Pap tending his garden patch
The old gospel song “Oh I Want to See Him” is one I grew up singing in church. Since it’s a peppy tune it was always one of my favorites to sing with the choir.
When I researched the song I was surprised by how old it is.
Here’s what I found from the hymnstudiesblog site:
“The text was written and the tune was composed both by Rufus Henry Cornelius, who was born on Jan. 24, 1872, in Blount County, AL. The son of Joel and Martha Cornelius, he married Macon Burleson in 1895 at Ellis County, TX, and they had seven sons. For much of his life he worked in the music publishing business and compiled the songbookHarvest of Lightin 1913. His most famous hymn, “O I Want To See Him,” was first published in 1916 and was later owned by the Rodeheaver Co.”
Another site, Hymnary.org, offers a little more insight into Cornelius.
“R.H. Cornelius, known as Rufus Cornelius by his friends, was born in Blount Co., AL., January 24, 1872. He was educated in the public schools of Oneonta, the county seat. He began teaching in the public schools at an early age and at one time was associate Principle of the Oneonta High School. It was while teaching in the high school that he became interested in church music and began to study with some of the best teachers of the time. His first major teacher was the late A J Showalter in one of his normals at Eden, AL. He continued his study with this well known teacher until he had finished the courses a second time. He soon felt that the study of harmony was his first love in his study and soon became one of the best harmony teachers of his time.
Near the close of the century, he moved to Texas and settled in Midlothian, Ellis Co., where he established a publishing house and published many fine gospel song books that sold by the thousands. However, before coming to Texas, he was associated with The Showalter-Patton Co. who published his first compositions. Soon after coming to Texas, he devoted much time to teaching singing schools (Cornelius Normal Musical Institute) and soon became one of the best known teachers of that great state, often having many more calls for schools than he could have time for. In many cases his schools were dated years ahead. He had possessed a beautiful tenor voice and was of a very pleasant personality. This caused him to be loved by all who knew him. About 1914 he was called to Southwestern Baptist Seminary as head of the music department. After several years in the Baptist School in Ft Worth, Texas, he felt he was more needed back in the field of teaching and songbook publishing. Soon after coming to Texas, he married Maycon Temperance Burleson, who was a fine singer and musician and wrote many songs. During the first 32 years of the 20th Century, this couple of musicians blessed the State of Texas with their singing and teaching. Of all the fine songs written by Mr. Cornelius, “Oh, I want to See Him” will carry his memory for years to come. The Cornelius’ were members of the Baptist Church and were devoted Christians.”
Cornelius sounds a little like Pap: he had a great love of gospel music, sung with a tenor voice, and had a good personality.
We uploaded our version of “Oh I Want to See Him” back in 2008. There’s many reasons why this is one of my favorite videos of Pap singing.
- I love Pap’s lead singing on the verses
- I equally love the harmony with Paul on the chorus
- I love hearing Pap’s tapping foot, I could often hear it all through the church house when there was singing
- I love that Pap’s rhythm fits perfectly with Paul’s flat-top picking making for a full sound, my nephew Ben was also there adding his licks to fill the song out
But most of all I love the way Pap sings the lyrics. Even though the song was written well before Pap was even born, the words fit his outlook on life perfectly. He always felt the Lord was a real friend to him, a friend who would lead him through this world of woe while giving him much to sing about along the way.
When in service for the King dark may be the night,
But I’ll cling more close to Him, He will give me light;
Satan’s snares may vex my soul, turn my thoughts aside;
But my Lord goes ahead, leads what’er betide.
Chorus:
Oh, I want to see Him, look upon His face,
There to sing forever of His saving grace;
On the streets of Glory let me lift my voice;
Cares all past, home at last, ever to rejoice.
As I travel through this land singing as I go,
Pointing souls to Calvary– to the crimson flow,
Many arrows pierce my soul from without, within;
But my Lord leads me on, through Him I must win.
When before me billows rise from the mighty deep,
Then my Lord directs my bark; He doth safely keep,
And He leads me gently on through this world of woe;
He’s a real friend to me, oh, I love Him so.
I hope you enjoyed the song as much as I do!
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Tipper
Blogging about Appalachia since 2008
