In the comments on Facebook in response to the first entry in this series, Mary Ann inadvertently hit the nail on the head for what I planned to be song #2: “Precious Memories.” Now in this case, it’s not so much that I find offense in the lyrics, or anything theologically troublesome. It’s that it doesn’t really seem to be a hymn at all, more of a nostalgic piece like Kenny Rogers’ “Twenty Years Ago” or “Aude Lang Syne.”
I used to lead this song a lot. A LOT. It was never by choice, but to honor the requests at the Pioneer Park retirement home on Wednesday evening when several AIM/SIBI students would go to sing and encourage the residents there. In that context, it’s actually a fine song, and I would never have denied them the song. There was a very sweet sister named Mary who loved this song, and we loved singing it for her. Singing with Mary is itself a precious memory (yeah, that’s cheesily worded, what can I say?).
This song, to me, has a definite time and place, though, and I just don’t think it’s really a worship hymn. When the church is gathered to give praise and honor to the Lord it seems best to sing those songs which actually do just that: honor God and give him glory. Where is God mentioned in this song? The closest you come is in this nebulous “somewhere” mentioned twice. We assume heaven, assume that must mean God, but don’t come out and say so. Just a vague, foggy sentiment of “somewhere.” Somewhere? Vague praise seems a faint praise. It’s like some of the new CCM songs that you’re not sure if they are really about God or the singer’s girlfriend, and you’re not really sure you want to know. In a worship context, it just comes across as a moment of drifting off track in a maudlin moment, the focus now on me and my nostalgia rather than Jesus. See, he isn’t mentioned either:
Precious memories, unseen angels
Sent from somewhere to my soul
How they linger, ever near me
And the sacred scenes unfold.Precious father, loving mother
Fly across the lonely years
And old home scenes of my childhood
In fond memory appear.As I travel on life’s pathway
Know not what the years may hold
As I ponder, hope grows fonder
Precious memories unfold.Precious memories, how they linger
How they ever flood my soul
In the stillness of the midnight
Precious, sacred scenes unfold.
As I said, the song may well have its place. It fit well in a visit with Mary at Pioneer Park. It fits right in at a family reunion, especially if your family includes a plethora of Lawrence Welk fans. But please, I beg you–don’t send me this one in the PowerPoint file for next Sunday.
As performed by The Country Fried Gospel Quartet on the album Dusty Roads and Worn Pews:
