Photo by Danielle Suijkerbuijk on Unsplash
How Can I Keep from Singing (Menefee)
Hymn composed by
Robert LowryContextual information
In 2021, as we were planning to return to joyous congregational fellowship, I met with our minister (at the time), Rev. Jessica Star Rockers. As we ended our planning session, I mentioned that I was always looking for songs to arrange. Without hesitation, she said, “I have always loved ‘How Can I Keep from Singing?’” That inspired me to revisit this wonderful hymn, giving it a new meter, and a fresh choral and piano arrangement. This is dedicated to Reverend Jessica.
In 2021, as we were planning to return to joyous congregational fellowship, I met with our minister (at the time), Rev. Jessica Star Rockers. As we ended our planning session, I mentioned that I was always looking for songs to arrange. Without hesitation, she said, “I have always loved ‘How Can I Keep from Singing?’” That inspired me to revisit this wonderful hymn, giving it a new meter, and a fresh choral and piano arrangement. This is dedicated to Reverend Jessica.
Tune Name
HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING
Tune Name
Text Meter
Irregular
10.9.10.9
Song Composer
Robert LowryHymn Arranger
Composer Background information
Composer Website LinkSpiritual tags
Other tags
Lyricist Background information
Lyricist Website LinkArranger Background information
Mike Menefee (he/him) is a retired educator from Bremerton, WA. He has previously served as Choir Director at the Kitsap Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, and he helped to create dozens of UU music videos during the COVID pandemic, which have received hundreds of thousands of views from around the world. He also writes, arranges, and directs in the Barbershop Harmony world.
Lyrics
My life flows on in endless song above earth’s lamentation,
For in my soul resounds a hymn of joy and inspiration.
Through all the tumult and the strife, a song of hope is ringing.
It sounds an echo in my soul. How can I keep from singing?
When people join their hands in love in times of joy or sorrow,
Then music is the loom of hope that weaves a bright tomorrow.
In times of grief, in times of joy, in times of great thanksgiving,
The human heart has ever called, “How can I keep from singing?”
When each small voice is buoyed up on the tide of congregation,
Then drop by drop we form the sea that sings a new creation.
And so the music ’round me swells, its hope forever clinging,
And in my heart it ever dwells. How can I keep from singing?
Resources
Music XML and MEI and MIDI and Musescore files
Slides
Google Slides (View Only)
Other