Music & HymnsHark, My Soul, It Is The Lord!

"I have loved thee with an everlasting love." Jeremiah 31:3

Words: William Cowper, New Appendix, 1768.

Music: "St. Bees," John Bacchus Dykes, 1862

Dr. Dykes used frequently to come to the boys' rehearsals before morning service and begin practising with them the music of the day. Presently he would drift into something fresh, and the boys would remain perfectly still and listen entranced. On one occasion he wandered into a particularly beautiful melody, playing it over several times. The air made a lasting impression upon me, and afterwards, when it came to be published, I recognized in the tune to "Hark, my soul, it is the Lord" the melody which had so greatly attracted me. Dr. Dykes named the tune "St. Bees," from a little place where had passed many pleasant hours.

Hark, my soul, it is the Lord!
'Tis thy Savior, hear His Word;
Jesus speaks, and speaks to thee,
"Say, poor, sinner, lovest thou Me?"

"I delivered thee when bound,
And, when bleeding, healed thy wound;
Sought thee wandering, set thee right,
Turned thy darkness into light.

"Can a woman's tender care
Cease toward the child she bare?
Yes, she may forgetful be,
Yet will I remember thee.

"Mine is an unchanging love,
Higher than the heights above,
Deeper than the depths beneath,
Free and faithful, strong as death.

"Thou shalt see My glory soon,
When the work of grace is done;
Partner of My throne shalt be:
Say, poor sinner, lovest thou Me?"

Lord, it is my chief complaint
That my love is weak and faint;
Yet I love Thee, and adore:
O for grace to love Thee more!

Hymns supplied through the gracious generosity of the Cyber Hymnal Website