Last and First

Sadly in the gathering gloom

Author: John H. Hopkins
Tune: [Sadly in the gathering gloom]
Published in 9 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 Sadly in the gathering gloom,
Sat three Marys by the tomb;
Lingering in the chill night air,
The last of all that laid Him there:
Therefore first their hearts were cheered,
Soon as their Lord they saw and heard.
Ere the early dawn appeared,
On Easter day in the morning.

Refrain:
Thus, while Nature is weeping,
Faith her vigil is keeping,
Till the glorious Orb of Day
Shall scatter the clouds away.

2 Fondly in their hands they bring
Spices for their Lord and king—
Aloes, cassia, incense, myrrh—
To fill the fragrant sepulcher:
Therefore first the risen Lord,
To the dear saints that thus adored,
Was like ointment sweet outpoured,
On Easter day in the morning. [Refrain]

3 To His grave the stone is rolled;
They, with weeping eyes, behold,
While His foes, with flouts and flings,
All seal it with their signet rings:
Therefore first of all saw they
Cherubim, who, in bright array,
Rolled that mighty stone away,
On Easter day in the morning. [Refrain]

4 Soon they see, with measured tread,
Roman guards approach the Dead;
Sword, and spear, and nodding plume
Encamp around the silent tomb:
Therefore they were thither led,
When, at the roar of earthquake dread,
Fast the fearful Romans fled,
On Easter day in the morning. [Refrain]

5 Last to kiss His feet were they,
When in death His body lay;
Last to weep, while they around
His limbs the linen grave clothes wound;
First, then, they hear angels tell
How the Lord Christ, our foes to quell,
Burst the bands of Death and Hell,
On Easter day in the morning. [Refrain]

6 Love now wins a new employ;
Last in grief is first in joy:
Woman shall proclaim to men,
That Jesus Christ is ris’n again!
We still hear the message sung,
Sweetly as when, from woman’s tongue,
First its thrilling raptures rung,
On Easter day in the morning. [Refrain]

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #14541

Author: John H. Hopkins

John Henry Hopkins, Jr MA USA 1820-1891. Born in Pittsburgh, PA, having 12 siblings, the son of pioneer parents (his father from Dublin, his mother from Hamburg) he became an ecclesiologist. His father had been an ironmaster, school teacher, lawyer, priest and second Episcopal Bishop of Vermont, (becoming presiding bishop in 1865). When his father founded the Vermont Episcopal Institute, he needed an assistant to help run it, so he picked his son to become a tutor and disciplinarian. The younger Hopkins played the flute and bugle in the school orchestra and also taught Sunday school. John Henry reflected the artistic talents of both parents in music, poetry, and art. After graduating from the University of Vermont in 1839, he returned… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Sadly in the gathering gloom
Title: Last and First
Author: John H. Hopkins
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Thus, while Nature is weeping
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #14541
  • PDF (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer Score (NWC)

Instances

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The Cyber Hymnal #14541

Include 8 pre-1979 instances
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