The Mystery of His Way

Bob Nolan
Original copyright: Renewed December of 1954

When angry storm clouds rise and wild winds sweep the skies,
I’m sure that this must be the myst’ry of His way.
Then comes a glory morn and bright new things are born.
All this that I may see the myst’ry of His way.

So climb you to the highest mountain
And look you to the world below.
Living things drink from His fountain
Then, reaching t’ward the sky, they grow and
In choral voice they sing, “This is a wondrous thing!”
And He will find a way to speak with you someday.
He’ll speak with you someday.

All his life, Bob Nolan sought after the "mystery of His way" and, according to his daughter, never could find the complete answer. He was convinced that God and Nature were one and the same and we see this theme consistently in his music. Although he did write standard religious songs ("All the Way", "Lighthouse of the Lord" , he told biographer Ken Griffis that he wrote them only for commercial purposes. They did not reflect his own beliefs—but "Relative Man", "He Walks with the Wild and the Lonely" or "Three Friends have I" did.

In 1952, "The Mystery of His Way" sheet music appeared in the songbook, Rex Allen - Arizona Cowboy Song Favorites No. 1 by Bob Nolan Music, Inc. In December of 1954, Bob registered a new copyright and it was again published as sheet music, this time with a photo of Bob from the 1944 Republic film, "Hands Across the Border".

On July 12, 1954, The Sons of the Pioneers recorded the song for Coral with their newest members. On November 23, 1962, The Pioneers finally recorded "The Mystery of His Way" for RCA Victor and it became available on the LPM/LSP recording "Hymns of the Cowboy".

The Mystery of His Way (Bob Nolan Music, Inc.)

SONS OF THE PIONEERS TRANSCRIPTION RECORDINGS

Lucky U Ranch radio shows (courtesy of Larry Hopper)
- Transcriptions disc TR-302/303 (March 28, 1952)
- Transcriptions disc TR-337/338 (April 23, 1952)
- Transcriptions disc TR-401/402 (June 6, 1952)
- Transcriptions disc TR-409/410 (June 12, 1952)
- Transcriptions disc TR-435/436 (July 1, 1952)
- Transcriptions disc TR-437/438 (July 2, 1952)
- Transcriptions disc TR-481/482 (August 19, 1952)
- Transcriptions disc TR-501/502 (September 2, 1952)
- Transcriptions disc TR-513/514 (October 10, 1952)
- Transcriptions disc TR-614/615 (December 22, 1952)
- Transcriptions disc TR-688/689 (February 11, 1953)
- Transcriptions disc TR-826/827 (May 18, 1953)

Smokey the Bear radio show, episode No. 7