Stay Awake Be Ready (Alleluia, the Lord is coming soon)

This is a children's song for Advent. It was written as a series of Gospel Acclamation based on the Gospel of Matthew (and thus for Year A). But in some places it is now used as a general-purpose seasonal children's song or praise chorus.

The song was written by English born and raised, now USA resident, Roman Catholic composer and liturgical musician Christopher Walker (b 1947), and first published published in 1988. Sheet music (downloadable and printed) is still available from OCP -link below.

It is set to an unnamed tune, also by Walker. This has a 4/4 time signature. In the key of F the first few notes of the melody are C C F (clap, clap) A G C (clap, clap).

Downloads

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Sheet music from OCP

Examples

Children's choir with guitar:

Solo singer with piano:

Choir and congregation with electronic organ:

Singer with guitar:

Children's choir with band - professional recording:

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:

1 Stay awake, be ready
You do not know the hour when the Lord is coming.
Stay awake, be ready. The Lord is coming soon!

Chorus: Alleluia, alleluia! The Lord is coming Soon.

2 Change your lives, he’s coming.
The one who will baptise with the Holy Spirit.
Change your lives, he’s coming. The Lord is coming soon!

3 Go back, tell John
All that you have heard and seen me doing.
Go back, tell John The wonders that you see!