Salesian Songs

and

Other charms to soothe the savage beast. Supertrope
That's a word I just made up

Dominic Vautier
update 11/2021
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After too many drinks one night, I suddenly started singing Salesian songs from my aspirant days at Richmond (57-60), songs long ago lodged in some forgotten corner of my mind.  I remember how much we loved them and sang them all the time on field trips, on the bus and especially each morning before starting class.

At Richmond I was the "entoner" for part of my junior year (actually quite an honor since the job was reserved for seniors) and then again most of my senior year.  So during my senior year I totally shared the job with two other seniors, Larry Mullaly and Remo Scagliotti.  Everybody else in our class had tin ears and didn't want the job.

So here are some that I remember.  There are more in the back of my mind somewhere but in the interest of history I plan to write out the melodies sometime.  These songs are true jewels and should be preserved.  I don't know who wrote them or anything else about them.

I did try to do a basic rendition with my poor aging feeble vocal chords.  Since I donated my keyboard to Goodwill some time ago you have to bear with an a cappella which can't drown out the bad breathing. 

I don't know the last two songs but included them anyway.  I found them in the Salesian Camp song book. All Hail to Don Bosco comes to mind with the labora et ora but I just can't get the melody to come back.

We did a lot of other things like Ave Maria and Jesu Dulcis.  These can be found here.

OH DON BOSCO THY NAME DOES ENKINDLE

Oh Don Bosco thy name does enkindle
Burning fires of new zeal in our hearts
It impels us to strive for all virtue
And true brotherly ties it imparts  

Thou art powerful and great Oh Don Bosco
In thee greatness and kindness we find
Aid and foster all youthful endeavor
To be holy o father most kind

MY RENDITION

SAINT JOHN BOSCO O LOVING FATHER

Saint John Bosco, O loving Father
Now we lift our hearts and voices
As we gather around thine alter
Pouring forth our hearts in praises
Bless the young ones to thee dearest
Whose protection are employing
For in heaven thou remaineth
An apostle mid the adoring  

Don Bosco thy children on many a shore
Shall love and revere you till time be no more
Don Bosco thy children on many a shore
Shall love and revere you till time be no more.

MY RENDITION

UP BRAVE SELESIANS

Up brave Salesians, answer the cry
Wave high your banners right to the sky.
Show forth your valor, conquer your foe.
March thru life's battles, courage show.  

And when Salesian boys go smashing by
Let nations listen to their battle cry
We are the queen's men we're marching into the fray
Fighting for her by night and by day

CHORUS:

And when Salesians boys go marching through
We'll sweep their evil ranks away
And when we fight for queen neath battle blue
Then we the queen's sons will win that day.

MY RENDITION

ARMY OF YOUTH

An Army of Youth flying the standard of truth,
We're fighting for Christ the Lord,
Heads lifted high, Catholic Action our cry,
And the Cross our only sword.
On earth's battlefield
Never a vantage we'll yield
As dauntlessly on we swing.
Comrades true, dare and do,
Neath the Queen's white and blue
For our flag, for our Faith,
For Christ the King.

Christ lifts His hands, the King commands,
His challenge: "Come and follow Me."
From ev'ry side with eager stride
We form in the lines of victory.
Let foemen lurk and laggards shirk,
We throw our fortunes with the Lord.
Mary's Son, till the world is won
We have pledged You our loyal word.

MY RENDITION

PILGRIM'S JOURNEY (to tune Danny Boy)

I must go forth upon a pilgrim's journey
Along a strange and dimly hidden road.
I cannot see what joy or care is waiting there for me,
Nor can I tell its length or test my load.

(CHORUS)

But this I know, that faith will light my journey,
And Mercy share the burden I must bring;
That love divine will ever tread the road with me,
And lead the pilgrim to the palace of the King.

The road I'll take upon my pilgrim's journey
May tread its way thru sunny valleys fair,
May lie in gloom, may even lead where danger waits for me,
And I may find both joy and sorrow there.

(CHORUS)  

MY RENDITION

I am not fimiliar with the following songs.  They were in the Salesian song book. 

SALESIAN BUILDERS

Oh we are Salesian builders
Out west where the sunsets glow,
Where the brooks flow down like silver
From the heights of the virgin snow.
We build our trails through the valleys
Where the heart beats light and free,
Out there in the West
From the pineclad crest
To the shores of the rolling sea.  

Our light is the light of virtue,
Our strength is the strength of youth,
Our trails are trails of honor,
For we build with the stones of truth.
Our course is straight as the arrow
With a faith that's firm and true,
Our Salesian light shines forever bright
On the trail that is ever new.  

ALL HAIL TO DON BOSCO

All hail to Don Bosco, the lowly Apostle,
The Godsend immortal, the Savior of Youth.
To orphans a father, a guide to the indocile,
To demons a terror, to men source of truth.
Ah, countless indeed are the hearts he befriended,
Eternal and filial the homage they bear.
Don Bosco, Don Bosco! All voices are blended,
From Old World, from New World ,
One cry fills the air: Labora et ora ­'Twas noble a watchword that prompted

Don Bosco to arduous gain.
Labora et ora-This banner prodigious
Loved Sons of the Shepherd
Will ever unsullied and hallowed maintain. 

(CHORUS)

Our hearts are pure, our minds are sure,
No sin our gleaming helmet taintsI
No foemen fierce our shield shall pierce,
We're captained by God's unconquered Saints.
Yet peace we bring and a 9entle King
Whose law is light and life and love
Mary's Son, may Thy will be done Here on earth as it is above.