The Appalachian shape-note folk hymn 'Saw Ye My Savior' on hammered dulcimer by Timothy Seaman
http://www.timothyseaman.com/ I fell in love with this obscure song when I found it in an old shape-note book around 1986, and have wanted to arrange it ever since. Here's a first version on solo hammered dulcimer. Hopefully there will be a careful studio audio version with more of an ensemble before too long.
The style reminds me of Stephen Foster; some of my chord choices remind me of contemporary Scottish folk like Silly Wizard.
The anonymous words:
1.Saw ye my Savior, Saw ye my Savior,
Saw ye my Savior and God?
Oh! He died on Calvary to atone for you and me
And to purchase our pardon with blood.
2.He was extended, He was extended,
Painfully nailed to the cross;
Then he bowed his head and died, thus my Lord was crucified
To atone for a world that was lost.
3.Jesus hung bleeding, Jesus hung bleeding,
Three dreadful hours in pain;
Whilst the sun refused to shine, when his majesty divine
Was derided, insulted and slain.
4.Darkness prevail-ed, Darkness prevail-ed,
Darkness prevailed through the land;
Oh, the solid rocks were rent through creation's vast extent
When the crowd crucified the God-man.
5.When it was finished, When it was finished,
And the atonement was made,
He was taken by the great and embalmed in spices sweet
And was in a new sepulchre laid.
6.Hail, mighty Savior! Hail, mighty Savior!
Prince and the author of peace!
Oh, he burst the bars of death and, triumphing, left the earth:
He ascended to mansions of bliss.
7.Now interceding, Now interceding,
Pleading that sinners might live,
Saying, "Father, I have died, (O behold my hands and side!)
To redeem them, I pray, forgive."
8."I will forgive them, I will forgive them,
When they repent and believe;
Let them now return to thee and be reconciled to me,
And salvation they all shall receive."