to worship, most all of us volunteers, it is AMAZING!
The song you’ll hear in this video is “Danny Boy” but the words have been swapped to lyrics penned by American Congregationalist Howard A. Walter, from around 1906. Walter sent this as a poem to his mother while he was teaching in Japan and titled it “My Creed.” His mother submitted the poem to Harper’s Magazine for publication.
Additional lyrics were added by David Warner, long-time collaborator of Mack Wilberg, for this song.
Additional lyrics were added by David Warner, long-time collaborator of Mack Wilberg, for this song.
The lyrics used by the choir, sung to Danny Boy are:
I would be true, for there are those who trust me; I would be pure, for there are those who care; I would be strong, for there is much to suffer; I would be brave, for there is much to dare. I would be friend of all, the foe, the friendless; I would be giving and forget the gift; I would be humble, for I know my weakness; I would look up and laugh and love and lift.
I would be meek in bearing other’s burdens; I would be soft toward sorrows not my own; I would be swift to love and serve my neighbor; I would be kind, for many weep alone. I would be prayerful through each busy moment; I would be constant in my touch with God; I would be tuned to hear His slightest whisper, I would have faith to keep the path Christ trod.
