Carry On
255

Text: Ruth May Fox (1853–1958; LDS)
Music: Alfred M. Durham (1872–1957; LDS)
Tune name: PAROWAN

“Onward with Mormon Ideals.” This was the theme of the Mutual Improvement Association conference of June 1930, held during the Church’s centennial year. These two influences— the thought of a hundred years of heritage and the admonition “onward”—combined to suggest the idea that became “Carry On.”

J. Spencer Cornwall obtained the following information from Leonard Grant Fox, son of Ruth May Fox: “An invitation had been sent throughout the Church for a song— words and music— which would be appropriate for the M-Men and Gleaners to sing at the conference. . . . A number of songs were submitted, but none was quite what had been hoped for. At a meeting of the executive officers of the M. I. A. the subject was discussed with some concern as the time was getting short. The meeting closed about noon, and Sister Fox was heard to say, ‘I guess I’ll have to see what I can do.’ Sister Van Noy recalls, ‘That same afternoon she came and said, “Elsie, will you type this up?” It was the lyrics to “Carry On.” Next morning she brought the song, having changed only one word, and asked me to make several copies.’”

J. Spencer Cornwall continued the story: “But the music was needed. Brother Alfred M. Durham was invited by Sister Fox to write the music for ‘Carry On.’ A few days later he called on Sister Fox. They found a piano where Brother Durham played his composition. For some time they went over the song together. After this interview Sister Fox remarked, ‘The music is lovely, just what I had in mind, something lively and catchy, a tune everyone can sing easily.’”

When someone commented to Alfred M. Durham that “the music does much for the song,” he modestly deflected the compliment and turned it toward Ruth May Fox: “The music was inspired by the words[;] they are the body of the song, the music is the adornment” (Stories of Our Mormon Hymns, 48–49).

Alfred M. Durham’s birthplace, Parowan, Utah, is the source of the tune name.