Come ye Thankful People Come

This is a hymn of thanks for the harvest, which draws on the images from the parable of the wheat and weeds / darnel / tares from Matthew 13.

It was written by English Anglican priest, theologian, poet and hymn-writer, Henry Alford (1810–1871).

It was first published in Hymns and Psalms in 1844 with seven verses, but later revised by the author to four verses.

With meter 7.7.7.7 D, tunes it is set to include:

ST. GEORGE'S WINDSOR (Elvey) by English organist and composer, George J Elvey (1816-1893) - by far the most commonly used tune for this text.
BENEVENTO by English scholar and music-copyist Samuel Webbe (1740-1816)

Downloads

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PowerPoint slides, traditional English

PowerPoint slides, modern English

Simple leadsheet, key of F for C-instruments

Downloadable SATB choir arrangement w optional handbells, by Joel Raney

Examples

Massed choir with organ:

Choir with organ, professional recording:

Singer with guitar:

Small group with (synthesized?) band:

Choir with organ, words on-screen, rural images in the background:

Small group with piano-led band, professional recording:

Instrumental - piano:

Lyrics

Traditional language

Come, ye thankful people, come,
raise the song of harvest home;
all is safely gathered in,
ere the winter storms begin.
God our Maker doth provide
for our wants to be supplied;
come to God's own temple, come,
raise the song of harvest home.

All the world is God's own field,
fruit as praise to God we yield;
wheat and tares together sown
are to joy or sorrow grown;
first the blade and then the ear,
then the full corn shall appear;
Lord of harvest, grant that we
wholesome grain and pure may be.

For the Lord our God shall come,
and shall take the harvest home;
from the field shall in that day
all offenses purge away,
giving angels charge at last
in the fire the tares to cast;
but the fruitful ears to store
in the garner evermore.

Even so, Lord, quickly come,
bring thy final harvest home;
gather thou thy people in,
free from sorrow, free from sin,
there, forever purified,
in thy presence to abide;
come, with all thine angels, come,
raise the glorious harvest home.

Modern English

Come, you thankful people, come,
raise the song of harvest home;
all is safely gathered in,
'fore the winter storms begin.
God our Maker does provide
for our wants to be supplied;
come to God's own temple, come,
raise the song of harvest home.

For the Lord our God shall come,
and shall take the harvest home;
From the field shall in that day
all offenses purge away,
giving angels charge at last
in the fire the tares to cast;
but the fruitful ears to store
in the garner evermore.

Even so, Lord, quickly come,
bring Your final harvest home;
gather all Your people in,
free from sorrow, free from sin,
there, forever purified,
in Your presence to abide;
Come, with all Your angels, come,
raise the glorious harvest home.