Abide With Me

The Darkness Deepens, Lord With Me Abide

Abide With Me was written in 1847 by the Anglican Clergyman, Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847). The hymn was composed just weeks before his death. Suffering from tu­ber­cu­lo­sis, he completed the text the same morning that he gave his farewell sermon at the parish where he served. After leaving for Italy in a bid to regain his health, he died three weeks later in Nice, France. In 1861, Lyte's words were set to music by William H. Monk (1823-1889). While attending a meeting as music editor for the collection, Hymns: Ancient and Modern, he realized Lyte's lyric was to be included, but had no music. Sitting down at the piano, Monk's thoughts turned to the recent death of his 3-year-old daughter as (within 10 minutes) he composed the tune, Eventide. Since then, Abide With Me has become one of the most widely known and beloved of Christian hymns. A favourite of Mahatma Gandhi, it has been sung at everything from Royal Weddings, to English football matches, to the funeral of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. In the Liturgy of the Hours it is sung or recited during Night Prayer.



ABIDE WITH ME by Henry Lyte, 1847 (Public Domain)

1. Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

2. Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

3. Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word,
But as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples,
Lord, Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.

4. Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings;
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea.
Come, Friend of sinners, thus abide with me.

 5. Thou on my head in early youth didst smile,
And though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee.
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.

6. I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

7. I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

8. Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.