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The Humble Heart/ I'm On My Way to Zion

“The Humble Heart/I’m On My Way to Zion” – William Coulter & Barry Phillips
From the recording: Tree of Life

William Coulter -guitar
Barry Phillips - cello
Shelley Phillips – oboe, Celtic harp
Robin Petrie – hammered dulcimer
Kaila Flexer - violin

Produced and arranged by William Coulter and Barry Phillips
with assistance from Justin Mayer.

Engineered and mixed by: Justin Mayer with assistance from William Coulter
and Barry Phillips. Bear Creek Studios, Santa Cruz, CA (1992 - 1993).
Mastered by Howard Johnston at Different Fur, San Francisco, CA.
Publishing: Gourd Music (BMI) /Koustic Music (BMI)/ Orison Music (BMI)

“The Humble Heart” dates from about 1820, from Harvard. Eunice Wyeth's six verses are a hymn to the Shaker ideal of simplicity, and uses their well-loved image of the vineyard as a metaphor for the nurturing of modest yet unswerving faith: "Of all the trees among the wood/I've chose one little vine/The meek and low are nigh to me/The humble heart is mine."
“I'm On My Way To Zion” is a joyful march, whose first line is “I'm On My Way To Zion, that peaceful happy mansion..."

The Humble Heart

Whence comes this bright celestial light,
What cause produces this?
A heaven opens to my sight,
Bright scenes of joy and bliss.
O Lord Jehova art Thou here?
This light proclaims Thou art.
"I am in deed I'm always near
Unto the humble heart.

"The proud and lofty I despise,
And bless the meek and low.
I hear the humble soul that cries,
And comfort I bestow.
Of all the trees among the wood
I've chose the little vine;
The meek and low are nigh to me,
The humble heart is mine."

"Tall cedars fall before the wind,
The tempest breaks the oak,
While slender vines will bow and bend
And rise beneath the stroke.
I've chosen me a pleasant grove
And set my lovely vine
Here in my vinyard I will rove,
The humble heart is mine.

Of all the kinds that range at large,
I've chose one little flock,
And those I make my lovely charge,
Before them I will walk.
Their constant shepherd I will be,
And all their ways refine,
And they shall serve and rev'rence me,
The humble heart is mine."

I’m On My Way to Zion

I’m on my way to Zion,
That peaceful happy mansion
Where life is ever flowing
And death is never known

Come on my well beloved,
Ye whom the Lord hath saved
Let not your hearts be troubled
You soon arrive at home.

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