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Roll Back the Shadows

Representative Text

1 Do not draw the curtains o’er the windows of the soul,
Let the sunshine like a wave of glory inward roll;
Do not sit in shadows when the sun is in the sky,
All the chambers of thy soul, its beams will glorify.

Refrain:
Roll back the shadows, make the life bright!
Souls need the sunshine, hearts should be light;
Drive away the darkness, joyless and drear,
Let in the sunshine, glowing with cheer.

2 Do not shut the sunshine from the young and struggling life,
Let it cheer the hero in the unrelenting strife;
Do not draw the curtain when the sunshine is so free,
It has strengthen’d others and will surely strengthen thee. [Refrain]

3 Shine, O blessed Jesus, ev’ry moment in my soul;
There is sunshine where the blessed Master has control;
Shine upon me here that I may never quite despond,
I shall see and feel Thy fullest glory just beyond. [Refrain]

Source: Exalted Praise: a twentieth century collection of sacred hymns for the church, Sunday school, and devotional meetings #104

Author: William C. Martin

Rv William Clark Martin USA 1864-1914. Born at Hightstown, NJ, he graduated from the Peddie Institute in Hightstown in 1884, and in 1891 from the Crozer Theological Seminary, Upland, PA. He became minister of the Grace Baptist Church, Camden, NJ,(1891-1894); Noank Baptist Church, Noank, CT (1894-1900); Tabernacle Baptist Church, New Albany, IN (1902-1904); First Baptist Church, Seymour, IN (1902-1904); First Baptist Church, Bluffton, IN (1904-1909); Grace Baptist Church, Somerville, MA (1909-1912); and First Baptist Church, Fort Myers, FL (1912-1914). In 1891 he married Euretta (Etta) May Wilcox, and they had at least three children (no names found). He penned many hymn lyrics. He died of heart failure at his farm in Rialto, FL.… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Do not draw the curtains over the windows of the soul
Title: Roll Back the Shadows
Author: William C. Martin
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Roll back the shadows
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 3 of 3)
Page Scan

Bright Melodies #153

TextAudioPage Scan

Exalted Praise #104

Page Scan

Songs of Love and Praise No. 5 #153

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