Please try to trace an old English or Welsh song which is believed to
be in the repertoire of Aled Jones, callled  " I cannot keep from
singing" . A friend suggests it may be listed in Aled Jones' new
CD,"Aled" under "My LIfe Flows on ". I am in the country and have no
access to investigate pesonally. The song`s author is unknown, It may
be an old " Shaker" song. A friend, an accomplished singer, very much
wants, subject to copyright or other limitations,to sing it in a
forthcoming seasonal charity concert. The music may be published on a
song-sheet. Any help would be greatly appreciated. My name is Richard
Leigh. My email address is   richard@richardleigh.free-online.co.uk
and my address is  The Mill House Lastingham North Riding Yorkshire
England and my phone/fax number is 01751- 417769

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Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 22 Nov 2002 22:37 PST

Could the title of the song be "How Can I Keep from Singing," rather
than "I Cannot Keep from Singing"?

Greetings--

While there is an American hymn "I Cannot Keep from Singing" 
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=sm1870&fileName=sm/sm1885/07600/07679/mussm07679.db&recNum=0&itemLink=S?ammem/mussm:@FILREQ(@field(TITLE+@od1(I+can+not+keep+from+singing++))+@FIELD(COLLID+sm1870))&linkText=0

I believe the song you are seeking is, indeed, "How Can I Keep from
Singing," as Pinkfreud suggested. This song is part of the Aled Jones
album under the title "My Life Flows On," which is the first line of
the song.


"How Can I Keep from Singing" is often listed as an "old Shaker song"
or an "old Quaker song."  Though popular among some Quakers today, it
certainly does not trace it's heritage to that group, since they
traditionally eschewed music and there are no "old" Quaker songs.

Actually, the words were written by Robert Lowry, an American Baptist
minister, who wrote about 500 gospel songs, including "Shall We Gather
at the River." http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/l/o/lowry_r.htm

 The music was composed by Ira David Sankey.
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/s/a/sankey_id.htm


Here are the lyrics to "How Can I Keep from Singing":
My life flows on in endless song;
Above earth’s lamentation
I hear the sweet though far off hymn
That hails a new creation:
Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear the music ringing;
It finds an echo in my soul—
How can I keep from singing?

What though my joys and comforts die?
The Lord my Savior liveth;
What though the darkness gather round!
Songs in the night He giveth:
No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that refuge clinging;
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can I keep from singing?

I lift mine eyes; the cloud grows thin;
I see the blue above it;
And day by day this pathway smoothes
Since first I learned to love it:
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
A fountain ever springing:
All things are mine since I am His—
How can I keep from singing?

You can purchase the sheetmusic online at musicnotes.com
http://www.musicnotes.com/searchresults.asp?bookmark=0&sortby=&cookie=yes&Query=%28%40Docsubject+how+and+can+and+i+and+keep+and+from+and+singing%29&querystring=%3Cb%3Etitle%3A%3C%2Fb%3E+how+and+can+and+i+and+keep+and+from+and+singing%2C+&only=E&whatsearch=song

This song is an old favorite of mine, and I'm happy to be able to
share it with others.

Nellie Bly

There is also a very similar song by the Irish singer, Enya. It is not
attributed; only described as "Tr" which I assume is traditional.
Clearly it starts off as the same song, though. Words are as follows:

My life goes on in endless song
above earth's lamentations.
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
that hails a new creation.

Through all the tulmult and the strife
I hear its music ringing.
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?

When tyrants tremble in their fear
and hear their death knell ringing,
when friends rejoice both far and near,
how can I keep from singing?

In prison cell and dungeon vile
our thoughts to them are winging
When friends by shame are undefiled
how can I keep from singing?