Category: Traditional English

Come down, O love Divine (Down Ampey) Lyrics Come down, O love divine, seek Thou this soul of mine, And visit it with Thine own ardor glowing. O Comforter, draw near, within my heart appear, And kindle it, Thy holy flame bestowing. O let it freely burn, til earthly passions turn To dust and ashes in its heat consuming; And let Thy glorious light shine ever on my sight, And ...
Farmer, farmer, why do you plough Hymn – Farmer, farmer, why do you plough – Lyrics Recording Extract Details Tune: Farmer Farmer Meter: Irregular Style: Traditional English Church Year: Harvest Composer: Susan Sayers – arranger: Richard Mark Stephen Irwin Lyricist: Susan Sayers Music and Lyrics Copyright © 1984 Kevin Mayhew Ltd Performance Copyright © 2008 Richard M S Irwin. Certain rights reserved.
Father, hear the prayer we offer (Sussex) Tune: Sussex Meter: 87 87 Style: Traditional English Composer: Unknown adapted by arranger: Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 – 1958) Lyricist: Love Maria Whitcomb Willis (1824 – 1908) Church Year: General Music and Lyrics Copyright Public Domain Performance Copyright ℗ 2016 Richard M S Irwin, Certain rights reserved. You can download the free MP3 recording for use in Worship by clicking on the Download ...
Firmly I believe and truly (Shipston) – Organ Lyrics Firmly I believe and truly God is Three, and God is One; And I next acknowledge duly Manhood taken by the Son. And I trust and hope most fully In that Manhood crucified; And each thought and deed unruly Do to death, as He has died. Simply to His grace and wholly Light and life and strength belong, And I love supremely, solely, Him the holy, ...
For the beauty of the earth (England’s Lane) – Organ Hymn – For the beauty of the earth – Lyrics For the beauty of the earth, For the beauty of the skies, For the love which from our birth Over and around us lies, Lord of all, to thee we raise This our grateful hymn of praise. For the beauty of each hour Of the day and of the night, Hill and vale, and ...
For the beauty of the earth (Heathlands) – Organ Hymn – For the beauty of the earth – Lyrics For the beauty of the earth, For the beauty of the skies, For the love which from our birth Over and around us lies, Lord of all, to thee we raise This our grateful hymn of praise. For the beauty of each hour Of the day and of the night, Hill and vale, and ...
Forth in the peace of Christ we go (Deo Gracias) Lyrics Recording See also Forth in the peace of Christ we go (Duke Street) Details Tune: Deo Gracias Meter: LM Style: Classical Composer: Unknown – 15th Century English melody arranged by Richard M S Irwin (b.1955) Lyricist: James Quinn (1919 – 2010) Music Copyright © 2018 Richard M S Irwin Performance Copyright ℗ 2018 Richard M S Irwin. Certain rights reserved.
God rest you merry, gentlemen (God Rest You Merry) Carol – God rest you merry, gentlemen – Lyrics 1. God rest ye merry, gentlemen Let nothing you dismay Remember, Christ, our Saviour Was born on Christmas day To save us all from Satan’s power When we were gone astray O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy O tidings of comfort and joy 2. In Bethlehem, in Israel, This blessed Babe was born And laid ...
I saw three ships come sailing in Carol – I saw three ships come sailing in – Lyrics 1. I saw three ships come sailing in, On Christmas day, on Christmas day, I saw three ships come sailing in, On Christmas day in the morning. 2. And what was in those ships all three? On Christmas day, on Christmas day, And what was in those ships all three? On Christmas ...
It came upon a midnight clear (Noël) – Organ and Trumpet Descant Lyrics It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth To touch their harps of gold; “Peace on the earth, good will to men, From Heaven’s all gracious King.” The world in solemn stillness lay, To hear the angels sing. Still through the cloven skies they come With peaceful wings unfurled, And still their heavenly music floats O’er all ...
It is a thing most wonderful (Herongate) – Organ Lyrics It is a thing most wonderful, Almost too wonderful to be, That God’s own Son should come from Heav’n, And die to save a child like me. And yet I know that it is true; He chose a poor and humble lot, And wept and toiled and mourned and died, For love of those who loved Him not. I cannot tell how He ...
