It was written by English Anglican minister, co-leader of the Methodist movement and hymn-writer, Charles Wesley (1707–1788) for his wife's birthday. First published in his Hymns for Families, 1767, No. 165, in 8 stanzas of 6 lines, it has been published in various ways since.
The most-common form of the hymn now has meter 6.6.9 D, and tunes it is set to include:
- MIDDLEBURY, composer unknown, from The Southern Harmony, and Musical Companion, 1854 - so it must be in the public domain - the most commonly used tune (and the only one that a recording has been of so far)
- ROWLEY (Mason) by Lowell Mason ()
- EXULTATION (Humphreys) by R. D. Humphreys (1826-?).
Downloads
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Examples
Choir with organ and bells, tune MIDDLEBURY
Singer with guitar, tune MIDDLEBURY, professional recording
Choral setting, based on MIDDLEBURY
Professional choir with chamber orchestra/band, setting from " A High, Lonesome Mass" by Wes Ramsay and Tim Sharp
Choir, unaccompanied
Choir with organ - sheet music on-screen
Instrumental - piano
Lyrics
1. Come away to the skies,My beloved arise,
And rejoice in the day thou wast born:
On this festival day,
Come exulting away,
And with singing to Zion return.
2 We have laid up our love
And our treasures above,
Tho our bodies continue below:
The redeemed of the Lord
Will remember His word,
And with singing to paradise go.
3 Now with singing and praise,
Let us spend all the days,
By our heavenly Father bestowed,
While His grace we receive
From His bounty and live
To the honor and glory of God.
4 For the glory we were
First created to share
Both the nature and kingdom divine,
Now created again
That our souls may remain,
Throughout time and eternity Thine.
5 We with thanks do approve
The design of that love
Which hath joined us to Jesus's name;
So united in heart,
Let us never more part,
Till we meet at the feast of the Lamb.
6 There, O there at his feet,
We shall all likewise meet,
And be parted in body no more;
We shall sing to our lyres,
With the heavenly choirs,
And our Saviour in glory adore.
7 Hallelujah we sing,
To our Father and King,
And His rapturous praises repeat,
To the Lamb that was slain,
Hallelujah again,
Sing all heaven, and fall at his feet!
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