It was written by Sister M Lydia Pereira (b 1920), and published in the 20th Century Folk Hymnal volume 1 (Mayhew-McCrimmond, 1974), and in some editions of Liturgical Hymns Old and New (Kevin Mayhew Ltd, 1990s).
The song is also in Our Songs: A Hymn Book for Catholic Schools (2001, Kevin Mayhew Ltd). This book is and available both directly from Kevin Mayhew Ltd, or through Amazon - it is the only source of sheet music for the song that has been found (apart from second-hand copies of the earlier books).
The song is set to an unnamed tune, also by Pereira. This has a 4/4 time signature. In the key of Gm, the first few notes are G G G d c B A_ with accompanying chords Gm / D7.
Downloads
No downloadable versions have been found, of either performances or the sheet music. If you know where to find one, please leave a message in the Comments box near the bottom of the page.Examples
No on-line examples have been found. If you know where to find one, please leave a message in the Comments box near the bottom of the page.Lyrics
The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:1 Joseph was an honest man,
he was an honest man.
He pleased the Lord in all his ways
because he was an honest man.
And God said: "I am choosing you,
because you are an honest man,
to care for the one who’ll bear my Son,
because you are an honest man."
2. Joseph was a faithful man,
he was a faithful man.
He kept the trust the Lord had given
because he was a faithful man.
He cared for Mary and her Son,
because he was a faithful man,
through days of pain and days of fun,
because he was a faithful man.
3 Joseph was a working man,
he was a working man.
He laboured as a carpenter
because he was a working man.
And daily at his work he'd be
because he was a working man,
no idler or a shirker he,
because he was a working man.
4 Joseph was a praying man,
he was a praying man.
He walked with God each single day,
because he was a praying man.
In joy or pain he'd turn to him,
because he was a praying man,
If fear did rage, or hope grew dim,
because he was a praying man.
5 Joseph was a honest man,
he was a honest man.
His blameless life won its reward,
because he was a honest man.
The Lord was pleased and called him home
because he was a faithful man,
with him to rest, no more to roam,
because he was a faithful man.
6 Joseph is a helping man,
he is a helping man.
He rescues those who turn to him
because he is a helping man.
So go to Joseph in your need
because he is a helping man,
You'll see him work with power and speed,
because he is a helping man.
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