The Farmer And The Lord

© Copyright 2013 PJ Stassen

All Rights Reserved

If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore!
- R.W. Emerson, 1803-1882.

   









   This is not a hymn but a 'poem', and I have included some of the most legendary of its narrators/readers, i.e. Jimmy Dean, Jim Reeves and J.D. Sumner.  I have a particularly soft spot for all three of them, i.e. Jimmy Dean's version of The Farmer And The Lord was the one I had heard for the first time in 1963; of Jim Reeves I cherish only the fondest of memories as, during the early sixties, he was more popular in South Africa than 
Elvis.  
   He made a movie in South Africa (Kimberley Jim) and he also issued some records of songs in the 'Afrikaans' language, my mother tongue.  Furthermore, Jim Reeves died in the same month in 1964 as the members of the Oosthuizen-family and others in our hometown of Carletonville-Blyvooruitzicht (South Africa) who tragically disappeared with their houses and belongings into an enormous sinkhole in the middle of the night. 
   I was sixteen years old at the time and can still recall the distant thunder in the early hours of that morning (not unlike that of a mighty thunderstorm) of the frightful rumbling of caving ground. Local Mine Management had no choice but to terminate all frantic but futile rescue-efforts (or efforts to retrieve the bodies) and plug the gaping hole with its entire contents with soil, concrete and a memorial.
   The contribution of J.D Sumner to the gospel music industry is already legendary, and his rendition of this poem a classic in the annals of this genre of music.       

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The Farmer And The Lord

(Author Unknown)

While resting the other evening by the side of the road,
I saw an old farmer in the field that he just hold.
His face was all brown and wrinkled by the sun and the wind,
And he was talking to the Lord just like he'd be talking to a friend.

Well, he said with his voice calm and quiet,
Them corn tassels need sucking, I got no strength to tie it;
Had no rain in so long that the fields are mighty dusty,
And it's been so unbearable hot that the kids were even gettin' fussy.

Now that grass down and the pasture it should be knee high; if we

Could just have a little shower Lord it might keep the calf from going dry.
Oh, but listen to me talking, you'd think I wasn't grateful, why if you
Didn't know me so well Lord you'd think I was down right hateful

You'd think I forgot about that new calf that you sent;
And the money in the mail that took care of the rent.
Mama's cough's better and Johnny's home from the navy,
And that good Sunday dinner of hot chicken and dumplings and gravy;

And that new preacher you sent us, Lord he's sure a fine young man.
Why he's just convertin' them sinners to beat the man.
Well, I guess, I'll mosey on home now, Lord, I won't take no more your time;
I guess, there's plenty folks here about waitin' to ring your line.

Evening to you, Lord, and watch us over tonight;
Don't you worry about us now, Lord, 'cause everything is gonna be all right.

Piet Stassen

eLiterature/eLiteratuur:

1. Scribd Publishing Site:  www.scribd.com/PietStassen (ENGLISH & AFRIKAANS)
2. eBook: 'Evolution: The Science That Evolved Into A Fairy Tale' (ENGLISH)  
3. eBook:  'Bertrand Russell Revisited: Rebuttal Of Bertrand Russell's 'Why I Am Not A Christian''(ENGLISH)
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5. eBook: 'Conservation, Rhino Poaching And Hypocrisy' (ENGLISH)
6. eBook: 'Why Darwinism ('Evolution') Does Not Make Sense' (ENGLISH)
7. eBook: 'Names And Titles Of Jesus Of Nazareth (ENGLISH)'
8. eBoek:  'Darwin Of Christus: Suid-Afrikaners By 'n Kruispad!' [AFRIKAANS].
9. eBoek:  'Bevryding Van Die Anti-Evangelie Van Ateisme-Evolusionisme' [AFRIKAANS].
10. eBoek:  'Name & Titels Van Jesus Christus' [AFRIKAANS].
11. eTracts, Christian (Free, Downloadable):  Free, downloadable Christian eTracts for free distribution (ENGLISH)
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Bibliography

1.  Andrews, Allen (1969) Quotations For Speakers And Writers. Newnes Books. Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd. London.
2.  ATLBusiness. ‘J.D.Sumner’. Accessed At <http://atlbusiness.net/2012/06/19/j-d-sumner-memorial-with-rick-strickland-ministries/> [online] 2013.

3.  LyricsFreak. ‘The Farmer And The Lord’. Accessed At <http://www.lyricsfreak.com/j/jimmy+dean/the+farmer+and+the+lord_20199569.html> [online] 2013.
4.  Wikipedia. 'Jimmy Dean'. Accessed At <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Dean> [online] 2013. 
5.  Wikipedia. Jim Reeves'. Accessed At <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Reeves> [online] 2013.