I Would Be True

DESCRIPTION: "I would be true, for there are those who trust me; I would be pure, for there are those who care; I would be strong, for there is much to suffer; I would be brave, for there is much to dare (x2)." "I would be friend of all, the foe, the friendless"
AUTHOR: Words: Howard A. Walter (source: hymnary.org); tune "Peak" attributed to Joseph Yates Peek in Rodeheaver-SociabilitySongs
EARLIEST DATE: 1906 (source: hymnary.org)
KEYWORDS: religious nonballad campsong
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (6 citations):
Harbin-Parodology, #417, p. 102, "I Would Be True" (1 text)
Rodeheaver-SociabilitySongs, p. 93, "I Would Be True" (1 text, 1 tune)
Averill-CampSongsFolkSongs, pp. 162-163, "I Would Be True" (notes only)
Zander/Klusmann-CampSongsNThings, p. 107, "I Would Be True" (1 text, 1 tune)
Zander/Klusmann-CampSongsPopularEdition, p. 55, "I Would Be True" (1 text)
SongsOfManyNations, "I Would Be True" (1 text) (CC edition, p. 92)
NOTES [27 words]: An interesting "hymn," in that it has no religious references although it emphasizes Christian virtues. It's easy to see why it would become popular in camps. - RBW
Last updated in version 6.3
File: ACSF162I

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