January 14, 2017 (Saturday)
“A Beautiful Life” and “Where the Soul of Man Never Dies” are the most popular of the 22 songs written by William Golden. They were recorded by many famous musicians. He wrote this song while serving an 8-year prison sentence in Mississippi. “A Beautiful Life” is thought to have been inspired by the Biblical story of The Good Samaritan in the Gospel of Luke. It has been published in 36 hymnals.
The popularity of his songs may be due, at least partially, to the fact that they speak plainly about the Christian life and the Heavenly Hope without formal theological references. He spoke the language of the people labeled by Lincoln as “common people.” He died in an automobile accident in 1934 at the age of 43.
William M. Golden (1878-1934)
1918
1 Each day I’ll do a golden deed,
By helping those who are in need;
My life on earth is but a span,
And so I’ll do the best I can.
Refrain:
Life’s evening sun is sinking low,
A few more days, and I must go
To meet the deeds that I have done,
Where there will be no setting sun.
2 To be a child of God each day,
My light must shine along the way;
I’ll sing His praise while ages roll,
And strive to help some troubled soul. [Refrain]
3 The only life that will endure,
Is one that’s kind and good and pure;
And so for God I’ll take my stand,
Each day I’ll lend a helping hand. [Refrain]
4 I’ll help someone in time of need,
And journey on with rapid speed;
I’ll help the sick and poor and weak,
And words of kindness to them speak. [Refrain]
5 While going down life’s weary road,
I’ll try to lift some trav’ler’s load;
I’ll try to turn the night to day,
Make flowers bloom along the way. [Refrain]