Beautiful Isle of Somewhere
"Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" is a song with words by Jessie Brown Pounds and music by John Sylvester Fearis, written in 1897. The song gained huge popularity when it was used in William McKinley's funeral. It was subsequently a staple at funerals for decades, and there are dozens of recorded versions.
History
"Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" was originally a poem entitled "Beautiful Isle"[1] by Jessie Brown Pounds. The words were written in the winter of 1896, during a period of miserable weather. Persuaded or possibly forced to stay home, Pounds wrote the lyrics within an hour's time.[2] It was set to music by John S. Fearis, who had purchased the poem for five dollars, and the song was published in 1897.
In 1901, the song was sung by a quartet of young ladies at the beginning of McKinley's funeral in the First Methodist Episcopal Church in his hometown of Canton, Ohio.[3][4][2][5]
A 1908 recording for Edison by Harry Anthony and James Harrison was very popular, as was a 1916 version by John McCormack.[6]
In 1969, Jake Hess won the Grammy Award for Best Inspirational Performance using this song as the title of his album.[7]
Theme
"Beautiful Isle" follows a 19th-century tradition of depicting paradise.[8] The song was written to contrast the difficulties on Earth with the tranquility of Heaven. The hearer is invited to think that in the long term, "all is well" because God is alive. The hymn has appeal at funerals because the lyrics state that "somewhere" we will "live anew".[2]
Reception
The song became highly popular for decades after McKinley’s service. The tune and lyrics have been praised as “beautiful,”[3] but praise for the song has not been universal.
Soon after the McKinley service, the song was panned by
In 1927,
In 1953, Donald H. V. Hallock. the Episcopal Bishop of Milwaukee, banned the use of this and other "popular" songs from use at Episcopal services as they did not conform to the rubric of the church.[16] Some Christian theologians have taken issue with the song because it describes Heaven in nebulous terms.[17]
Criticisms aside, others have noted that this sentimental song is a "joy to sing."[18]
Recordings
- Andrews Sisters, 1965 from album The Andrews Sisters: Favorite Hymns[19]
- cylinder record 9959.[20]
- Eddy Arnold, 1951 on RCA Victor single 21-0160 (78rpm) and 48-0166 (45rpm)[21]
- Gene Autry performs the song in the 1939 film Colorado Sunset[22]
- The Blackwood Brothers, 1960 title track from album Beautiful Isle of Somewhere[23]
- Henry Burr and the Peerless Quartet, 1920 issued on Canadian Victor 216108.[5]
- Floyd Cramer on set 39 Beloved Songs of Faith[24]
- Richard Crooks with Jesse Crawford, 1932 on Victor Red Seal 1558[25]
- Charles Hart and Elliott Shaw, 1923 issued on Federal 5015, Silvertone 2015 and Resona 75015 [26]
- Hayden Quartet[27]
- Jake Hess, 1968 on RCA Camden LP Beautiful Isle of Somewhere
- Harold Jarvis, 1909 on Victor 16008[28] and 1911 on Columbia A-1121[29]
- Frank Luther, 1950 on Decca single 24915[30]
- Mantovani, 1961 from album Songs of Praise[31]
- John McCormack, 1916[27] on Victor red seal 64428[32]
- Harry Secombe, 2014 on Essential Media Group album How Great Thou Art.[33]
- Oscar Seagle, 1917 on Columbia A2487[34]
- The Southernaires, 1941 on Decca single 3919.[35]
- Jo Stafford, 1954 on Columbia LP Garden of Prayer[36]
- Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae, 1962 on Columbia LP Whispering Hope[37]
- Marion Talley, 1927 on Victor Red Seal 1248[38]
- Evan Williams[27]
References
- ISBN 9780873384612.
- ^ ISBN 9780873386005.
- ^ a b Everett, Marshall (1901). Complete Life of William McKinley and Story of His Assassination. Chicago: C. W. Stanton Co. pp. 416–417.
- ^ a b "Editorials". The Independent. New York. September 26, 1901. p. 2317.
- ^ ISBN 9780195353754.
- ^ ISBN 0-8160-3239-4.
- ^ "Jake Hess 30 Years in Gospel". Billboard. October 10, 1970. p. 56.
- ISBN 9780195354324.
- ^ a b "Criticism of Hymns May Be Troublesome". Meriden Morning Record. Meriden, Connecticut. October 14, 1911. p. 11.
- ^ "We Wish to Say "Amen" to Governor Woodrow Wilson" (PDF). Signs of the Times. 38. Mountain View, California. October 24, 1911. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
- ^ "Cardinal Bans "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" Hymn". Reading Eagle. Reading, Pennsylvania. October 8, 1927. p. 2.
- ^ "Popular Hymn is Barred in Church". The Montreal Gazette. October 10, 1927. p. 3.
- ^ "Reading Pastors Not a Unit on "Trashy" Hymns". Reading Eagle. Reading, Pennsylvania. October 16, 1927. p. 30.
- ^ "Old Hymn Gets Knockout Blow". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Spokane, Washington. October 8, 1927. p. 1.
- ^ "Creed and Denial: Beautiful Isle of Somewhere". The Northwestern Lutheran. 15. Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod: 9–10. 1928.
- ^ "Stick to Episcopal Rules at Weddings, says Bishop". The Milwaukee Journal. October 3, 1953. p. 1.
- ISBN 9781418586034.
- ^ Dahlberg, Edwin T. (March 2, 1960). "Meditations for Lent: Man Is an Island". The Telegraph. Nashua, New Hampshire. p. 3.
- ISBN 9780786432608.
- ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ^ "RCA Victor advertisement". Billboard. June 30, 1951. p. 21.
- ISBN 9780786410767.
- ^ "Spotlight Winner of the Week: Sacred". Billboard. October 10, 1960. p. 38.
- ^ "Floyd Cramer's Beautiful Songs of Faith (advertisement)". Parade. August 21, 1988. p. 13.
- ^ Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Victor matrix BRC-71226. Beautiful isle of somewhere / Jesse Crawford ; Richard Crooks," accessed October 21, 2015, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/800037178/BRC-71226-Beautiful_isle_of_somewhere.
- ^ Online Discographical Project: Federal (1920s)
- ^ a b c Catalog of Victor Records: With Biographic Material, Opera Notes, Artist's Portraits, and Special Red Seal and Green Sections. Victor Talking Machine Company. 1917.
- ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ISBN 9780313308222.
- ^ "Advance Record Releases: Popular". Billboard. March 11, 1950. p. 44.
- ^ "London Records advertisement". Billboard. November 13, 1961. p. 10.
- ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ^ How Great Thou Art, "Essential Media Group. Beautiful Isle of Somewhere / Harry Secombe," accessed June 9, 2020, https://www.amazon.com/How-Great-Thou-Digitally-Remastered/dp/B00IICCLT0.
- ^ Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Columbia matrix 77560. Beautiful Isle of Somewhere / Oscar Seagle," accessed October 21, 2015, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000025341/77560-Beautiful_Isle_of_Somewhere.
- ISBN 0-19-816239-1.
- ^ "Review and Ratings of Popular Albums". Billboard. May 29, 1954. p. 66.
- AllMusic. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
- ^ Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Victor matrix BVE-37899. Beautiful Isle of Somewhere / Marion Talley," accessed October 21, 2015, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/800012156/BVE-37899-Beautiful_Isle_of_Somewhere.