Only Remembered (Sankey hymn) - pipe organ, St Mewan Church

The 19th century Gospel hymn "Only Remembered" - no. 798 in the 1200-piece edition of Sankey's "Sacred Songs and Solos" - played by Peter Tylor on the 1909 Hele pipe organ at St Mewan Church near St Austell, Cornwall (NPOR D08358), 11/11/2019.
Fading away like the stars of the morning,
Losing their light in the glorious sun--
Thus would we pass from the earth and its toiling,
Only remembered by what we have done.
(Chorus:)
Only remembered, only remembered,
Only remembered by what we have done;
Thus would we pass from the earth and its toiling,
Only remembered by what we have done.
Shall we be missed, though by others succeeded,
Reaping the fields we in springtime have sown?
Yes, but the sowers must pass from their labours,
Ever remembered by what they have done.
(Chorus)
Only the truth that in life we have spoken,
Only the seed that on earth we have sown;
These shall pass onward when we are forgotten,
Fruits of the harvest and what we have done.
(Chorus)
Oh, when the Saviour shall make up His jewels,
When the bright crowns of rejoicing are won,
Then shall His weary and faithful disciples
All be remembered by what they have done.
(Chorus)
(Words by Horatius Bonar, 1808-1889, alt.; music by Ira David Sankey, 1840-1908)
This old Sankey hymn - one of the comparative few set to music by Sankey himself - has (albeit with partly rewritten lyrics) enjoyed a new lease of life in recent years, especially following its use in the National Theatre's stage production of "War Horse", based on Michael Morpurgo's WW1-set novel of the same name. Having heard the Carclaze Singers perform it as a choir piece at Carclaze Chapel a couple of days earlier, I decided to record this instrumental version before our own choir practice on the evening of Armistice Day.
#SankeyHymns #Remembrance #WarHorse #PipeOrgan #ChurchOrgan #GospelHymns #Hymns #ChurchMusic #OnlyRemembered #HoratiusBonar #IraDavidSankey #StMewan #StMewanChurch #PeterTylor

[@ogbujichristopher305]

Each time I listened to this song, I ask myself what will my end be. What will I be remembered for. Will people from their heart truly say he was a good man?

[@songster88]

More obscure gospel hymns like this are very special, and should never be forgotten, but loved and treasured by a world who never knew they existed. By God's grace, maybe someday.....

[@PeterTylor]

I very much agree - although, that said, the (more or less secular) "War Horse" version of this particular song seems to be quite well known, judging by the number of recordings there are of it on here!

[@songster88]

Peter, you're right to call this the "secular" version, as virtually the entire song has been "re-worked" and the Christian references discarded. But grateful that your version included the original lyrics printed at the bottom. Thanks again.

[@PeterTylor]

@@songster88 Thank you too - I include the lyrics in my descriptions where possible, for the convenience of anyone who wants to sing along, or otherwise finds them helpful!

[@dennisbarnes8447]

Absolutely beautiful... today I played at a funeral of a young woman...I used this piece as a prelude.

[@PeterTylor]

Thanks Dennis - what a sad occasion that must have been, you made a very suitable choice.

[@nathanielchikamso2340]

Perfect piece...great fingers, bringing out the song as it is... Only remembered by what we have done.🤔

[@PeterTylor]

Thank you - and so true!

[@LancehonofreBungihan]

1 Fading away like the stars of the morning, Losing their light in the glorious sun-- Thus would we pass from the earth and its toiling, Only remembered by what we have done. Refrain: Only remembered, only remembered, Only remembered by what we have done; Thus would we pass from the earth and its toiling, Only remembered by what we have done. 2 Shall we be miss'd though by others succeeded, Reaping the fields we in springtime have sown? No, for the sowers may pass from their labors, Only remembered by what they have done. [Refrain] 3 Only the truth that in life we have spoken, Only the seed that on earth we have sown; These shall pass onward when we are forgotten, Fruits of the harvest and what we have done. [Refrain] 4 Oh, when the Saviour shall make up His jewels, When the bright crowns of rejoicing are won, Then shall His weary and faithful disciples, All be remembered by what they have done. [Refrain]

[@charliechats9910]

Oh Peter! That was lovely. These poignant words written by a Scotsman and set to Music by Sankey - a somewhat unusual combination. I first heard "Only Remembered" at a colleague's Funeral Service here in Aberdeen 35 years ago and have never forgotten it. Many thanks. Charlie.

[@PeterTylor]

Thanks Charlie - this has turned out to be one of my most-watched videos, which I did not expect when I recorded it! By the way, the combination of Scottish words and Sankey's music is perhaps not so unusual as it might seem, given that Sankey wrote music to at least one other hymn by Bonar ("Yet there is room"), and also to fellow-Scot Elizabeth Clephane's "Beneath the cross of Jesus" and "There were ninety and nine".

[@StephenIrvine1997]

This does fit well for Armistice! Perfect!

[@PeterTylor]

Thanks Stephen - it does indeed, and it was to mark Remembrance that the choir at Carclaze sang it too!

[@jasonstevens9419]

Wave if you are here for War Horse or Peter!

[@kejcolley]

That was very good, Peter. Obviously not one that I'd heard before but fitting for Remembrance Sunday. I see that the words are by Horatius Bonar - when I was at St. Philip's, West Bromwich, we used to use Bonar's, 'No Shadows Yonder', on Remembrance Sundays.

[@PeterTylor]

Thanks Keith - "No Shadows Yonder" is new to me, but I like it!

[@olufemiolunlade1432]

Great

[@PeterTylor]

Thank you! :)

[@JamesEncliffe]

oh! That was good.

[@PeterTylor]

Thank you James - I had never played this one up to now, although I think I had heard it before!