The day of the Lord is at hand.
Joel 1:15
Words: Henry Burton, 1900. Burton wrote these words at Sands, near Liverpool, England, on Christmas Eve: The opening stanza was composed on the Railway Bridge where I lingered on my way home.
Music: Bertha W. Heslop, in The Primitive Methodist Hymnal Supplement with Tunes, edited by George Booth (London: Primitive Methodist Publishing House, 1912), number 59 (🔊 pdf nwc).
Alternate Tune:
If you know Heslop’s full name, or where to get a good picture of him or Burton (head-and-shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels), would you ?
Break, day of God, Oh break,
Sweet light of heavenly skies!
I all for Thee forsake,
And from my dead self rise;
O Lamb of God, whose love is light,
Shine on my soul, and all is bright.
Break, day of God, Oh break!
The night has lingered long;
Our hearts with sighing wake,
We weep for sin and wrong:
O bright and morning star, draw near;
O Sun of Righteousness, appear.
Break, day of God, Oh break!
The earth with strife is worn;
The hills with thunder shake,
Hearts of the people mourn;
Break, day of God, sweet day of peace,
And bid the shout of warriors cease!
Break, day of God, Oh break,
Like to the days above!
Let purity awake,
And faith, and hope, and love:
But lo! we see the brightening sky;
The golden morn is drawing nigh.