Voices United ‎#165

165. Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain

1 Come, you faithful, raise the strain
of triumphant gladness:
God has brought forth Israel
into joy from sadness,
loosed from Pharaoh's bitter yoke
Jacob's sons and daughters,
led them with unmoistened foot
through the Red Sea waters.

2 'Tis the spring of souls today,
Christ has burst his prison,
and from three days' sleep in death
as a sun has risen;
all the winter of our sins,
long and dark, is flying
from his light, to whom we give
laud and praise undying.

3 Now the queen of seasons, bright
with the day of splendour,
with the royal feast of feasts,
comes its joy to render;
comes to gladden faithful hearts,
who with true affection
welcome in unwearied strains
Jesus' resurrection!

4 Neither could the gates of death,
nor the tomb's dark portal,
nor the watchers, nor the seal
hold him as a mortal:
for today amid his own
he now stands, bestowing
God's true peace which evermore
passes human knowing.

Text Information

• First Line: Come, you faithful, raise the strain
• Title: Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain
• Author: John of Damascus (ca. 750)
• Translator: John Mason Neale (1859, alt.)
• Meter: 7 6 7 6 D
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1996
• Topic: The Christian Year: Easter; Biblical Characters: Jacob's Sons; Biblical Characters: Pharoah, Jacob's Sons; Celebration; Christian Year: Easter; Eternal Life; Feast; Jesus Christ: Light; Jesus Christ: Resurrection; Joy; Music and Singing; Passover; Processionals (Opening of Worship); Seasons: Changing; Service Music: Gathering, Call to Worship, Greeting; Service Music: Doxologies; Victory; Easter 1: Year A; Easter 2: Year A; Ascension: Year A; Proper 13: Year A; Proper 19: Year A; Easter 1: Year B; Epiphany 6: Year C; Easter 1: Year C; Easter Evening: Year ABC

Tune Information

• Name: AVE VIRGO VIRGINUM
• Composer: Johann Horn (1544)
• Adapter: J. Leisentritt (1584)
• Meter: 7 6 7 6 D
• Key: F Major