Are you missing people during this season of “sheltering in place?”
This lovely instrumental piece And Now My Dear Companions was recorded by William Coulter and Barry Phillips on their album “Simple Gifts: Instrumental Arrangements of Shaker Melodies.” It is fair to say that more people are familiar with their version than with any vocal arrangement, but I was able to poke around and find the text. The song was written around 1860 by Shaker composer Augustus P. Blaise.
Like many texts and traditions which come from the Shakers, you can interpret these words in negative or positive ways, depending on your own beliefs. The “marching, toiling, struggling” lines have been associated with the early Mormons, though there is no evidence that they adapted this song.
Enjoy the instrumental version, and listen to more songs off the Simple Gifts album that should pop up as options on YouTube. I’ve included the song in this Easter collection because I love the tune and find the title appropriate in a wistful sort of way. The instrumental version starts with the word “And” in the title but I haven’t found that word included with any version of the text.
Now, my dear companions
Is the time to start anew.
Anew, anew
For the kingdom of Heaven.
With faith and zeal and courage strong
We will ever be marching on,
Toiling on, struggling on,
For a perfect Heaven.
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