I found two versions of this poem/song on a message board
They probably date from circa 1880-1890 and they’re to the tune of HR Palmer’s Have the Courage to Say No. They have very similar choruses but totally different verses. According to the message boards they were meant to be serious rallying songs for polygamists? I don’t know if that’s true but they needed to be here
first version:
The dark clouds of hatred are gathering,
They menace the saints with distress,
The nation in pride is forbidding
The saints to obey God’s behest.
Will the daughters of Zion be fearing
To choose for the right and for God?
With fines and imprisonment threatening
Will they hold fast the “Iron Rod”?Chorus:
Have courage, my girls, to say yes,
Have courage, my girls, to say yes,
If an Elder that’s true, should come wooing to you,
Have courage, my girls, to say yes.The nations of earth are corrupting
The fountain of life’s flowing stream,
Iniquity rank and corroding
Is festering, yet their lives with it teem,
God has commanded his people
To obey laws celestial and true
Will the daughters of Zion be faithful
And the trials of life bravely view?(Chorus)
Better marry a man who’d be constant
Though wives he may have more than you,
If he is faithful to God and his covenants
Be onward he’ll be faithful to you.
Through of Babylon’s proud wealth he can boast not,
Don’t fear if his heart’s only true,
The riches of earth can compare not
With affection eternal for you.(Chorus)
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second version:
You are starting my girl on a journey,
Along the grand highway of life
You soon will be watching for chances
To get to be somebody’s wife
Now if some frog of a bishop
Should ask you his harem to bless
Then hesitate not for more chances
Have courage my girl to say yesChorus:
Have courage my girl to say yes
Have courage my girl to say yes
Have courage my girl, Have courage my girl
Have courage my girl to say yesIt is pleasant to live on the tithing
In a room that is cozy and neat
And while you’re the pride of the harem
Oh doesn’t he think you are sweet?
Perhaps [his old?] women may grumble
And say that you lengthen distress
If you be tempted to marry
Have courage my girl to say yes. [Chorus]May be that some rosy apostle
Will [offer salvation?] to you
‘Tis at once to accept him
Be sure tis the right thing to do
He will give you a throne and dominions
A crown and a scepter, I guess
If you’re in search of salvation
Have courage my gal to say yes. [Chorus]Beware of Apostates and Gentiles
They surely shall lead you astray
‘Tis only the faithful annointed
Can keep [in?] the straight narrow way
Be sure you get married at Logan
Nor fear you have to confess
Nor have broken the law of the gospel–
Have courage my girl to say yes. [Chorus]
The Colorado City “double bird”
I’ve seen video of FLDS girls flipping the traditional bird but it’s usually censored and low-quality picture, nothing that would make a decent screencap
I’M GONNA GIT YOU
June 16, 2008 — COLORADO CITY, AZ: Members of the Jessop family weed the community corn field. The family grows about 30 percent of the food they consume and buy the rest at the town mercantile store.
photo by Jack Kurtz
Colorado City
chillin
photo by Jack Kurtz
Ruth Lane
funeral procession
submitted by politics-r-us