Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Pioneer

DSC03538_edited-1 {Ida Frances Hunt Udall~my great-great grandmother}

I love music.  All kinds of music.  But rarely has a song touched my heart like one of the newest country songs by The Band Perry—“Pioneer”.

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Those of you who’ve visited me over the years know that I love the people who came before me.  All of them. 

Many of them truly were pioneers…the ones that crossed the prairies of this land—climbed the mountains, carved out the roads, fought the fights, lost their lives…and I love them and their stories.  

Which is why this song spoke to me the way it did…

DSC03571_edited-1 {a stretched 12x24” black canvas was the perfect background for this chalkboard-style “ode” to my pioneers}

Just in case you can’t read my writing, I’ll share the lyrics with you here—and call upon a few of my own pioneers to illustrate…

Mary Ann Bates Ellsworth, about 1855 {Mary Ann Bates Ellsworth.  My husband’s 4th great-grandmother}

Oh Pioneer,
I sing your song…
It's the hymn of those who've gone before and those who carry on

Jesse N. Smith, 34 {Jesse Nathaniel Smith.  My 2nd great-grandfather}

 Pioneer
Your work is hard.
But the future of us all rests on the shoulders of your heart--

Mary Jane Robinson West1{Mary Jane Robinson West.  My 3rd great-grandmother} 

Where are we going?
Oh, I don't know
But still I've got to go.
What will become of us?
Oh, I don't care
All I know is I'll go anywhere
Pioneer.

Edmund Lovell Ellsworth Photo {Edmund Lovell Ellsworth.  My husband’s 4th great-grandfather}


Oh Pioneer
So young and brave--
Be careful of the careful souls who doubt you along the way--

Louisa Barnes Pratt_edited-1{Louisa Barnes Pratt.  My 4th great-grandmother} 


Pioneer,
You orphaned child--
Your mother is adventure and your father is the wild…

Jonas Ostlund,{Jonas Ostlund.  My great-great-grandfather} 


Where are we going?
Oh I don't know--
But still I've got to go
What will become of us?
Oh I don't care--
All I know is I'll go anywhere
Pioneer

Lois Barnes Pratt Hunt--young {Lois Pratt Hunt.  My 3rd great-grandmother}


Let your heart not be troubled…

Hans Heinrich Braendli, lamplighter in Switzerland, about 1860 {Hans Heinrich Braendli.  My 3rd great-grandfather}


I won't run when bullets chase me.
I won't rest where arms embrace me.
I will love when people hate me.
I won't hush, no you can't make me.

Augusta Maria Outzen--age 16 {Augusta Maria Outzen Smith.  My great-great grandmother}

Send the dark but it won't break me.
You can try but you can't change me.
Take my life, they will replace me.
I won't hush, no you can't make me--

Almon W. Babbitt 4_edited-1 {Almon Whiting Babbitt.  My 4th great-grandfather}

Where are we going?
Oh, I don't know--
But still I've got to go
What will become of us?
Oh, I don't care--
All I know is I'll go anywhere--
Pioneer.

Let your heart not be troubled…..

Margaret Cooper West {Margaret Cooper West.  My 3rd great-grandmother}

My heart is filled with gratitude for my pioneers—for all they sacrificed and suffered so that I could raise my children in a free and beautiful place…

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…and to The Band Perry for their beautiful words—their tribute to those who’ve gone before that struck such a chord in my heart…

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Julie

“Let your heart not be troubled…”

6 comments:

  1. Julie,
    What a wonderful post!!!! I have not heard the song but I love the words! I will have to do a page for my great grandfather this way...:) Thanks for the tip on the song! You are SO blessed to have photos that many generations deep!

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  2. I'll have to You Tube that song...I like The Band Perry. Great photos that went with those incredible lyrics.
    I am so in AWE of the things our ancestors overcame.

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  3. Great old photos Julie! Love the words to the song too. Your page is wonderful with the writing done like that. I've been away from Blogs for awhile (moving) but, I loved popping in today as I've missed my many friends like YOU!

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  4. Julie, loved your thoughts on pioneers and the photos of your family. A pioneer is anyone who breaks new ground and moves into new territory. As the first person in my family to be baptized into the church I am a pioneer, and the journey is not an easy one at times, but always worth it. Love you! xxoo

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  5. What a lovely tribute! I had never heard the song so I downloaded it while I was sitting here and listened to it as I scrolled through your post. It was awesome! So is your canvas! Twyla

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  6. Hi Julie, I really enjoyed this lovely post with all your family photos and this song - but the way you wrote the lyrics makes it even more fabulous! It's fun to imagine one of your great - great grandchildren reading this hundreds of years from now. You have made a big huge splash in your family history between all your layouts, journal pages and family stories you have documented here on your blog. Great job!
    Sandy

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