FAREWELL HYMN (Polly Gould) by J. Ingalls, 1805
Professor Tony Barrand has been a prime mover in the revival of Ingalls music in Vermont over the last 26 years. He and Carol Moody Crompton brought out the original Northen Harmony in 1980, a hand-written volume containing no less than 9 Ingalls' tunes appearing for the first time in shape notes.
Tony led this in honor of Margaret MacArthur, the Vermont folk-song scholar who passed away suddenly this year. The text instructs that we should "rejoice with grief and mourn with joy" and so even the rain became solemn, & the music did the rest.
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Give ear to me ye sons of men,
Why stand ye gazing round my bed?
We all must die the Lord knows when,
And lie among the silent dead;
Tho' now in health, you all may die,
And turn to dust as soon as I.
Farewell my neighbors, kind and free,
The happy hour is hast'ning on,
When you will say concerning me,
That Polly Gould is dead and gone.
The like will soon be said of you,
The way of virtue then pursue.
Rejoice ye mourners here below,
That she is gone to worlds above;
Yet mourn your loss in parting so,
For she is worthy of your love.
Rejoice with grief and mourn with joy,
While solemn thoughts your minds employ.
Links:
Maragaret MacArthur in memoriam
Broadside sources including Polly Gould