Question: What song about heaven never mentions heaven by name? Answer: "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere"
Written in 1897 by Jessie B. Pounds, with music by John F. Fearis, this old-fashioned sounding song has been a popular favorite for more than a century. It was reportedly one of President William McKinley's favorite songs and was sung at his funeral after he was assassinated in 1901.
The hymn has been recorded extensively and in a wide variety of styles. One of the first recordings was by Irish tenor, John McCormack, in 1914. Early country singer Bradley Kincaid recorded it, as did opera singer Richard Crooks, 40's popular singer, Jo Stafford, country singer Eddie Arnold, and blues singer Geoff Muldaur. The song was also featured in the 1939 film, Colorado Sunset, where Gene Autry croons it in a funeral scene.
Vocabulary lesson of the day: The word guerdon used in the second verse may not be familiar to some. The dictionary defines it as reward, recompense, or payment.