"Dare to do right"
2025 choir:
“Dare to do right” was a popular song found in numerous Bands of Hope and Bands of Mercy songbooks. Bands of Hope were organization for children as part of the Temperance Movement to teach children the value of abstinence, while Bands of Mercy taught children the humane treatment of animals. Bands used this song to join in the “fight” to reform society:
"Dare to do right! Dare to be true!
Other men's failure can never save you!
Stand by your conscience, your honor, your faith,
Stand like a hero and battle till death" (v. 2)
This song engages children with an almost militaristic thrill. The tune is by the famous American hymn-composer of catchy tunes, William Bradbury. Perhaps because of this singable tune, it was a favorite song of singers as they marched around the church, into a concert, or through the theatre. I could imagine them marching the streets of 19th C London too!
This is the 2020 choir singing and marching this from the stage before our Charlotte's Web performance:
Scores (pictured above):
Other men's failure can never save you!
Stand by your conscience, your honor, your faith,
Stand like a hero and battle till death" (v. 2)
This song engages children with an almost militaristic thrill. The tune is by the famous American hymn-composer of catchy tunes, William Bradbury. Perhaps because of this singable tune, it was a favorite song of singers as they marched around the church, into a concert, or through the theatre. I could imagine them marching the streets of 19th C London too!
This is the 2020 choir singing and marching this from the stage before our Charlotte's Web performance:
Scores (pictured above):
- The 1st score is from A Child’s Book of Hymns, sel & arr by Majorie Morrison Wyckoff, illus by Masha (NY: Random House, 1945.
- This 2nd score is from the Programme to a famous “Church of England Temperance Society Exeter Hall Meeting on April 26th, 1898, for adults as well as children. It prints the tune we used.
- Audio Recordings (above): 2019 Band of Mercy & 2025 Band of Mercy
- Visual Recording (above): 2020 Band of Mercy choir (pre-show to Charlotte's Web)
This page has paths:
- Part 2: Songs for School and Play Alisa Clapp-Itnyre
- Part 3: Animal Welfare (Bands of Mercy) Songs Alisa Clapp-Itnyre