In the last five years of my Mother’s life she began to sing out loud. ‘Turn the Radio On’. My Mom would laugh and tell everyone that she could not sing to save her soul and this was true. I fall into that ‘can’t sing’ category too.
My Mom was not religious and she didn’t go to church or read a bible or attend a bible study. She believed that ‘when you’re dead, you’re dead’. So it came as a big surprise to all of us that she would randomly and often sing ‘Turn the Radio On.’
She would smile and clap and dance.
Perhaps she brought back early childhood memories of the song being played on the radio as a toddler. She was born in 1935. (This Christian song was written in ‘37 and released in ‘38-39’.) This is the only explanation we have.
This song clearly gave her a lot of joy and eventually we would all join in too. The story behind the song is interesting.
The cake was a sweet gift from my Daughter Taylor who knew this would brighten her Grandmother’s day. A store-bought white cake, white icing beauty.
My Mom passed away in December 2021 and this cake makes me smile.
“Turn the Radio On” (lyrics)
Well come and listen in
To a radio station
Where the mighty hosts
Of heaven sing
Turn your radio on
(Turn your radio)
Turn your radio on
(Turn your radio on)
If you want to feel
Those good vibrations
Comin' from the joy
That His love can bring
Turn your radio on
(Turn your radio on)
Turn your radio on
Turn your radio on
(Oh yes turn your radio on)
And listen to the music in the air
Turn your radio on
(Oh yes turn your radio on)
And glory share
(Glory glory share)
Turn your lights down low
(Oh yes turn your lights down low)
And listen to the Master's radio
Get in touch with God
(Get in touch with God)
Turn your radio on
(Turn your radio on)
Don'tcha know that everybody
Is a radio receiver
All you gotta do
Is listen for the call
Turn your radio on
(Turn your radio)
Turn your radio on
(Turn your radio on)
If you listen in
You will be a believer
Leanin' on the truth
That will never fall
Get in touch with God
(Get in touch with God)
Turn your radio on
Turn your radio on
(Oh yes turn your radio on)
And listen to the music in the air
Turn your radio on
(Oh yes turn your radio on)
And glory share
(Glory glory share)
Turn your lights down low
(Oh yes turn your lights down low)
And listen to the Master's radio-o-o-o-o
(Turn your lights down low
And listen to the Master's radio)
Get in touch with God
(Get in touch with God)
Turn your radio on
(Turn your radio on)
Songwriter: Albert E. Brumley Sr. 1937
Brumley wrote over 800 songs, including, I’ll Fly Away, I’ll Meet You In The Morning and He Set Me Free.