12639 | The Cyber Hymnal#12640 | 12641 |
Text: | O Thou, The First, The Greatest Friend |
Author: | Robert Burns |
Tune: | BURNS |
Composer (attributed to): | Robert Burns, 1759-1796 |
Media: | MIDI file |
1 O Thou, the first, the greatest friend
Of all the human race!
Whose strong right hand has ever been
Their stay and dwelling place!
2 Before the mountains heaved their heads
Beneath Thy forming hand;
Before this ponderous globe itself
Arose at Thy command;
3 That power which raised, and still upholds
This universal frame,
From countless, unbeginning time,
Was ever still the same.
4 Those mighty periods of years,
Which seem to us so vast,
Appear no more before Thy sight,
Than yesterday that’s past.
5 Thou giv’st the word: Thy creature, man,
Is to existence brought;
Again Thou say’st, Ye sons of men,
Return ye into nought!
6 Thou layest them, with all their cares,
In everlasting sleep;
As with a flood Thou tak’st them off
With overwhelming sweep.
7 They flourish like the morning flower,
In beauty’s pride arrayed;
But long ere night cut down it lies
All withered and decayed.
Text Information | |
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First Line: | O Thou, the first, the greatest friend |
Title: | O Thou, The First, The Greatest Friend |
Author: | Robert Burns |
Meter: | CM |
Language: | English |
Source: | Poems (Edinburgh: 1787) |
Copyright: | Public Domain |
Notes: | Alternate tunes: ABERDEEN attributed to Andrew Tait, CAITHNESS form Scottish "Psalter," 1635, DUNDEE from Scottish "Psalter," 1615 |
Tune Information | |
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Name: | BURNS |
Composer (attributed to): | Robert Burns, 1759-1796 |
Meter: | CM |
Key: | G Major or modal |
Copyright: | Public Domain |
Media | |
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Adobe Acrobat image: | |
MIDI file: | MIDI |
Noteworthy Composer score: | Noteworthy Composer Score |