Scripture Verse

O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth. Psalm 96:1

Introduction

illustration
A Spring Afternoon
Arthur Hughes
1832–1915

Words: Tho­mas H. Gill, 1867. Writ­ten at Whit­sun­tide, first pub­lished in The Gold­en Chain, 1869.

Music: St. Sav­iour (Bak­er) Fred­er­ick G. Bak­er, in the Bris­tol Tune Book, Se­cond Se­ries (Lon­don: No­vel­lo, Ew­er, 1876) (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

  • King’s Lang­ley Eng­lish May Day ca­rol (🔊 pdf nwc)

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Gill or Bak­er (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

The glo­ry of the spring how sweet!
The new-born life how glad!
What joy the hap­py earth to greet
In new, bright rai­ment clad!

Divine Re­deem­er, Thee I bless;
I greet Thy go­ing forth;
I love Thee in the love­li­ness
Of Thy re­new­èd earth.

But O these won­ders of Thy grace,
These nob­ler works of Thine,
These mar­vels sweet­er far to trace,
These new births more di­vine:

This new-born glow of faith so strong,
This bloom of love so fair,
This new-born ec­sta­sy of song,
And frag­ran­cy of pray­er!

Creator Spi­rit, work in me
These won­ders sweet of Thine;
Divine Re­deem­er, gra­cious­ly
Renew this heart of mine.

Still let new life and strength up­spring,
Still let new joy be giv­en;
And grant the glad new song to ring
Through the new earth and Hea­ven.