It was written by American Rlman Catholic World War II veteran and songwriter John Redmond Lynskey - known as John Redmond (1906-1982), with John Ward (details unknown).
The song was the title-track of an album released by the Religious Music Guild (ref) in 1955 titled "The Ten Commandments Song for Little Children". A companion music booklet, which also included songs from "Seven Songs on the Seven Sacraments" provided sheet music arranged by James McCormack, and was published by Paterson, New Jersey in 1956.
In 2016, St Augustine Academy Press released a book and accompanying CD titled Catholic Songs for Children, which includes the songs from The Ten Commandments and some other Redmond's later works. This book includes piano-arrangements for all the songs.
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Examples
Children's choir:
Singer with guitar:
Lyrics
English spelling
First, I must honour God,Second, honour His Name,
Third, on His day be holy, this will be my aim.
Fourth, I must be obedient,
Fifth, be kind and true,
Sixth, be pure in all I say and see and hear and do.
Seventh, I must be honest
Eighth, be truthful in all things I say
Ninth, be pure in mind and heart and all I think and desire each day.
Tenth, I must be satisfied, not be jealous come what may
These are God's Ten Commandments,
These I must obey.
American spelling
First, I must honor God,Second, honor His Name,
Third, on His day be holy, this will be my aim.
Fourth, I must be obedient,
Fifth, be kind and true,
Sixth, be pure in all I say and see and hear and do.
Seventh, I must be honest
Eighth, be truthful in all things I say
Ninth, be pure in mind and heart and all I think and desire each day.
Tenth, I must be satisfied, not be jealous come what may
These are God's Ten Commandments,
These I must obey.
That's exactly how I remember it!! I was born in the 60's but remember this from CCD in the 70s for sure. Funny how these things stick with you!
ReplyDeleteI am from the same era and learned the song in CCD as well. The problem is and what I have always wondered is why the songs order is wrong. The second and third commandments are not correct. ?
ReplyDeleteYes they are correct. The Protestants put the first two Commandments into one then divided up the tenth so as to still have ten, so this messed up the order. Why was this done? Personally I think it was because they reckoned Catholics adore statues but of course we don't. They perhaps wanted to press home that one must not adore graven images which God of course requires but if one looks at the long version of the Ten Commandments in the Bible one sees God said thou shalt not make graven images so as to fall down and adore them. He did not say don't make images at all. He commanded that there be images of angels on the Ark of the Covenant.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, I learned this in the first grade in the 60’s and still remember it!
ReplyDeleteOh my God! I learned this at St Mary's High School in Lesotho, in 1970. Thanks to my Bible Teacher, sister Teresa. I have taught it to my former Primary students, my children and now to my grand children.
ReplyDeleteI learned that song during the 60's at St. Matilda' Catholic School!!!! I remembered most of the lyrics. It brought back memories. I was either in the first grade or second grade.
ReplyDeleteSo happy to have found the lyrics! I learned this in the late 60sand loved it, but I couldn't remember the 6th and 9th commandments so I haven't been able to teach it to my grandchildren, but they will learn it now when I see them over Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI learned that in the 80's in Catholic school....too funny....
ReplyDeleteI'd love to know.those guotar chords.
ReplyDeleteBarb,
ReplyDeleteLook carefully at the priest's hands in the second video. Play along with his changes. I lost most of my hearing but I "hear" in my head/memory and I do not agree with some of his chord changes. But, they are a good starting point. Yes, I was a musician. A guitar player to be specific. After you play it enough, you will get a "feel" for it. take it from there.
I learned this song in the 1960's from the Ursulines. It remains near to my heart.
I learned this at my home from my parents. It was on an album but can't remember by who. It was a blue album cover.
ReplyDeleteBrings back memories of a simpler time !
ReplyDeleteI learned it in 1958
ReplyDeleteI learned it in the late 60s at St Catherine Labure in lake Katrine New York and have all these years sang it
ReplyDeleteLike everyone else commenting I’m thrilled to have found this! Learned it in the 60s in Catholic school. All these years I wondered who they were one off from the actual commandments. I appreciate the explanation from the commenter that they put the first two together so every commandment after that is off by one.
ReplyDeleteI also am excited to find this song which I learned in the late 50's at St. Wenceslaus Scool in Maple Heights, Ohio. It has stuck with me all these years. There were also songs about the sacraments on the same album. I wish I could find those, too. Will keep searching!
ReplyDeleteJust awesome! such great memories of singing that song!!!
ReplyDeleteI remember teaching this song to my class when I was really young I heard it and memorized it I still sing it to this day
ReplyDeleteI learned this song of the 10 Commandments at Saint Bernard's Elementary School in Northeast Philadelphia from 1964 through 1968. One Nun made sure we sang it each day of a particular school year. I always liked this song and was a Joy for all of us to sing.
ReplyDelete