Universalis

Thursday 27 March 2008

Alleluia! Sing to Jesus - 5



Battle is o'er, hells armies flee:
Raise we the cry of victory
With abounding joy resounding,
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Christ who endured the shameful tree,
O'er death triumphant welcome we,
Our adoring praise outpouring,
Alleluia! Alleluia!

On the third morn from death rose he,
Clothed with what light in heav'n shall be,
Our unswerving faith deserving,
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Hell's gloomy gates yield up their key,
Paradise door thrown wide we see;
Never-tiring be our choiring,
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Lord, by the stripes men laid on thee,
Grant us to live from death set free,
This our greeting still repeating,
Alleluia! Alleluia!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Having been contributing to a thread on the SSG discussion board about cringe-making lines in hymns, I think that 'Never-tiring be our choiring' is definitely a candidate. However, given that the tune by Gregory Murray is good, I might just desist.

Peter Simpson said...

My postings for 25 January and 3 February should provide you with plenty of material for the SSG discussion board!

I agree with you - the splendid Gregory Murray tune does rescue this hymn. I much prefer the words of the 'The strife is o'er!' I have a superb recording of the choir of Truro Cathedral singing these words to the Tune 'Victory'. The trebles really put some life into the alleluias!