1 Thro' the mist of years I can seem to see
The church of my childhood days;
And it's mem'ries sweet, so with joy replete,
Shall live in my heart alway.
Chorus:
Then on memory's page I can see again,
The church by the side of the road;
And wherever I roam, it is guiding me home,
The church by the side of the road.
2 And the old, old songs that we used to sing,
I'm singing them o'er and o'er;
They give strength and cheer, when the clouds draw near,
And lead to the other shore. [Chorus]
3 At the place of pray'r, in that little church,
I knelt at my mother's side,
There the Lord I found, it is holy ground,
The One who for sinners died. [Chorus]
4 There's a hallowed spot 'neath the old pine tree,
Where mother was laid to rest;
What a joy 'twill be her dear face to see,
With Him that I love the best. [Chorus]
Source: Seth Parker's Hymnal #53
William C. Poole was born and raised on a farm in Maryland. His parents belonged to the Methodist church. He graduated from Washington College and became a Methodist minister in Wilmington, Delaware area. He was pastor of McCabe Memorial, Richardson Park and other churches. In 1913 he was superintendent of the Anti-Saloon League of Delaware. He wrote about five hundred hymns. The writing was done as recreation and a diversion from his pastoral work. His goal in writing as well as in being a minister was to help people.
Dianne Shapiro, from "The Singers and Their Songs: sketches of living gospel hymn writers" by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (Chicago: The Rodeheaver Company, 1916) Go to person page >
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