Now Is the Cool of the Day

Jean Ritchie (1922-2015) is perhaps the best known and most respected singer of traditional ballads in the United States. In addition to performing, she was also a composer. Her understanding of the Appalachian folk tradition was so deep that many of her original songs might easily be mistaken as traditional folk songs themselves. Now Is the Cool of the Day gently yet powerfully calls us to be greater stewards of the earth, environment, and human rights. The chorus alludes to Genesis 3:8 (“And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day”) but portrays Eden as the garden we inhabit and must care for in the present day. Originally released on Ritchie’s 1977 recording “None But One,” the song has found its way into the repertoire of numerous folk artists, and has been used as an anthem to voice opposition to mountaintop removal mining in the Appalachian Mountains. Its timely and critical message lends itself perfectly to choral performance. I hope this arrangement of Now Is the Cool of the Day will bring an even wider recognition to Jean Ritchie’s work.

My Lord he said unto me,
”Do you like my garden so fair?
You may live in this garden if you keep the grasses green,
and I’ll return in the cool of the day.”

Then my Lord he said unto me,
”Do you like my garden so pure?
You may live in this garden if you keep the waters clean,
and I’ll return in the cool of the day.”

Now is the cool of the day,
now is the cool of the day,
O this earth is a garden, the garden of my Lord,
And he walks in his garden in the cool of the day.

Then my Lord he said unto me,
”Do you like my garden so green?
You may live in this garden if you keep the people free,
and I’ll return in the cool of the day.”

Now is the cool of the day,
now is the cool of the day,
O this earth is a garden, the garden of my Lord,
And he walks in his garden in the cool of the day.