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The Shadow is Under Our Feet

Author: Mary B. Wingate Appears in 2 hymnals First Line: A shadow will follow us ever Refrain First Line: With hearts overflowing with rapture

[A shadow will follow us ever]

Appears in 1 hymnal Composer and/or Arranger: James McGranahan Incipit: 55456 43321 17647 Used With Text: The shadow is under our feet

Instances

Published text-tune combinations (hymns) from specific hymnals

Author: Mary B. Wingate Hymnal: Sacred Songs No. 2 #167 (1899) First Line: A shadow will follow us ever Refrain First Line: With hearts overflowing with rapture Lyrics: 1 A shadow will follow us ever, And oft it will darken our way, It comes with the sunshine of morning, And lingers till close of the day; Though falling along by the pathway, Apace with our own eager feet; Beneath the meridian splendor, The shadow is under our feet. Refrain: With hearts overflowing with rapture, We joy in a vict’ry complete; Beneath the meridian splendor, The shadow is under our feet. 2 A shadow will follow us ever, The shadow of self and of sin; Despairing, we cry to the Saviour, O wash us and cleanse us within; We fly to His dear, loving presence, Reflecting His radiance sweet; Beneath the meridian splendor, The shadow is under our feet. [Refrain] 3 The shadow that follows us ever, Will flee, if in Christ we abide; His glory will brighten forever, The cleft of the Rock where we hide; The light of the cross shining o’er us Illumines our blessed retreat; Beneath the meridian splendor, The shadow is under our feet. [Refrain] Scripture: Proverbs 4:18 Tune Title: [A shadow will follow us ever]

With hearts overflowing with rapture

Hymnal: Sacred Songs No. 2 (words ed.) #d2 (1900) First Line: A shadow will follow us ever

People

Authors, composers, editors, etc.

James McGranahan

1840 - 1907 Composer of "[A shadow will follow us ever]" in Sacred Songs No. 2 James McGranahan USA 1840-1907. Born at West Fallowfield, PA, uncle of Hugh McGranahan, and son of a farmer, he farmed during boyhood. Due to his love of music his father let him attend singing school, where he learned to play the bass viol. At age 19 he organized his first singing class and soon became a popular teacher in his area of the state. He became a noted musician and hymns composer. His father was reluctant to let him pursue this career, but he soon made enough money doing it that he was able to hire a replacement farmhand to help his father while he studied music. His father, a wise man, soon realized how his son was being used by God to win souls through his music. He entered the Normal Music School at Genesco, NY, under William B Bradbury in 1861-62. He met Miss Addie Vickery there. They married in 1863, and were very close to each other their whole marriage, but had no children. She was also a musician and hymnwriter in her own right. For a time he held a postmaster’s job in Rome, PA. In 1875 he worked for three years as a teacher and director at Dr. Root’s Normal Music Institute. He because well-known and successful as a result, and his work attracted much attention. He had a rare tenor voice, and was told he should train for the operatic stage. It was a dazzling prospect, but his friend, Philip Bliss, who had given his wondrous voice to the service of song for Christ for more than a decade, urged him to do the same. Preparing to go on a Christmas vacation with his wife, Bliss wrote McGranahan a letter about it, which McGranahan discussed with his friend Major Whittle. Those two met in person for the first time at Ashtubula, OH, both trying to retrieve the bodies of the Bliss’s, who died in a bridge-failed train wreck. Whittle thought upon meeting McGranahan, that here is the man Bliss has chosen to replace him in evangelism. The men returned to Chicago together and prayed about the matter. McGranahan gave up his post office job and the world gained a sweet gospel singer/composer as a result. McGranahan and his wife, and Major Whittle worked together for 11 years evangelizing in the U.S., Great Britain, and Ireland. They made two visits to the United Kingdom, in 1880 and 1883, the latter associated with Dwight Moody and Ira Sankey evangelistic work. McGranahan pioneered use of the male choir in gospel song. While holding meetings in Worcester, MA, he found himself with a choir of only male voices. Resourcefully, he quickly adapted the music to those voices and continued with the meetings. The music was powerful and started what is known as male choir and quartet music. Music he published included: “The choice”, “Harvest of song”, “Gospel Choir”,, “Gospel hymns #3,#4, #5, #6” (with Sankey and Stebbins), “Songs of the gospel”, and “Male chorus book”. The latter three were issued in England. In 1887 McGranahan’s health compelled him to give up active work in evangelism. He then built a beautiful home, Maplehurst, among friends at Kinsman, OH, and settled down to the composition of music, which would become an extension of his evangelistic work. Though his health limited his hours, of productivity, some of his best hymns were written during these days. McGranahan was a most lovable, gentle, modest, unassuming, gentleman, and a refined and cultured Christian. He loved good fellowship, and often treated guests to the most delightful social feast. He died of diabetes at Kinsman, OH, and went home to be with his Savior. John Perry