2363. Hark! from the Tombs a Doleful Sound

1. Hark! from the tombs a doleful sound;
My ears, attend the cry;
“Ye living men, come view the ground
Where you must shortly lie.

2. Princes, this clay must be your bed,
In spite of all your towers;
The tall, the wise, the reverend head
Must lie as low as ours!

3. Great God! is this our certain doom?
And are we still secure?
Still walking downward to our tomb,
And yet prepare no more?

4. Grant us the powers of quickening grace,
To fit our souls to fly,
Then, when we drop this dying flesh,
We’ll rise above the sky.

Text Information
First Line: Hark! from the tombs a doleful sound
Title: Hark! from the Tombs a Doleful Sound
Author: Isaac Watts (1719)
Meter: CM
Language: English
Source: Hymns and Spiritual Songs, 1707-9, Book II, number 63
Copyright: Public Domain
Notes: This hymn was sung at the funeral of American president George Washington. Alternate tunes: CHESHIRE, Este's Psalter, 1592; FUNERAL THOUGHT, in A Compilation of Genuine Church Music, by Joseph Funk, 4th edition, 1847 (repeats last two lines of each verse); HEREFORD (OUSELEY), Frederick A. G. Ouseley, 1825-1889; SONG 67 (GIBBONS), Orlando Gibbons, 1583-1625, arranged by Henry T. Smart, 1813-1879
Tune Information
Name: BANGOR
Composer: William Tans'ur (1734)
Meter: CM
Incipit: 53215 17655 57654
Key: c minor
Copyright: Public Domain



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