Bringing In the Sheaves

"Bringing In the Sheaves" is a popular American hymn used almost exclusively by Protestant Christians (though the content is not specifically Protestant in nature). The lyrics were written in 1874 by Knowles Shaw, who was inspired by Psalm 126:6, "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Shaw also wrote music for these words, but they are now usually set to a tune by George Minor, written in 1880.

Lyrics

Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,

Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;

Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain

Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves,

Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,

Fearing neither clouds nor winter’s chilling breeze;

By and by the harvest, and the labor ended,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain

Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,

Though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves;

When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain

In popular culture

The song was sung by Lefty Enright in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, and has been sung by various characters in various episodes of The Simpsons. Members of the Crickets (as portrayed by Gary Busey, Don Stroud and Charles Martin Smith) sing a line of the song during a recording session in the film The Buddy Holly Story. The song was also a recurring favorite on Little House on the Prairie when the Ingalls family went to church. It is also featured in an episode of The Oblongs on Cartoon Network. Frank Zappa also used the song´s refrain as an intro to his song "Wonderful Wino".

"Bringing in the Sheaves" is found at the end of Losing Battles by southern American writer, Eudora Welty. It was also sung briefly by Reverend Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum) in The Night of the Hunter. The song is also heard being played by the three-piece marching band in the "Batman and the Bomb" scene in 1966's The Batman movie starring Adam West. The song was also a frequent favorite of Irene Ryan (Granny) on the Beverly Hillbillies television show in the 1960s.

In the "Milo Interrupted" episode of The Oblongs, Helga's temporary guardian sings this spiritual as well. In "A Jock Strap In Hell" (S06E05) of Two And A Half Men, Charlie Sheen is singing it in the church. This song was sung by Mounties in the film The Missouri Breaks while the horse thieves deride them.

• Faye Dunaway sings the hymn while bathing Dustin Hoffman in the movie Little Big Man.
• In Soap Season 2 Episode 15, a hobo sings the song to Chester Tate while in a soup line.
• In The Andy Griffith Show, the hymn was sung by a church congregation in "The Church Organ" episode, and in the episode "Bailey's Bad Boy," Barney Fife lulls town drunk Otis to sleep by humming the tune.
• The song was sung in the beginning sequence of Stephen King's Children of the Corn 2009 remake. Part of the refrain is quoted in The Mountain Goats' "Collapsing Stars".
• The song was used in Big Love Season 3 Episode 6, "Come Ye Saints", aired February 22, 2009.