Jesus shall reign where’er the sun (Truro) – Orchestra Hymn- Jesus shall reign where’er the sun – Lyrics Jesus shall reign where’er the sun Does his successive journeys run; His kingdom stretch from shore to shore, Till moons shall wax and wane no more. People and realms of every tongue Dwell on His love with sweetest song; And infant voices shall proclaim Their early blessings on His Name. Blessings abound wherever He reigns; The ...
Jesus shall reign where’er the sun (Truro) – Organ with Trumpet Descant Hymn- Jesus shall reign where’er the sun – Lyrics Jesus shall reign where’er the sun Does his successive journeys run; His kingdom stretch from shore to shore, Till moons shall wax and wane no more. People and realms of every tongue Dwell on His love with sweetest song; And infant voices shall proclaim Their early blessings on His Name. Blessings abound wherever He reigns; The ...
Jesus, Thou divine companion (Saltash) – Organ Lyrics Jesus, Thou divine companion, By thy lowly human birth Thou hast come to join the workers, Burden bearers of the Earth. Thou the carpenter of Nazareth, Toiling for thy daily food, By thy patience and Thy courage, Thou hast taught us toil is good. They who tread the path of labour Follow where thy feet have trod; They who work without complaining Do the holy will ...
O Lord, my God, I thirst for You (Kingsfold) Lyrics “God my Rock” O Lord, my God, I thirst for You, I long to see your face, Just as the hunted deer is stressed I falter in the race; My heart cries out, my tears run down, I am in deep distress, “Where is your God?” men say to me, They taunt me and oppress. Lord, when will I be helped by You, I struggle ...
On Christmas night all Christians sing (Sussex Carol) Lyrics On Christmas night all Christians sing To hear the news the angels bring; On Christmas night all Christians sing To hear the news the angels bring; News of great joy, news of great mirth, News of our merciful King’s birth. Then why should men on earth be sad Since our Redeemer made us glad; Then why should we on earth be sad Since our ...
To whom will you the Lord compare? (Herongate) Lyrics To whom will you the Lord compare? Is there His equal anywhere? O lift up your eyes and the heavens survey, Who made this most amazing display? The Lord Himself formed all these arrays Of galaxies, of milky ways, He cares for each one of the vast starry host, So great is He, not one becomes lost. So why then say your way ...
Unto the hills (Thys Endrys Night) Lyrics Unto the hills I lift my eyes; From whence shall help arise? My help comes from the Lord alone, Maker of earth and skies. He shall not let your foot be moved, He watches His beloved. Behold, He guards His chosen ones, In sleep they are un-moved. The Lord’s your keeper, night and day; At your right hand, come what may; Not sun, nor moon, ...
We plough the fields and scatter (Wir Pflügen) – Brass Band Lyrics We plough the fields, and scatter The good seed on the land, But it is fed and watered By God’s almighty hand; He sends the snow in winter, The warmth to swell the grain, The breezes and the sunshine, And soft refreshing rain. Refrain All good gifts around us Are sent from heav’n above, Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord For all his love. He only ...
We read of a place that’s called Heaven (How beautiful Heaven must be) Hymn – We read of a place that’s called Heaven – Lyrics We read of a place that’s called heaven, It’s made for the pure and the free; These truths in God’s Word He hath given, How beautiful heaven must be. How beautiful heaven must be, Sweet home of the happy and free; Fair heaven of rest for the weary, How beautiful heaven ...
What Child is this (Greensleeves) – Guitar and Flute Lyrics What Child is this who, laid to rest On Mary’s lap is sleeping? Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet, While shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing; Haste, haste, to bring Him laud, The Babe, the Son of Mary. Why lies He in such mean estate, Where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christians, fear, for ...
When a knight won his spurs (Stowy) Lyrics When a knight won his spurs, in the stories of old, He was gentle and brave, he was gallant and bold; With a shield on his arm and a lance in his hand, For God and for valour he rode through the land. No charger have I, and no sword by my side, Yet still to adventure and battle I ...
Why do you say your way is not clear? (Herongate) Hymn – Why do you say your way is not clear? – Lyrics Why do you say your way is not clear, Why do you say “The Lord is not near,” For have you not known this, and have you not heard, The Everlasting God is your Lord? And He who made the Heavens and earth Sees all your need, knows ...

