It was written by Scottish hymn-writer and Church of Scotland minister John L Bell (b 1949) and youth minister, liturgist, writer, artist, musician Graham Maule (1958-2019) - who are/were both members of the Iona Community.
It was written in 1987, published by Wild Goose Publications in the Heaven Shall not Wait collection, and later included in Hymns Old & New, Complete Anglican Edition - 1996 and 2000, Kevin Mayhew Limited, England.
It is set to a traditional tune, sometimes described as Irish, named SCARBOROUGH FAIR and used in a well-known folk-song of the same title.
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| Image adapt. from Miraculous Draught of Fishes Jacopo Bassano (1510–1592) |
Downloads
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Examples
Choir / congregation? with organ, in a recorded church-service:
Instruemntal - piano:
Lyrics
The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:James and Andrew, Peter and John,
men of temper, talent and tide,
your nets are empty, empty and bare.
Cast them now on the opposite side.’
Jesus, you’re only a carpenter’s son:
joints and joists are part of your trade,
but ours the skill to harvest the deep.
Why presume to come to our aid?
Friends of mine and brothers thro’ love,
I mean more than fishing for food.
I call your skill to service my will,
call your lives to harvest the good.
Cast your nets where you think is right;
spend your lives where you think is need;
but if you long for that which is best,
let it be on my word you feed.
Stir then the waters, Lord, stir up the wind;
stir the hope that needs to be stretched;
stir up the love that needs to be ground;
stir the faith that needs to be fetched.
James and Andrew, Peter and John,
and the women close by his side,
hear how the Lord calls each by their name,
asking all to turn like the tide.
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