Poverello

This song about St Francis of Assisi was written by Australia Roman Catholic (Franciscan Missionary of Mary) religious sister, Irene O'Connor FMM (ref).   It was originally released under the name Myriam Frances.

It was written in the 1960s while she was working as a teacher in Singapore.  It was included on Strum to the Lord in 1967  (ref) and an album, Sing a Song to Lord, which was first released there in 1968, and then re-recorded and re-released in Phillips in Australia in 1973 and in the USA in 1976.  

Il Poverello is the nickname associated with St Francis of Assisi. Founder of the Franciscan Order 

The catalogue of the National Library of Australia says that a 27-page song book was produced in the 1970s, which presumably included this and all other tracks from Sing a Song to the Lord.   No current sources of this have been found.

Examples

No recordings have been located. If you know where to find one, please leave a message in the Comments box near the bottom of this page.

Lyrics   

The words below were found in similar sources to other Irene O'Connor songs.   They match her poetic style and approach   But because I have not located an on-line version of Irene O'Connor's song, I have not able to confirm if the words lyrics below are from it, or from another song with a similar title. 

If you have access to an original recording, please listen to it and compare the word below, and leave a message in the Comments box at the bottom of the page. 

Chorus:

Little Poverello, help us little Poverello, 

How to live as you did loving God and all men too 

You were every singing happiness to all men bringing 

Help us humble Francis, help us serve the Lord like you.

1. Mid shining sun or pouring rain 

you had but one refrain; 

For in your heart and on your lips 

was ever Jesus name.

2. Reveal to us the secret 

of your "Lady Poverty". 

For only when we're poor in heart 

 we have true liberty.

3. The world is seeking joy in vain, 

it longs for peace of mind. 

If men would love the Lord like you, 

true happiness they'd find.

See more ...

• Hymns about St Francis of Assisi

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY
I like to ride alone in open spaces,
Perhaps you think I haven’t got a friend.
But I am telling you that this is far from true,
'Cos never I'm alone, God is m' friend.

He rides along with me in sunny weather.
He comes along on rainy days as well..
No matter where I ride, he is always at my side.
'Cos never I'm alone, God is m' friend.

Yippee ai oh! Yippee ai yay!
I sing to Him while riding on my way
Yippee ai oh! Yippee ai yay!
This is my cowboy’s song to Him all day
Yippee ai oh ai yay!

And when I’m tired and weary He reminds me
And all my earthly troubles fade away
He lifts my thoughts above and He offers me His love
And all my cares and troubles fade away.

Yippee ai oh! Yippee ai yay!
Then all my cares and troubles fade away.
Yippee ai oh! Yippee ai yay!This is my cowboy’s song to Him all day
Yippee ai oh ai yay!

I like to ride alone in open spaces,
Perhaps you think I haven’t got a friend.
But I am telling you that this is far from true,
'Cos never I'm alone, God is m' friend.
'Cos never I'm alone, God is m' friend.
'Cos never I'm alone, God is m' friend.

Image from Wikimedia