Forgive the song that falls so low

Top Text Author Text Info Tune Timeline Page Scans Instances

Forgive the song that falls so low

Author: William Cowper
Tune: COWPER (Holden)
Published in 3 hymnals

Representative Text

1. Forgive the song that falls so low,
Beneath the gratitude I owe.
It means Thy praise however poor,
An angel’s song can do no more.

2. Great God, and wilt Thou condescend
To be my Father and my Friend.
I, a poor child, and thou, so high.
The Lord of earth, and air and sky.

Source: The Sacred Harp: the best collection of sacred songs, hymns, odes, and anthems ever offered the singing public for general use (1991 rev.) #168

All representative texts • Compare texts ^ top

Author: William Cowper

William Cowper (pronounced "Cooper"; b. Berkampstead, Hertfordshire, England, 1731; d. East Dereham, Norfolk, England, 1800) is regarded as one of the best early Romantic poets. To biographers he is also known as "mad Cowper." His literary talents produced some of the finest English hymn texts, but his chronic depression accounts for the somber tone of many of those texts. Educated to become an attorney, Cowper was called to the bar in 1754 but never practiced law. In 1763 he had the opportunity to become a clerk for the House of Lords, but the dread of the required public examination triggered his tendency to depression, and he attempted suicide. His subsequent hospitalization and friendship with Morley and Mary Unwin provided emotional st… Go to person page >

^ top

Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	Forgive the song that falls so low
Author:	William Cowper
Language:	English
Notes:	Verse 1 is the final stanza from "Almighty King! whose wondrous hand" by William Cowper; verse 2 is the first stanza in a hymn by Ann Taylor Gilbert.
Copyright:	Public Domain