YRCC Small Group, Spring 2026 My Life Flows On: How Can I Keep From Singing

I posted the following in the Event description for this small group, but I thought I would share it with everyone. A number of people walked in as the small group was practising, so I felt compelled to explain what they were hearing. It's a hymn, from the United Church red hymn book, Voices United. Number 716 is listed as My Life Flows On because the main index for finding hymns lists them with the first line, and most Hymns are named that way anyway. How Can I Keep From Singing is the proper title, and that was used by Pete Seeger and then by Enya in popular and folk singing. Needing song, the necessity of singing is a big part of our theme, but when I saw the hymn was called My Life Flows On, I wanted to use that for our program, because it's in a set with My Heart Goes On, and that's such a wonderful synchronicity. 

How Can I Keep From Singing/ My Life Flows On

Please watch this Enya video. Enya's version is the only one I knew. "The video features Enya singing in a church in the Gaoth Dobhair countryside while also including archive footage of political figures such as Nelson Mandela and Boris Yeltsin, among others, and references to the Gulf War and famine. The line about tyrants trembling shows Gennady Yanayev, leader of the 1991 August Coup, in a press conference with visibly trembling hands—apparently toward the end when the coup was unraveling." (from Wikipedia)

How apropos of our times, and our theme! (And, it has meaning and synchronicity beyond this, because it means something personal to some individuals in the choir as well. ) 

Here's Pete Seeger's version

Here are our lyrics, which are only slightly different from the United Church Hymn 716, and slightly different from Enya's and slightly different from Pete Seeger's versions. This song is in the public domain. 

My life flows on in endless song
Above earth's lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.

Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear it's music ringing,
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?

While though the tempest loudly roars,
I hear the truth, it liveth.
And though the darkness 'round me close,
Songs in the night it giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that rock I'm clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?

When tyrants tremble in their fear
And hear their death knell ringing,
When friends rejoice both far and near
How can I keep from singing?

In prison cell and dungeon vile
Our thoughts to them are winging,
When friends by shame are undefiled
How can I keep from singing?

No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that rock I'm clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?