For the beauty of the earth (Heathlands) – Organ

Hymn – For the beauty of the earth – Lyrics

For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon and stars of light,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
Pleasures pure and undefiled,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

For each perfect gift of thine,
To our race so freely given,
Graces human and divine,
Flowers of earth and buds of heaven,
Lord of all, to thee we raise

Recordings

Original Key in D Major

The music used in this recording belongs in the Public Domain, but the Performance rights ℗ belong to Richard M S Irwin. You may click the Download Button to obtain the MP3 recording for use in Worship or for personal use only. For other uses of the recording, please Contact Us. If you use our hymns, please consider a donation to help keep this service free.

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Lower Setting in B Major

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Details

Tune: England’s Lane
Meter: 77 77 77
Style: Traditional English
Composer: Henry Thomas Smart (1813 – 1879)
Lyricist: Folliot Sandford Pierpoint (1835 – 1917)
Music Copyright Unknown
Lyrics Copyright Public Domain
Performance Copyright ℗ 2018 Richard M S Irwin. Certain rights reserved.

Jesus shall reign where’er the sun (Truro) – Organ with Trumpet Descant

Hymn- Jesus shall reign where’er the sun – Lyrics

Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
Does his successive journeys run;
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Till moons shall wax and wane no more.

People and realms of every tongue
Dwell on His love with sweetest song;
And infant voices shall proclaim
Their early blessings on His Name.

Blessings abound wherever He reigns;
The prisoner leaps to lose his chains;
The weary find eternal rest,
And all the sons of want are blessed.

As rain on meadows newly mown,
So shall He send his influence down:
His grace on fainting souls distills,
Like heav’nly dew on thirsty hills.

Let every creature rise and bring
Peculiar honors to our King;
Angels descend with songs again,
And earth repeat the loud amen!

Recording

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Details

Tune: Truro
Meter: LM
Style: Traditional English
Usage: General, Epiphany, Trinity
Composer: Thomas Williams in Psalmodia Evangelica (1789)
Lyricist: Isaac Watts (1674 – 1748)
Music and Lyrics Public Domain.
Performances Copyright © 2011 – 2013 Richard M S Irwin. Certain rights reserved.

Jesus shall reign where’er the sun (Truro) – Orchestra

Hymn- Jesus shall reign where’er the sun – Lyrics

Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
Does his successive journeys run;
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Till moons shall wax and wane no more.

People and realms of every tongue
Dwell on His love with sweetest song;
And infant voices shall proclaim
Their early blessings on His Name.

Blessings abound wherever He reigns;
The prisoner leaps to lose his chains;
The weary find eternal rest,
And all the sons of want are blessed.

As rain on meadows newly mown,
So shall He send his influence down:
His grace on fainting souls distills,
Like heav’nly dew on thirsty hills.

Let every creature rise and bring
Peculiar honors to our King;
Angels descend with songs again,
And earth repeat the loud amen!

Recording

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Details

Tune: Truro
Meter: LM
Style: Traditional English
Usage: General, Epiphany, Trinity
Composer: Thomas Williams in Psalmodia Evangelica (1789)
Lyricist: Isaac Watts (1674 – 1748)
Music and Lyrics Public Domain.
Performances Copyright © 2011 – 2013 Richard M S Irwin. Certain rights reserved.

Jesus, Thou divine companion (Saltash) – Organ

Lyrics

Jesus, Thou divine companion,
By thy lowly human birth
Thou hast come to join the workers,
Burden bearers of the Earth.
Thou the carpenter of Nazareth,
Toiling for thy daily food,
By thy patience and Thy courage,
Thou hast taught us toil is good.

They who tread the path of labour
Follow where thy feet have trod;
They who work without complaining
Do the holy will of God.
Never more thou needest seek me,
I am with thee ever more;
Raise the stone and thou shalt find me,
Cleave the wood and I am there.

Where the many toil together,
There am I amongst my own;
Where the tired workman sleepeth,
There I am with him alone.
I the peace which passeth knowledge
Dwell amidst the daily strife;
I the bread of Heaven broken
In the sacrament of life.

Every task, however simple,
Sets the soul who does it free;
Every deed of love and mercy,
Done to man, is done to me.
Never more thou needest seek me,
I am with thee ever more;
Raise the stone and thou shalt find me,
Cleave the wood and I am there.

Recording

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Details

Tune: Saltash
Meter: 87 87 D
Style: Traditional English
Composer: Joshua Leavitt (1794 – 1873)
Lyricist: Henry Van Dyke (1852 – 1933) based on the words of the apostle Thomas Didymus in “The Sayings of Jesus” from the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Church Year: General
Music and Lyrics Copyright Public Domain
Performance Copyright © 2012 Richard M S Irwin. Certain rights reserved.

O Lord, my God, I thirst for You (Kingsfold)

Lyrics

“God my Rock”

O Lord, my God, I thirst for You,
I long to see your face,
Just as the hunted deer is stressed
I falter in the race;
My heart cries out, my tears run down,
I am in deep distress,
“Where is your God?” men say to me,
They taunt me and oppress.

