Please give today to support Hymnary.org during one of only two fund drives we run each year. Each month, Hymnary serves more than 1 million users from around the globe, thanks to the generous support of people like you, and we are so grateful. 

Tax-deductible donations can be made securely online using this link.

Alternatively, you may write a check to CCEL and mail it to:
Christian Classics Ethereal Library, 3201 Burton SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Click here to donate to Hymnary.org I have already donated. Please don't show this to me again this fund drive

O bold, O foolish peasants

Representative Text

π‘…π‘’π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘–π‘› π‘‘π‘œ 𝑏𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑔 π‘Žπ‘‘ 𝑏𝑒𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔
π‘œπ‘“ β„Žπ‘¦π‘šπ‘› π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘Žπ‘“π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘’π‘Žπ‘β„Ž π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘§π‘Ž

π»π‘œπ‘ π‘Žπ‘›π‘›π‘Ž 𝑖𝑛 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ β„Žπ‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘’π‘ π‘‘!
π‘‚π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘’π‘Žπ‘”π‘’π‘Ÿ β„Žπ‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘  π‘Žπ‘π‘π‘™π‘Žπ‘–π‘š
π‘‡β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘β„Žπ‘’π‘‘ π‘œπ‘“ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘˜π‘–π‘›π‘”π‘‘π‘œπ‘š,
π‘Šβ„Žπ‘œ π‘π‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘  π‘€π‘’π‘ π‘ π‘–π‘Žβ„Ž'𝑠 π‘›π‘Žπ‘šπ‘’.

1. O bold, O foolish peasants,
    To deem that he should reign!
  The temple and the palace
    Look down in high disdain.

2. Jerusalem lies fallen,
  And pilgrims wail her pride.
  The golden words of Jesus
    Have travelled far and wide.

3. Long ages dim the message
    And custom has sufficed
  For merchants and for princes
    To bow and own him Christ.

4. But when a brother spirit
    Arises from the plain,
  The men of power tremble,
    And crucify again.

5. O first of many prophets
  Who come of simple folk
  To free us from our bondage,
    To break oppression's yoke,β€”

6 Restore our eyes from blindness,
    Make clear the life, the way
  That leads through love and justice
    Unto the peace-crowned day!

Source: Hymns for Worship #177

All representative texts • Compare texts^ top

Author: John Howland Lathrop

Lathrop, Rev. John Howland, D.D. (Jackson, Michigan, June 6, 1880-1967). He graduated from Meadville Theological School in 1903, then entered Harvard where he took an A.B. in 1905. He also studied at the University of Chicago, and the University of Jena. He served as minister of the First Unitarian Church of Berkeley, California, 1905-1911, and the First Unitarian Congregational Church of Brooklyn, New York, 1911-1957, when he became pastor emeritus. In 1935 he wrote a hymn for Palm Sunday beginning "Hosanna in the highest! Our eager hearts acclaim," which was included in Hymns of the Spirit (1937), set to St. Theodulph. --Henry Wilder Foote, DNAH Archives  Go to person page >

^ top

Text Information

First Line: O bold, O foolish peasants
Author: John Howland Lathrop
Refrain First Line: Hosanna in the highest
Notes: See also the slightly shorter arrangement Hosanna in the highest, and the cento for children, O first of many prophets.
Copyright: Β© The Beacon Press Inc.
^ top

Tune

ST. THEODULPH (Teschner)

Now often named ST. THEODULPH because of its association with this text, the tune is also known, especially in organ literature, as VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN. It was composed by Melchior Teschner (b. Fraustadt [now Wschowa, Poland], Silesia, 1584; d. Oberpritschen, near Fraustadt, 1635) for "Valet wi…

Go to tune page >


All tunes published with 'O bold, O foolish peasants'^ top

Timeline

^ top

Instances

Instances (1 - 3 of 3)
Text

Hymns for Worship #177

Hymns for Worship #177

Hymns of the Spirit for Use in the Free Churches of America #183

Hymns of the Spirit for Use in the Free Churches of America #183

The Beacon Song and Service book #229

The Beacon Song and Service book #229
All instances^ top
Suggestions or corrections? Contact us