"Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" is a song with words by Jessie Brown Pounds and music by John Sylvester Fearis, written in 1897. The song gained huge popularity when it was used in William McKinley's funeral. It was subsequently a staple at funerals for decades, and there are dozens of recorded versions.
"Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" was originally a poem entitled "Beautiful Isle" [1] by Jessie Brown Pounds. The words were written in the winter of 1896, during a period of miserable weather. Persuaded or possibly forced to stay home, Pounds wrote the lyrics within an hour's time. [2] It was set to music by John S. Fearis, who had purchased the poem for five dollars, and the song was published in 1897.
In 1901, the song was sung by a quartet of young ladies at the beginning of McKinley's funeral in the First Methodist Episcopal Church in his hometown of Canton, Ohio. [3] [4] [2] [5]
A 1908 recording for Edison by Harry Anthony and James Harrison was very popular, as was a 1916 version by John McCormack. [6]
In 1969, Jake Hess won the Grammy Award for Best Inspirational Performance using this song as the title of his album. [7]
"Beautiful Isle" follows a 19th-century tradition of depicting paradise. [8] The song was written to contrast the difficulties on Earth with the tranquility of Heaven. The hearer is invited to think that in the long term, "all is well" because God is alive. The hymn has appeal at funerals because the lyrics state that "somewhere" we will "live anew". [2]
The song became highly popular for decades after McKinley’s service. The tune and lyrics have been praised as “beautiful,” [3] but praise for the song has not been universal.
Soon after the McKinley service, the song was panned by The Independent as a singular blot on the memory of the late president. [4] Woodrow Wilson, while governor of New Jersey, stated the song could be harmful if taught to children, as it was "silly" and "vague." [9] The Seventh-day Adventist publication Signs of the Times concurred with the future U. S. president, listing it among songs "inexpressibly weak and shallow". [10] At the same time, John D. Rockefeller was endorsing its use in church. [9]
In 1927, William Henry O'Connell, the Catholic Archbishop of Boston, banned the use of the tune in funerals, calling the hymn "inane" and "trashy." Cardinal O'Connell was concerned it was among a group of songs composed by authors whose "maudlin sentiment" overshadowed their faith. He threatened organists and choir directors who performed the piece with loss of their positions. [11] Several Boston protestant ministers joined in criticizing the song at that time. [12] Defenders of the hymn stated that descriptions of paradise were necessarily allegorical, and worried the ban would spread to other favorite hymns. [13] A 1928 Lutheran publication used O'Connell's exact words [14] when it described the song as a "sob-producer" that was a "flagrant outrage to faith and the ritual." [15]
In 1953, Donald H. V. Hallock. the Episcopal Bishop of Milwaukee, banned the use of this and other "popular" songs from use at Episcopal services as they did not conform to the rubric of the church. [16] Some Christian theologians have taken issue with the song because it describes Heaven in nebulous terms. [17]
Criticisms aside, others have noted that this sentimental song is a "joy to sing." [18]
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1929.
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1941.
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1949.
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1944.
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1943.
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1942.
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1941.
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1940.
"Pennies from Heaven" is a 1936 American popular song with music by Arthur Johnston and lyrics by Johnny Burke. It was introduced by Bing Crosby with Georgie Stoll and his Orchestra in the 1936 film of the same name.
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1934.
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1932.
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1931.
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1929.
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1928.
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1927.
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1925.
"Among My Souvenirs" is a 1927 song with words by Edgar Leslie and music by Horatio Nicholls.
For music from an individual year in the 1940s, go to 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49
Harry Anthony was an American tenor and pioneer recording artist. With James F. Harrison he made several recordings of religious music that were popular at the time. He was known as a solo artist, and also became a member of the American Quartet. He made records for most of the major recording companies of the day.
Tom Lemonier was an actor and composer of popular music during the ragtime era, particularly active in Black Vaudeville. His work featured in various musicals. Some of his work was published by the Gotham-Attucks Music Publishing Company.
