Far from my [our] heavenly home. H. F. Lyte. [Psalms cxxxvii.] This S. M. version of Psalms 137 is the most complete example of the author's method in paraphrasing the Psalms that we have: and furnishes us with a beautiful illustration of his tenderness and melody. It appeared in his Spirit of the Psalms, 1834, in 5 stanzas of 4 lines. Its use exceeds that of any other of his Psalm versions, and is extensive both in Great Britain and America. Sometimes it is changed to "Far from our heavenly home;" and in other cases, as in Hymns Ancient & Modern, stanza ii., which reads :—
”Upon the willows long
My harp has silent hung;
How should I sing a cheerful song
Till Thou inspire my tongue?"
is omitted. Full original text in Hymnal CompanionNo. 135.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)