December 4, 2012 (Tuesday)
Yesterday’s blog featured the gospel song, “Then Jesus Came,” which, I suppose, is probably the song I most loved to sing through the years. But “The Love of God” in my mind ranks up there with it as a favorite of mine. “Balm of Gilead” was always well-received and carries a simple message that Jesus is the healer of wounded souls. “It Took a Miracle” was also a song that I loved to sing. And many more. I cannot name them all; space won’t permit. But I think I will write a few blogs this week about these songs and/or others. The most requested of all the songs I sang was “Ship Ahoy.” Everyone seemed to love hearing that one.
I first heard “Ship Ahoy” on a vinyl record. It was sung by Jack Holcomb, a great tenor characterized by some as “the singer with a tear in his voice.” He conducted a revival meeting at my stepmother’s church in Houston, and made his records available for sale there. Dorothy (my stepmother) brought home some of his records. I was entranced and amazed by his talent. I learned this song by listening to his recording. Later on, I heard Dick Baker sing it with a little different touch and I incorporated Dick’s innovation into Jack’s style for my presentations of the song. It always drew many “Amens” from the congregations and, in later years, applause as that became popular. I always considered any kind of response like that a testimony from the hearers that the music had been a blessing.
Myrt Russell, when a member of First Baptist Church, Rockport, enjoyed the song so much she created a full-size oil painting of her idea of “Ship Ahoy’s” message and gave it to me.
I sang in a revival meeting at a Baptist Church in Waco. The year was around 1951. Bill Suhr was the pastor. During the week, he took me to the home of Jack Holcomb’s parents. I really enjoyed meeting them, and, of course, we discussed their famous son. I felt I had truly been blessed by that encounter. They were sweet people.
The song, “Ship Ahoy,” is a testimony of conversion that pictures the person in the midst of a raging storm at sea. The person is about to perish beneath the waves when he sees a stately old vessel (the old ship of Zion) and loudly cries, “Ship Ahoy! Ship Ahoy!” The good captain commands a boat to be lowered and with tender compassion He takes the new Believer aboard. The new Christian then shouts, “Jesus Saves! Jesus Saves!” You can hear Jack Holcomb’s version of this song here.
Mariah J. Cartwright wrote “The Old Ship Zion” (“Ship Ahoy”) around 1889 (exact date not known). It was played to a tune written by Daniel B Townes.
Read the printed lyrics of “Ship Ahoy” here.
(Jack Holcomb died in 1968 at the age of 47. You can read about him here.)