Lord, when will I be helped by You,
I struggle day and night?
O hear my prayer, enable me
to stand in your great might;
I look back on those days gone by
when, Lord, You were so near,
when in your house with festive throng
I praised your Name so dear.

So why am I cast down, O Lord,
and why should I feel low?
You are my God, my Saviour strong,
Your praise from me shall flow;
I think of all your works, O Lord,
Your saving power of old,
So when beset and overwhelmed,
I will your strength take hold.

Your loving-kindness fills my days,
Your song at night I sing,
And when my fears assail again
to You I’ll tightly cling;
My hope is fixed on God, my Rock,
His own He won’t forget;
Be still my soul, my face will shine
And I will praise Him yet.

This hymn is based on Psalm 42, a prayer to God in which the writer expresses his deep desire for God’s presence at a time of great distress. In my reflection on this psalm I have sought to echo the heartfelt cry of the psalmist as he moves from a sense of unexplained and painful isolation from God to a confident trust in God and in His faithfulness.

Recording

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Details

Tune: Kingsfold
Meter: DCM
Style: Traditional English
Composer: Unknown Originally adapted by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 – 1958) – arranger: Richard Mark Stephen Irwin (b. 1955)
Lyricist: Anthony Oliver Robertson (b. 1932)
Usage: General
Music Copyright Public Domain
Lyrics Copyright Anthony O. Robertson © 2010 based on Psalm 42
Performance Copyright © 2012 Richard M S Irwin. Certain rights reserved.

To whom will you the Lord compare? (Herongate)

Lyrics

To whom will you the Lord compare?
Is there His equal anywhere?
O lift up your eyes and the heavens survey,
Who made this most amazing display?

The Lord Himself formed all these arrays
Of galaxies, of milky ways,
He cares for each one of the vast starry host,
So great is He, not one becomes lost.

So why then say your way is not clear,
Why do you say “The Lord is not near,”
For have you not known this, and have you not heard,
The Everlasting God is your Lord?

And He who made the Heavens and earth
Sees all your need, knows all your worth;
He never grows tired, or weary or faint,
He cares for sinners, loves every saint.

He aids the weary, strengthens the frail,
And even strong ones falter and fail;
But those who patiently wait on the Lord
With eagles’ wings will rise up and soar.

Trust in the Lord for He ever lives,
Run in the strength that Jesus gives;
Walk on in Him Who never lets down,
Who keeps for ever, gives a crown.

Recording

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Details

Verses: 6
Tune: Herongate
Meter: LM
Style: Traditional English
Usage: General
Composer: Unknown
Original arranger: Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 – 1958)
This version arranger: Richard Mark Stephen Irwin (b. 1955)
Lyricist: Anthony Oliver Robertson (b. 1932)
Music Copyright Public Domain
Lyrics Copyright Anthony O. Robertson © 2012
Arrangement and Performance Copyright © 2011 Richard M S Irwin. Certain rights reserved.

Inspiration

This hymn is based on Isaiah 40:25-31

To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these, that bringeth out their host by number:
he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that strong in power; not one faileth.
Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel,
My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?
There is no searching of his understanding.
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Unto the hills (Thys Endrys Night)

Lyrics

Unto the hills I lift my eyes;
From whence shall help arise?
My help comes from the Lord alone,
Maker of earth and skies.

He shall not let your foot be moved,
He watches His beloved.
Behold, He guards His chosen ones,
In sleep they are un-moved.

The Lord’s your keeper, night and day;
At your right hand, come what may;
Not sun, nor moon, will cause you harm:
The Lord’s your Rock and Stay.

He shall preserve from evils sore,
He’ll save you o’er and o’er.
Your going out, your coming in,
From now and evermore.

Recording

Instrumental

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Performance with voices from michael e. owens

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SATB Score

page1-463px-Unto_the_Hills_-_Penney-VW.pdf 1

Details

Tune: Thys Endrys Night
Meter: CM
Style: Traditional English
Usage: General
Composer: Unknown, arranger: Richard M S Irwin (b. 1955)
Lyricist: Brian L. Penney from Psalm 121.
Music Copyright Public Domain
Lyrics Copyright Brian L. Penney 2009
Performance Copyright © 2009 Richard M S Irwin. Certain rights reserved.

We plough the fields and scatter (Wir Pflügen) – Brass Band

Lyrics

We plough the fields, and scatter
The good seed on the land,
But it is fed and watered
By God’s almighty hand;
He sends the snow in winter,
The warmth to swell the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine,
And soft refreshing rain.

