Scripture Verse

In Galilee of the nations…the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Isaiah 9:1–2

Introduction

Words: M. J. Small­ey, in Ocean Grove Songs, ed­it­ed by James N. Fitz­ger­ald, Charles H. Yat­man & Ta­li Es­en Mor­gan (Ocean Grove, New Jer­sey: Ocean Grove As­so­cia­tion, 1900), num­ber 12.

Music: Ovi­e­do M. J. Small­ey, 1899 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know Small­ey’s full name, or where to get a good pho­to of him (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

O Ga­li­lee, sweet Ga­li­lee!
O land where prophets trod;
O land most sacred in our eyes,
Where walked the Son of God!
We praise the name that hallowed Thee,
Dear Je­sus, blessèd name;
As long as tongue shall sound His praise,
So long thy deathless fame.

Refrain

O Ga­li­lee, sweet Ga­li­lee!
O land where prophets trod;
O Ga­li­lee, sweet Ga­li­lee,
Where walked the Son of God.

O Ga­li­lee, sweet Ga­li­lee!
Thy hills are sacred now;
Whose rocks did lend, on wearied nights
A pillow for His brow,
Or from whose crests, where cedars bend,
In silent twilight hour,
He stood enwrapped in prayerful mood,
Awaiting God-sealed power.

Refrain

O Ga­li­lee, sweet Ga­li­lee!
We claim thee as our own;
Where first He came, whose mission was
To bind all flesh in one;
O native land, O covenant land,
Of earth’s most royal king!
We give thee meed of blessèd praise,
While we His glo­ry sing.

Refrain