I learned to love this song the summer of '76 while participating in the Hill Cumorah Pageant. In those days busloads of girls from BYU rode cross-country to participate. We went by the name Sister, wore dresses and name tags, and were expected to conduct ourselves a missionaries--complete with companions and flip charts. It was a great experience that I'm thankful for.
Now I am serving a full time, couple's mission. I want to use the song, but the lyrics were a challenge to find. Thanks to my brother-in-law Jim Duthie, I now have them.
My apologies to the composer. If someone knows who wrote Canandaigua Road, please send me the name and I will give credit. The sheet music here is the tune as I remember it.
CANANDAIGUA ROAD by Richard DeLand
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| Canandaigua Road and Hill Cumorah in early 1900s |
Down the dusty Canandaigua Road
Young Joseph Smith the Prophet quickly rode.
His eyes upon a lonely hill, a sacred mission to fulfill
Beside the dusty Canandaigua Road.
A Golden Book concealed beneath the stone
By an ancient prophet wandering alone.
In 1827 an angel came from heaven
To Joseph near the Canandaigua Road.
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| Joseph Smith |
To end a chosen people’s long dark night.
In 1827 when an angel came from heaven
To the Prophet near the Canandaigua Road.
Chorus:
Canandaigua, Canandaigua Road.
Dusty winding Canandaigua Road.
Devoting heart and soul to God
With his hand upon the Iron Rod
He traveled down the Canandaigua Road.
The fullness of the gospel came to man,
The Lord’s eternal and exalting plan.
A message from the Living God came forth from Old New England sod
Beside the winding Canandaigua Road.
The road led Joseph on to Carthage town
Where a mob with blazing rifles shot him down.
He died a martyr brave and true; His work is left for me and you
As we walk along OUR Canandaigua Road.
Like Joseph, walk YOUR Canandaigua Road.
Like Joseph, with courage bear your load.
Devoting heart and soul to God with your hand upon the Iron Rod
As you walk along YOUR Canandaigua Road.
Chorus:
Canandaigua, Canandaigua Road.
Dusty winding Canandaigua Road.
Devote YOUR heart and soul to God
With YOUR hand upon the Iron Rod
As you walk along YOUR Canandaigua Road.
Canandaigua, Canandaigua Road....
