Come Lord Jesus (Christ come quickly, there's danger at the door)

This is an Advent hymn with a social justice focus. The original title was "Come Lord Jesus", but in later publications this is changed to "Come Christ Jesus". Many people simply know it as Christ Come Quickly.

It was written by Medical Mission Sister Miriam Therese Winter (b 1938), and originally published in her 1966 collection I Know the Secret (still available from the Medical Mission Sisters website). It was later included in Songlines: Hymns, Songs, Rounds and Refrains for Prayer and Praise.

The tune is named COME CHRIST JESUS, and has a 4/4 time signature. In Songlines it is set in the key of D, and the first few notes are F ABA FEDD B,A,.

Most recordings to date have presented this song as an upbeat relatively fast-tempo piece - but there are some more reflective versions on Youtube, perhaps from singers with more lived experience of the injustices that the song highlights.

1 Christ, come quickly, there’s danger at the door, poverty a’plenty, hearts gone wild with war. There’s hunger in the city and famine on the plain. Chorus: Come, Lord Jesus, the light is dying, the night keeps crying: Come, Lord Jesus. 2 Want demands a hearing in far too many lands. The sick go unattended, death deals a heavy hand. The dreams of men are empty, their cup of sorrow full. 3 The world awaits in darkness a mighty burst of light, to set the lame man leaping, to give the blind man sight. We have the prophet’s promise, we await the Prince of Peace. 4 The clouds shall send a Savior like softly falling rain, yet mighty in his power to free us from our chains. His shield will be compassion, his weapon liberty,

Downloads

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Examples

Church choir with keyboard:

Church choir with band:

Choir with organ, recorded in a church service:

Singer, unaccompanied:

Small group with band:

Singer with guitar:

Original recording - lead singer and choir with guitar:

Small group with piano and violin:

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are available this website.

The song has four verses, each three lines long. There is a two-line chorus which is repeated after each verse. A rough outline is:

1 Christ, come quickly, there’s danger at the door,

Chorus:
Come, Lord Jesus, the light is dying,
the night keeps crying: Come, Lord Jesus.

2 Want demands a hearing in far too many lands.

3 The world awaits in darkness a mighty burst of light,

4 The clouds shall send a Savior like softly falling rain,