After forming The Autumn Film, band members Reid and Latifah Phillips and Dann Stockton were leading worship at churches and could not deny the strong beckoning of the hymns.
They decided to develop a parallel band; the same people with a new purpose of making hymns accessible again under the new name, Page CXVI.
The group garnered overnight success (backed by 12,000 downloads in only two days) after friend John Piper hosted a free download on his blog, “Desiring God.” The somewhat cryptic name was intentional.
It’s drawn from the page number in a particular copy of The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis, the brilliant passage where Aslan begins to sing Narnia into creation out of a black void. After recording four Hymns albums, collaborating and touring with Derek Webb, Page CXVI will release an album of restful, sleepy hymns titled simply, Lullabies, on November 13, 2012.
Abide With Me
Page CXVI Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, 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.
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 abide with me.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes.
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
As heaven's morning breaks, heavenʼs morning breaks.
In life, in death, abide with me. In life, in death, abide with me.
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
Abide with me.
The lyrics of Page CXVI's song "Abide With Me" is a humble plea for the Lord's constant presence, especially during times of darkness and uncertainty. The first two verses of the song ackowledge the fleeting nature of life and the constant changing of the world around us. As the darkness deepens and all other helpers and comforts fail, the singer calls upon the Lord, who alone can provide aid even to the helpless. The third verse emphasizes the singer's dependence on the Lord's presence every hour, recognizing that only His grace can foil the tempter's power and that He alone can be a constant guide and support through life's ups and downs. In the fourth verse, the singer asks the Lord to hold His cross before their eyes so that even in death, they may be pointed towards the skies of heaven. The repetition of the phrase "in life, in death, abide with me" at the end of the song is a powerful declaration of the singer's desire for God's constant presence, no matter what circumstances they may face.
Line by Line Meaning
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide.
Lord, stay with me as the evening passes quickly.
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
As darkness covers me, be with me, O Lord.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
When those who usually help me cannot, and I feel alone,
Help of the helpless, abide with me.
Be my helper in times of helplessness, and stay with me.
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day.
Life ends quickly, like the tide that recedes.
Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away.
The joys and wonders of life fade and disappear.
Change and decay in all around I see.
I observe everything changing and fading away.
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
Lord, though everything around me changes, be constant and stay with me.
I need Thy presence every passing hour.
I need You with me at every moment.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Your grace is the only thing that can defeat the power of the tempter.
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Who else can guide and support me like You do?
Through cloud and sunshine abide with me.
Be with me through good times and bad times.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes.
Let me see Your cross before I die.
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Illuminate the darkness and show me the way to Heaven.
As heaven's morning breaks, heaven's morning breaks.
As the dawn of Heaven approaches, it approaches.
In life, in death, abide with me.
Stay with me both in life and in death.
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
Lord, stay with me in both life and death.
Abide with me.
Stay with me, Lord.
Contributed by Aiden Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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