I have been thinking a lot about the Mormon pioneers in the last week or so and–while this is by no means an exhaustive list–I wanted to share a few of the songs that always remind me of them. Only one of them, so far as I know, is strictly a Mormon folk song, but the others, as I said, remind me of the Mormon pioneers crossing the plains.
First are two songs that I know from the BYU Men’s Choir: “We’ll Shout and Give Him Glory,” and “Whoa, Haw, Buck and Jerry Boy.” You can listen to “We’ll Shout and Give Him Glory” on YouTube, though the video has nothing whatever to do with going to Zion, shouting and giving glory, or the BYU Men’s Choir. Oh, well. “Whoa, Haw, Buck and Jerry Boy,” on the other hand, is nowhere to be found online (at least not that I can tell), and I am sadly unable to upload it to my blog. 
This song was written by Mormons, for Mormons, about Mormons. I love so many things about the words, and I especially like the thought of my pioneer ancestors singing things like this to try and keep their spirits up while they walked or pulled handcarts to Salt Lake Valley.
Next is a song I first heard performed by the BYU Men’s Choir, but have since been unable to ever find a recording of it by them. I do, though, have a recording by the BYU-Idaho Men’s Choir, in which my brother was singing at the time. “Whistle, Maggie, Whistle” is apparently beloved as a comic choral song, particularly in men-only choruses. There are a few versions available on YouTube, such as this one (although I think the BYU-I version is vastly superior). I’m not sure this song even existed when the pioneers were crossing the plains, but it still reminds me of them nonetheless.
Finally is a beautiful folk hymn that is widely known as a standard of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. “Bound for the Promised Land” (YouTube) is a classic American folk hymn, and I find the MoTab version particularly stirring–so much so that it often brings tears to my eyes. I can’t help but think of my pioneer ancestors and their feeling that they were, in literal truth, bound for the Promised Land–which then always makes me think of my own journey through life and my own quest for the Eternal Promised Land.
Below are the lyrics for all of these songs. Enjoy!
We’ll Shout and Give Him Glory
1. I’m on my way to Zion,
I’m on my way to Zion,
I’m on my way to Zion,
The New Jerusalem.Chorus: We’ll shout and give Him glory,
We’ll shout and give Him glory,
We’ll shout and give Him glory,
For glory is His own.2. I feel the work reviving,
I feel the work reviving,
I feel the work reviving,
Reviving in my soul.(Chorus)
3. Oh, how I love my Savior,
Oh, how I love my Savior,
Oh, how I love my Savior,
Because He first loved me.(Chorus)
***
Whoa, Haw, Buck and Jerry Boy
1. With a merry little jig and a happy little song–
Whoa, Haw, Buck and Jerry Boy!–
We trudge our way the whole day long.
Whoa, Haw, Buck and Jerry Boy!
But though we’re covered all over with dust,
It’s better than staying back home to rust.
We’ll reach Salt Lake someday or bust–
Whoa, Haw, Buck and Jerry Boy!2. There’s a pretty little girl in the outfit ahead.
Whoa, Haw, Buck and Jerry Boy!
I wish she were by my side instead.
Whoa, Haw, Buck and Jerry Boy!
Look at her now, with a pout on her lips,
As daintily with her finger-tips
She picks for a fire some buffalo chips.
Whoa, Haw, Buck and Jerry Boy!3. Oh, tonight we’ll dance by the light of the moon–
Whoa, Haw, Buck and Jerry Boy!–
To the fiddler’s best and only tune.
Holding her hands and stealing a kiss,
But never a step of the dance we miss.
Never did know a love like this!
Whoa, Haw, Buck and Jerry Boy!
“Whoa” and “haw” are both words that were used to direct the horses or oxen–”whoa” tells them to stop, of course, and “haw” tells them to turn left–and this song is written from the perspective of the teenaged teamsters (or bullwhackers) who used to drive for the semi-professional wagon trains that came from Salt Lake to pick up the emigrants in Iowa and bring them to the Valley. Cheeky!
***
Whistle, Maggie, Whistle
1. MAN: Whistle, Maggie, whistle!
MAGGIE: No! No! No!
MAN: I’d like to hear you whistle.
MAGGIE: No! No! No!
MAN: It’s very simple. You do it like this,
Pucker your lips just like in a kiss.
Whistle, Maggie, whislte.
MAGGIE: No! No! No!2. MAN: Whistle, Maggie, whistle,
And you shall have a cow.
MAGGIE: Alas, I cannot whistle,
For you know I know not how.
MAN: A Jersey heifer or Holstein,
Guernsey, Angus, or Aberdeen.
MAGGIE: I would if I could, but you know I can’t,
Do you no good to rave and rant!
MAN: Whistle, Maggie, whistle,
And you shall have a cow.
MAGGIE: No! No! No!3. MAN: Whistle, Maggie, whistle,
And you shall have a horse.
MAGGIE: Alas, I cannot whistle,
Though it fills me with remorse.
MAN: A brown or a dun or a dapple-gray,
Saddled and bridled and plenty of hay.
MAGGIE: I would if I could, but you know I can’t,
Do you no good to rave and rant!
MAN: Whistle, Maggie, whistle,
And you shall have a horse.
MAGGIE: No! No! No!3. MAN: Whistle, Maggie, whistle,
I’ll give you silver and gold.
MAGGIE: Whistling is for children,
And alas! I am too old.
MAN: Diamonds and rubies and strings of pearls!
You’ll be the envy of all the girls.
MAGGIE: I would if I could, but you know I can’t,
Do you no good to rave and rant!
MAN: Whistle, Maggie, whistle,
I’ll give you silver and gold.
MAGGIE: No! No! No!4. MAN: Whistle, Maggie, whistle,
And you shall have a man.
MAGGIE: (Whistles) I just found out I can!(Whistles more)
Of course, the reason this one is so popular among the men’s choruses is that it’s utterly hilarious to watch and listen to the tenors singing the part of Maggie in falsetto.
***
Bound for the Promised Land
On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand,
And cast a wishful eye
To Canaan’s fair and happy land,
Where my possessions lie.There generous fruits that never fail,
On trees immortal grow;
There rocks and hills, and brooks and vales,
With milk and honey flow.Refrain: I am bound for the promised land,
I am bound for the promised land;
Oh, who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.O the transporting, rapturous scene,
That rises to my sight!
Sweet fields arrayed in living green,
And rivers of delight!When shall I reach that happy place,
I’d be forever blest?
When shall I see my Father’s face,
And in His bosom rest?(Refrain)
