Stars in My Crown – words, Eliza E. Hewitt; tune, John R. Sweney
recorded on "Comon Tongue" and sung by Waterson:Carthy, sung by Bethany Burie. SheetMusic(pdf)
I am thinking today of that beautiful land
I shall reach when the sun goes down
When through wonderful grace by my Saviour I stand
Will there be any stars in my crown?
Will there be any stars, any stars in my crown
When at evening the sun goes down
When I wake with the blest in the mansions of rest
Will there be any stars in my crown?
In the strength of the Lord let me labour and pray,
Shall I watch as a winner of souls
That bright stars may be mine in the glorious day
When His praise like the sea billow rolls?
O what joy will there be when his face I behold
And with gems at his feet to lay down
It would sweeten my bliss in the City of Gold
Should there be any stars in my crown?
[ Roud 22423 ; hymn by Eliza E. Hewitt, tune by John R. Sweney]
Waterson:Carthy sing this beautiful hymn on their second album Common Tongue. Norma Waterson, Martin Carthy and Eliza Carthy are joined by Saul Rose, Lal Waterson, Maria Gilhooley, Mike Waterson and Eleanor Waterson. And alternate mix from these recording sessions was published in 2004 on the Watersons' 4CD anthology Mighty River of Song. Six years later, Norma, Eliza and Martin sing the same song with Mike Waterson, Barry Coope, Jim Boyes and Lester Simpson on Blue Murder's album No One Stands Alone.
Martin Carthy commented in the Common Tongue sleeve notes:
Stars in my Crown is number 787 in the Baptist Sankey hymnal and was brought to Norma's attention unconsciously while she was watching Dennis Potter's last interview with an extraordinarily sensitive Melvin Bragg. Leastways, she doesn't remember him saying “787”, but he did. We had the hymnal, found the song and learned it. It was, of course, a feature of his last play Cold Lazarus. We enjoy singing hymns and it's a blast, whether it be Sacred Harp from USA, or black gospel, or English Baptist stuff.