Learning the 144 Secular Hymns

♪♪♪ SING ALONG ♪♪♪ as a piano plays the chords and melody (from the SOLO Edition of the Secular Hymnal). Singing along to a simple, chorded melody like this is an ideal way to develop your harmonizing skills!

Lyrics:

On our journey let's spend time in the place they call the "Land of Gray"
Not quite night, yet not quite day, it's not tomorrow, yet not today
Not quite left yet not quite right, it's not quite black yet not quite white
Not quite here yet not quite away, let's spend time in the "Land of Gray"

In this mixed-up, messy land we can learn to love and understand
Not quite woman, not quite man, it's not quite Bible yet not Quran
Not quite West yet not quite East, it's not quite human yet not quite beast
Can't quite leave yet can't quite stay, here at home in the "Land of Gray"

 

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Here's the same hymn in 4-part harmony (from the SATB Edition of the Secular Hymnal). If you and your choir prefer to print out your own score of this hymn, click here to access a beautiful PDF file.

To research the history of this hymn tune: http://www.hymnary.org/hymnal/SH2014

 

Out of respect for our diverse society, please work to keep our public school and community choirs "secular" (comfortable and welcoming to both religious and nonreligious singers). For more information, please visit the secular choirs webpage.

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(Page last updated: January 16, 2016 )