Come To Me All Ye That Labour

This is a hymn about trusting in God's mercy. The words are inspired by Matthew 11:28. Alternative titles include Come to Me all ye who Labour and Come to Me all you who Labour.

The author is unknown:

It is listed here as a tradition associated with schools operated by the Religious of the Sacred Heart in the United States and parts of Canada - but no dates are given.
It was included, author unknown, in the Australian publication, Hymnal of Blessed Pius X, Allan & Co Ltd (Melbourne et al) 1952 which was edited by Australian Roman Catholic priest and music-director, Percival (Percy) Jones (1914–1992).
An adapted version was included in the Australian Catholic Worship Book - again, author unknown.

With meter 77.77, it is set to a tune which is identified as

a traditional Irish air in the 1952 publication
COME TO ME in the 1977 Australian Hymn Book with Catholic Supplement
MISNEACH in the Australian Catholic Worship Book II, Morningstar Publishing, Melbourne 2016.

This tune is similar to, but not the same as, the tune called MISNEACH (Gaelic) which is paired with William Dalrymple Maclagan's 1873 hymn, Holy Spirit, Lord of Love, in the Canadian Catholic Book of Worship III (1994).

If you have any information about the hymn, especially who wrote it, please leave a message in the Comments box near the bottom of the page.

Downloads

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Piano / organ sheet music, traditional words

Lead sheet with adapted words

PowerPoint slides - traditional words

PowerPoint slides - adapted words

Examples

Singer with organ, tune COME TO ME

Instrumental, tune MISNEACH from the Canadian Book of Worship - very similar, but not the same as the tune for this hymn.

Lyrics

Traditional language

1. “Come to Me all ye who labour, come, and I will give you rest,”

Such, dear Lord, Thine invitation to each soul become Thy guest,

And we answer with deep longing, while our sinfulness we see,

"Jesus, Lord, I am not worthy, yet in pity come to me."

2. Here upon this altar lowly is the home Thou lovest most,

And we own our Lord and Master hidden in the sacred Host;

Life without Thee would be lonely, and our hearts still cry to Thee,

"Jesus, Lord, I am not worthy, yet in pity come to me."

3. All is joy when Thou art near us, earth can never bliss impart,

Like the peace and heavenly sweetness of Thy visit to each heart;

All unfelt are grief and sorrow, as with trust we cry to Thee,

"Jesus, Lord, I am not worthy, yet in pity come to me."

Modern English

1. “Come to me all your who labour; come, and I will give you rest.”

So we hear your invitation to each soul to be your guest;
and we answer with deep longing, while our sinfulness we see,
“Jesus, Lord, I am not worthy, yet in mercy come to me.”

2. Here, among your pilgrim people is the home of your true love,
Where we praise you, Lord and Master, reigning from your throne above;
Life without you would be lonely, so our prayer must ever be:
“Jesus, Lord, I am not worthy, yet in mercy come to me.”

3. All is joy when you are with us, earth can never joy impart
like the peace and holy splendour of your visit to each heart;
All forgotten grief and sorrow, as with trust we make our plea,
“Jesus, Lord, I am not worthy, yet in mercy come to me.”

ABC notation

X:1
T:Come to me All Ye who Labour
C:Irish traditional
M:4/2
L:1/2
K:Dmaj

            "D" DD "G" B, D | "F#m" F E F F | "G" A B "D" F D | "D" E D "G" B,2
            |
          
            w:Come to me all your who la-bour; come, and I will give you rest.
          
            "D" DD "G" B, D | "F#m" F E F F | "D" D E F D | "Em" E E "D" D2 |
          
            w:So we hear your in-vi-tat-ion to each soul to be your guest;
          
            "G" A (B/2c/2 "D" ) d c | "G" B A "D" F A | "G" A G "D" F D | "D" E
            D "G" B,2 |
          
            w:and we_ an-swer with deep long-ing, while our sin-ful-ness we see,
          
            "G" A (B/2c/2 "D" ) d c | "G" B A "D" F A | "D" D E "G" F (G/2F/2) |
            "Em" E E "D" D2 |
          
            w:Je-sus,_ Lord, I am not wor-thy, yet in mer-cy_ come to me.