JOSEPH LOONEY
Sung by: Ollie (Mrs. Oscar) Gilbert
Recorded in Timbo, AR, 7/18/53

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Come, all you lovely people
Who say you love the Lord.
Come fill his holy promise
According to his word.
He speaks in tones of thunder;
He speaks in tones of love;
Of such are little children
As the kingdom above.

Come, all you lovely Christians,
In Jesus you demand.
Come be a valiant soldier
For Jesus crucified.
When this war is over,
We'll lay our armor down
And fly away to Jesus
To wear a starry crown.

There were a little family,
When they were all alive,
Composed of wife and husband,
And children, they were five.
His name was Joseph Looney;
They lived in peace and love
'Til it pleased the Lord in Glory
To carry him above.

He leaves his wife and children
In this vain world of sin,
Where trouble's now at hand--
Deep sorrow now within.
He says to wife and children,
"What makes it grieve you so?
The blessed Lord has called me,
And I'm prepared to go."

Then, turning to his father,
He says, "Oh, meet me there.
And you, too, my dear mother,
This world so bright and fair.
To trust alone in Jesus
Through trouble and despair,
To meet your son in heaven,
To dwell forever there."

Then, turning to his brother,
He looked so earnestly.
He says, "I hear your voice;
Your face I cannot see.
I see a star in Glory;
I see my mansion there.
I see the holy angels,
My soul away to bear."

To his brothers and his sisters,
"Oh, are you all prepared?
If not, I pray the Lord
Your precious lives be spared
To trust alone in Jesus,
The only way I know
To make a preparations
To meet your brother Joe."

All Songs Recorded by John Quincy Wolf, Jr., unless otherwise noted

The John Quincy Wolf Folklore Collection
Lyon College, Batesville, Arkansas
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