It was written by American Roman Catholic and Medical Mission Sister Miriam Therese
Winter (b 1938). The song was originally published in Winter's 1965 collection "Joy is
like the Rain".
Sheet music for the Joy is Like the Rain collection can
be purchased through the
Medical Mission sisters website, and copies are occasionally available on Amazon.
The song starts with a four-line chorus, and this is repeated after each of the three verses. A rough outline is:
Downloads
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Original recording
Solo singer with guitar
Lyrics
The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website.The song starts with a four-line chorus, and this is repeated after each of the three verses. A rough outline is:
Chorus:
There was a man in Jericho called Zaccheus.
There was a man in Jericho called Zaccheus.
Now the Hebrews, they were tall, but Zaccheus, he was small,
Yet the Lord loved Zaccheus, better than them all.
1 The Lord went walking one day through Jericho town ...
2 The Lord said, “Zaccheus, I am dining with you today ...
3 Now Zaccheus was small of stature, but he could show ...
See more ...
Beautiful. Exactly the way I remember it back in the 1960s at St Mary's College Kisubi, Uganda
ReplyDeleteIt sounds a bit African to me this hymn. Never noticed that before.
DeleteThis beautiful song was taught by my classteacher/ choir master Mr. M.A.Newport of Scott Christian Higher Secondary School Nagercoil S. India
ReplyDeleteAfrica,India, Australia, Brooklyn, East Providence, USA, this hymn reached a lot of kids!
Deletethis is the perfect way to get back to god:)
ReplyDeleteThought to us Alter boys in Brooklyn n.y. in the 1970's
ReplyDeleteOMIGOSH, it's been at least 55 years since I heard this in actuality!!! It was part of my Lutheran Sunday School program, where I grew up, under the direction of Fran Ball (née Hepner)!! I always remembered the refrain but I could not remember the verse lyrics. Thank you, thank you so much for bringing back a wonderful memory of my childhood!!
ReplyDeleteIn 1965, I was 10 years old. My best friend, Janet and I played guitar and harmonized to this song as well as other catholic folk songs of the time. Back then, the 9am Sunday Mass was referred to as The Folk Mass. This took place at Sacred Heart Church, East Providence, RI.USA We performed at Mass for about 2 years. A new Pastor arrived and that was the end of the Folk Mass.
ReplyDeleteYes we learned this folk hymn I'm pretty sure with Sister Bernadine at St. Patrick's a primary in Blacktown, NSW in Australia in the 60's maybe 67 or so.
ReplyDeleteI clearly remember Joy is Like the Rain. I liked that one specially.
Today for some reason I have the song Zaccheus on my mind.
Yesterday the name Miriam popped into my head so maybe Sr. Miriam Winter is trying to tell me something today.
thanks,Miriam.
Gabby.