Carols for Easter-Tide :: :: University of Virginia Library

Carols for Easter-Tide

Set to Ancient Melodies by the Rev. T. Helmore ... the words Principally in imitation of the original, by the Rev. J. M. Neale

Neale, J. M. (1818-1866)

[epigraph]

[dedication]

CAROLS FOR EASTER-TIDE.

XIII.

XIII. Let the merry church bells ring.

XIV.

XIV. The world itself keeps Easter Day.

XV.

XV. Let us tell the story.

XVI.

XVI. Give ear, give ear, good Christian men!

XVII.

XVII. A song, a song, our Chief to greet.

XVIII.

XVIII. Sing Alleluia, all ye lands.

XIX.

XIX. Days grow longer.

XX.

XX. The morning of Salvation.

XXI.

XXI. Let the song be begun.

XXII.

XXII. The foe behind.

XXIII.

XXIII. 'Twas about the dead of night.

XXIV.

XXIV. Easter Day comes on but slowly.

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XVII. A song, a song, our Chief to greet.

1.

A song, a song, our Chief to greet,
Our King to meet,
Returning in His glory:
A song of those that went before,
In days of yore,
And shadowed out His story.

2.

While Gaza's guards their vigils kept,
In Gaza's homes our Samson slept
The quiet sleep of mortals:
But rising up at midnight, tore
The brazen hinges from the door,
And bore away the portals.

3.

By many a hostile chief and band
Our Jephtha was assaulted;
To be the Lord of all the land
Our Joseph is exalted:

Now David's Son and David's Lord
Hath fac'd the giant dreaded,
And with Goliath's own great sword
Goliath hath beheaded.

4.

With pitcher and with burning lamp,
He march'd to storm th'invader's camp,—
Our own, our royal Gideon:
The mortal pitcher shatter'd sore,
The Godhead's lamp to ruin bore
The vanquish'd host of Midian.

5.

Joshua leading, God preceding,
Israel stems the river:
Down Mount Tabor Barak's sabre
Glitters to deliver.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Desert Edom owns our freedom
Thro' the blood-red waters:
David reigneth, and obtaineth
Joy for Sion's daughters.

6.

Jehosaphat returns in peace,
By shouting myriads follow'd:
And Jonah finds his glad release,
Whom late the monster swallow'd.
He glories o'er Assyria's fall,
Our victor Ezekias:
By night he visits Salem's wall,
Our truer Nehemias.
Alleluia, Alleluia.

7.

Lord of breath,
Lord of death,
Lord of things celestial and infernal:
Guide and speed,
Guard and feed,
By the living waters lead
And the flowers eternal.

8.

We, as yet, are toiling sore
On the sea's rough surges:
Thou art standing on the shore,
Where no troubles vex Thee more,
Where no tempest urges.

9.

Thou, Thou be nigh
While our vessel seeks the port:
Thou, Thou on high,
Crown us in Thy royal Court.

10.

Thou hast conquer'd, let us win:
Thou hast enter'd, take us in:
Thou hast vanquish'd Death and Sin,
Up to Heav'n ascending:
Let us all with Thee ascend;
Grant us after Thee to tend,
Thee the way to Thee the end:
End That hast no ending.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.