Abide with me
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word;
But as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.
Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings,
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea-
Come, Friend of sinners, and thus bide with me.
Thou on my head in early youth didst smile;
And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee,
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.
I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
Commentary
1847.
Since adolescence, this poem always has been a comfort to me. Years later, it is especially so in these traumatic times.
— Ira
Background
Lyte was inspired to write this hymn as he was dying of tuberculosis; he finished it the Sunday he gave his farewell sermon in the parish he served so many years. The next day, he left for Italy to regain his health. He didn’t make it, though – he died in Nice, France, three weeks after writing these words. For more than a century, the bells of his church at All Saints in in Lower Brixham, Devonshire, have rung out “Abide with Me” daily. The hymn was sung at the wedding of King George VI of Britain, and at the wedding of his daughter, the future Queen Elizabeth II.
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From the Wondering Minstrels mailing list, 1999–2008.
Joshi Siddhartha · 24 February 2002
At the end of the Beating Retreat ceremony (held every year on the 29th of January) at Vijay Chowk, the bell towers (of Rashtrapati Bhawan; do they have a complete carillon? I would imagine so…) perform “Abide with me”. If I remember correctly, they begin the tune and the massed bands take it up. The magnificent setting (Lutyens’ Delhi), the chilly winter weather and colourful pageantry of the massed bands - and of course the atmosphere created by the music make for a truly memorable experience. As the last peals roll down Raisina Hill and die away, all the buildings around and including the north and south blocks light up - and the firework display begins.
PS: It is a fact that Gandhi loved this hymn.
PPS: A website with some info on the ceremony: [broken link] http://www.netfundu.com/26jan/beatingr.htm
Jerry Rao · 25 February 2002
It was a favourite of Mahatma Gandhi’s……
Regards
Jerry Rao
Alice Clarke · 4 May 2004
I think it’s because of it’s links to the football but apparently this is one of the best known songs ever, scientists did tests on dementia patients and found this was the song most could remember. Interesting I think, and beautiful words.
Kerri Clarke · 7 July 2005
Such a beautiful hymn, even to a cynical old pagan like me. I attended the memorial services at Gallipoli in Turkey on ANZAC Day in April 2001, and I managed to hold my dignity together during the various components of the Dawn Service. That is, of course, until we sang Abide With Me, whereupon I dissolved into tears. Intensely moving.