T. Paige Dalporto - Appalachian Poetry and Photographs

T. Paige Dalporto - Music, Photographs and Poetry of Appalachia

Church Bells at Sago

On January 2nd, we all watched, waited, and rode the roller coaster of emotions as the events in and around the Sago mine unfolded before a national audience. The hours turned into days; then a a tired and anxious nation felt the relief and joy as we heard the miners had been rescued. Many of us went happily to bed, only to discover upon awaking the next morning that there had been a mistake, and only one had survived. We all grieved with the families of those who died...

"Church Bells at Sago" was written a few days after the tragedy. I was thinking about families of the miners, the note left behind, and the love that was expressed in it.

Our hearts go out to the families and friends of the fallen miners.

"CHURCH BELLS AT SAGO"

Words and Music by T. Paige Dalporto

MY BROTHER'S IN THE CHURCH YARD

MY COUSIN'S WITH HIM, TOO

I'M WAITING HERE INSIDE THE CHURCH

WHEN THEY COME IN WITH THE NEWS

'TWELVE BRAVE MINERS MAKE IT'

WE WAIT WITH CERTAIN JOY

OH, MIRACLE OF MIRACLES

ALLELUIA PRAISE THE LORD

CHORUS:

ALREADY I AM DREAMING

AND I SEE YOUR FACE

I HEAR THE CHURCH BELLS RINGING

HIGH ABOVE THIS PLACE

THERE IS NO TIME TO TELL YOU

BEFORE I FALL ASLEEP

I LOVED YOU ALL SO DEARLY

THERE IS NO TIME TO WEEP

CHORUS:

ALREADY I AM DREAMING

AND I SEE YOUR FACE

I HEAR THE CHURCH BELLS RINGING

SO HIGH ABOVE THIS PLACE

KEEP SINGING AND REJOICING

AND WHEN YOU HEAR THE NEWS

RING THE CHURCH BELLS LOUDER

TILL THEY RATTLE ALL THE PEWS

CHORUS:

ALREADY I AM DREAMING

AND I SEE YOUR FACE

I HEAR THE CHURCH BELLS RINGING

ALLELUIA, AMAZING GRACE.

THERE IS NO TIME TO TELL YOU

BUT BE NOT OVER-GRIEVED

I'M LISTENING TO YOUR SONGS OF JOY

AS I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP.

T. Paige Photographs and Poems