Poetry Corner: Robert B. Ferguson

Corny, but inspiring

In the place where I am now, there are assorted notes and quips on little bits of paper or napkins or whatever, randomly scattered. Some of these are inspirational: “Nobility is rooted in humility.” Some are humorous: “Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.”

Then there was one that wasn’t a complete thought: “On the wings of a small white dove.”

Many long years ago, when I was a teenager, there were two girls in the neighborhood who were several years younger than I was and who were the closest things I had to kid sisters, as I had only brothers. One of them had an antique player piano in her bedroom. Unlike most antique player pianos, this one still worked, and she had dozens of scrolls of music for it.

One of our favorites was “On the Wings of a Dove,” and we would play it over and over again, taking turns pumping on the foot pedals of the piano to crank the song scroll through the piano, singing along together to the tinny, slightly out-of-tune, honky-tonk sound that only a player piano can make.

The first line of the chorus of that song is actually “On the wings of a snow-white dove,” rather than a small white one. But I still think it’s a great song.

As I was preparing to compose this blog post, I wanted to include a link that readers could use to find a site where they could hear the music, because part of what makes this song great is the way the harmonies work. I was worried that I might not be able to find such a site, since the computer that I’m currently using doesn’t have a lot of the multimedia plugins, and since it’s somebody else’s computer, I didn’t want to install plugins without permission.

I needn’t have worried. One of the owners of this computer is an avid participant in karaoke, and so this computer has all the needed plugins to access a website that gives song lyrics along with an accompaniment to sing with.

You can hear the tune and sing along at NelsonDirect. This version is rather more jazzy than the original player-piano scroll, but you can still get the general idea.

On The Wings Of A Dove

Words and Music by Robert B. Ferguson

When troubles surround us, when evils come,
The body grows weak (body grows weak),
The spirit grows numb (spirit grows numb),
When these things beset us, He doesn't forget us.
He sends down His love (sends down His love),
On the wings of a dove (wings of a dove).

On the wings of a snow-white dove,
He sends His pure sweet love,
A sign from above (sign from above,
On the wings of a dove (wings of a dove).

When Noah had drifted on the flood many days,
He searched for land (he searched for land),
In various ways (various ways).
Troubles, he had some but wasn't forgotten.
He sent him His love (sent him His love),
On the wings of a dove (wings of a dove).

On the wings of a snow-white dove,
He sends His pure sweet love,
A sign from above (sign from above),
On the wings of a dove (wings of a dove).

On the wings of a snow-white dove,
He sends His pure sweet love,
A sign from above (sign from above),
On the wings of a dove (wings of a dove).

On the wings of a dove (wings of a dove).

On the wings of a dove (wings of a dove).
On the wings of a dove (wings of a dove).