How Can I Keep from Singing?

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“How Can I Keep From Singing?”
“How Can I Keep From Singing?” cover
Single by Enya
from the album Shepherd Moons
B-side 'S Fágaim Mo Bhaile
Oíche Chiúin (Silent Night)
Released 1991
Recorded 1990
Genre New Age
Length 4:24
Label Warner Music
Writer(s) Robert Wadsworth Lowry
Producer Nicky Ryan
Enya singles chronology
"Caribbean Blue"
1991
"How Can I Keep from Singing?"
1991
"Book of Days"
1992

"How Can I Keep From Singing?" (listed in some hymnals by the opening line "My Life Flows On") is a Christian hymn written by American Baptist minister Robert Wadsworth Lowry in 1860. The original composition has now entered into the public domain. The song is frequently cited incorrectly as a traditional Quaker hymn.

Pete Seeger learned a version of this song from Doris Plenn, who had it from her North Carolina family. His version made this song fairly well known in the folk revival of the 1960s. Seeger's version omits much of the Christian wording of the original, and adds a verse. Most folk singers, including Enya, have followed Seeger's version.

The song received new prominence in 1991 when Irish singer Enya released a recording of the hymn on her album Shepherd Moons. It was also released as a single in the same year, with Oíche Chiún and 'S Fagaim Mo Bhaile appearing as additional tracks.

It is also sung by Dahlia Malloy (Minnie Driver) in the episode 'Virgin Territory' from Season One of FX's The Riches.

[edit] Recordings

Victoria Clark - "Fifteen Seconds of Grace" (2007)

[edit] External links