Abide With Me
Henry Lyte Lyrics
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The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, 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'
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
Heav'n's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O 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.
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
Henry Lyte's "Abide With Me" is a hymn that has been sung at countless funerals and memorial services all around the world. The hymn is a plea from the singer to the Lord to stay with them even as life ebbs away. The lyrics express deep sorrow and fear of being left alone in the dark, but also a sense of strength and hope that comes from a life lived with faith.
The first verse speaks of the coming of nightfall, a metaphor for the end of life. The singer is afraid, but asks the Lord to remain with them even as other helpers fail and the world grows dark. In the second verse, the singer acknowledges the inevitability of death, and the fleeting nature of earthly pleasures. But through it all, the Lord remains a constant, the one unchanging presence in the world. The closing verse is one of triumph, with the singer proclaiming their ability to face any foe or obstacle with the Lord by their side. The final line of the hymn is a powerful declaration of faith that through the Lord's presence, the singer can still "triumph if Thou abide with me."
Throughout its history, "Abide With Me" has been a beloved hymn for Christians of all denominations. It was originally written in 1847 by Henry Lyte, a British Anglican priest who was inspired to write the hymn while battling tuberculosis. Over the years, the hymn has become associated with mourning and remembrance, and has been sung at some of the most significant events in history, including the funerals of Mahatma Gandhi and Princess Diana.
Line by Line Meaning
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
Stay with me, Lord, as the evening falls;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
As the darkness grows and other helpers leave, stay with me, Lord;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
When all other helpers and comforts have left me,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.
Be my help and stay with me, You who help the helpless.
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Life passes quickly and comes to an end;
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
The pleasures and glories of this world fade away;
Change and decay in all around I see',
I see change and decay all around me,
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
You, who do not change, stay with me.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
As I close my eyes for the last time, hold Your cross before me;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
Shine through the darkness and guide me to heaven;
Heav'n's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
The morning of heaven dawns and the empty shadows of earth disappear;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
Stay with me, Lord, in life and in death.
I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
With You by my side, I fear no enemy;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
Pain has no power, and tears have no bitterness;
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
Death has no power over me - where is its sting? Grave, where is your victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
I will still be victorious if You stay with me.
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
I will still be victorious if You stay with me.
Contributed by Elena T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jimmie Murray
Beautiful Hymn.
Suzan Thomas Geeslin Duke James
Soothing to the Soul š
Frati Jenison Selvaraj God is Love
The most sung song be me
J
28 days later?