Refrain
All good gifts around us
Are sent from heav’n above,
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord
For all his love.

He only is the Maker
Of all things near and far;
He paints the wayside flower,
He lights the evening star;
The winds and waves obey him,
By him the birds are fed;
Much more to us, his children,
He gives our daily bread. Refrain

We thank thee, then, O Father,
For all things bright and good,
The seed time and the harvest,
Our life, our health, our food:
No gifts have we to offer
For all thy love imparts,
But that which thou desirest,
Our humble, thankful hearts. Refrain

Recordings

Original Key in A Flat

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Lower Key in F

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Details

Verses: 4
Tune: Wir Pflügen
Meter: 76 76 D and Refrain
Style: Traditional English, Traditional German
Usage: Harvest
Composer: Johann Abraham Schulz (1747 – 1800)
Harmony: John Bacchus Dykes (1823 – 1876)
Lyricist: Matthias Claudius (1740 – 1815)
Translator: Jane Montgomery Campbell (1817 – 1878)
Music and Lyrics Copyright Public Domain

History

This well-known harvest hymn might appear to come from the English countryside, but it has rather different origins. It is the Peasant’s Song from a sketch by Matthias Claudius in Paul Erdmann’s Fest (Hamburg, 1782), depicting a harvest thanksgiving in a North German farmhouse. Based upon a song heard sung at the home of one of the farmers. Claudius was for some time an atheist, but later renewed his Christian faith. At the time of writing this hymn he was editor of the local paper in Hesse Darmstadt, where he was also a Commissioner of Agriculture.

Originally seventeen verses long, each verse followed by a refrain, the hymn was translated into English by Miss Jane Montgomery Campbell. This translation, though not very literal, attempts to preserve the spirit of the original. It first appeared in Rev Charles S Bere’s A Garland of Songs (1861) and subsequently in the Appendix (1868) to Hymns Ancient and Modern, where verse 3 was revised to the present text from the original:

line 5 – No gifts have we to offer… (rev. Accept the gifts we offer) line 7 – But that which thou desirest… (rev. And, what thou most desirest…)

This alteration was probably introduced to make the hymn suitable for services where harvest produce was on view or offered by the worshippers, although the English Hymnal continues to use the original words.

We read of a place that’s called Heaven (How beautiful Heaven must be)

Hymn – We read of a place that’s called Heaven – Lyrics

We read of a place that’s called heaven,
It’s made for the pure and the free;
These truths in God’s Word He hath given,
How beautiful heaven must be.
How beautiful heaven must be,
Sweet home of the happy and free;
Fair heaven of rest for the weary,
How beautiful heaven must be.

In heaven no drooping nor pining,
No wishing for elsewhere to be;
God’s light is forever there shining,
How beautiful heaven must be. Refrain

Pure waters of life there are flowing,
And all who will drink may be free;
Rare jewels of splendour are glowing,
How beautiful heaven must be. Refrain

The angels so sweetly are singing,
Up there by the beautiful sea;
Sweet chords from their gold harps are ringing,
How beautiful heaven must be. Refrain

Recording

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Details

Verses: 4
Tune: How Beautiful Heaven Must Be
Meter: 98 98 and Refrain
Style: Traditional English
Use: General
Composer: Andy P. Bland (c.1877-?)
Lyricist: Cordie Bridgewater (1873-?)
Music Copyright Public Domain
Lyrics Copyright Public Domain

When a knight won his spurs (Stowy)

Lyrics

When a knight won his spurs, in the stories of old,
He was gentle and brave, he was gallant and bold;
With a shield on his arm and a lance in his hand,
For God and for valour he rode through the land.

No charger have I, and no sword by my side,
Yet still to adventure and battle I ride,
Though back into storyland giants have fled,
And the knights are no more and the dragons are dead.

Let faith be my shield and let joy be my steed
‘gainst the dragons of anger, the ogres of greed;
And let me set free with the sword of my youth,
From the castle of darkness, the power of the truth

Recording

2012 performance

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2008 performance

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Details

Verses: 3
Tune: Stowy
Meter: 12 12 12 12
Style: Traditional English
Use: General
Composer: Unknown Traditional English fold melody originally harmonised by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 – 1958) this version arranger: Richard Mark Stephen Irwin
Lyricist: Jan Struther (1901 – 1953)
Music Copyright Public Domain
Lyrics Copyright Oxford University Press