It was written by American Roman Catholic and at-the-time seminarian with the Paulist order (later pastoral associate) and self-taught musician and composer (Kenneth?) Ken Meltz (ref and ref).
The song was on the B-side of an album "Until he Comes, Music by Ken Meltz featuring the Roamin' Collars", released by the World Library of Sacred Music in 1971(ref). This was accompanied by a booklet, which a visitor to this website says had sheet music, chords and words. The original publisher, WLP has confirmed in 2019 that it is now out of print (ref). It was later included in "One Hundredfold: A Contemporary Folk Hymnal" a 1978 publication reviewed on the SixMaddens website - which is now providing sheet music for the song.
Despite the Roamin' Collars being disbanded, and the song apparently not being published recently, it is still used in some places fifty years later. It was recently requested by a visitor to this website, and there are recent recordings on YouTube.
Downloads
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Examples
Music group with keyboard - recorded live in a church-service
Original folk-group recording
Choir with piano
Small group with band, live in a church-service
Instrumental - up-beat piano cover
Instrumental - electronic organ
Lyrics
Chorus:The hour has come, believe and repent,
For the kingdom of God is at hand.
1 The restless soul longs for your peace,
Which only you can give.
Your kingdom, Lord, has come to me;
And now my heart can live.
2 The misty gloom has held its sway
The night has covered all;
O Son of God we dare to pray
And on your mercy call.
3 We live and thirst for justice Lord,
A gift beyond our power.
In faith and hope we stand restored;
The graces of the hour.
4 The mustard seed once planted low
Into a tree does grow
The kingdom of the Lord has come
And shelters his own
5 Refreshed made whole we humbly stand
Our future in your hand
How gracious are your works of love
All showered from above.
See more ...
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| Image adapted from PxHere |
I have a copy of the "Until He Comes" booklet that includes words, music, and chords.
ReplyDeleteIncluded Songs:
1. This Is the Day
2. Epistle Response
3. Father in Heaven
4. A song of Freedom
5. Maranatha
6. David's Song
7. He Has Life Restored
8. Believe and Repent
9. In You Do I Find My Reward
10.Our Father
11.May the Lord Bless You and Keep You
12.In Praise of God
13.The Time Has Come
It was available in a WLP collection, "A Hundredfold", which collected songs by Meltz, Miffleton, Deiss, Jarbusch, Sonrise, Ticciarone, Blunt and Friewer. It is also out of print but might be easier to find as a second hand option.
ReplyDelete