Thanks for being a Hymnary.org user. You are one of more than 10 million people from 200-plus countries around the world who have benefitted from the Hymnary website in 2024! If you feel moved to support our work today with a gift of any amount and a word of encouragement, we would be grateful.

You can donate online at our secure giving site.

Or, if you'd like to make a gift by check, please make it out to CCEL and mail it to:
Christian Classics Ethereal Library, 3201 Burton Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
And may the promise of Advent be yours this day and always.

The Rock That Is Higher Than I

O sometimes the shadows are deep

Author: Erastus Johnson
Tune: [O sometimes the shadows are deep] (Fischer)
Published in 281 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI, Recording

Representative Text

1 O sometimes the shadows are deep,
And rough seems the path to the goal,
And sorrows, sometimes how they sweep
Like tempests down over the soul!

Refrain:
O then to the Rock let me fly,
To the Rock that is higher than I;
O then to the Rock let me fly,
To the Rock that is higher than I!

2 O sometimes how long seems the day,
And sometimes how weary my feet;
But toiling in life's dusty way,
The Rock's blessed shadow, how sweet! [Refrain]

3 O near to the Rock let me keep
If blessings or sorrow prevail,
Or climbing the mountain way steep,
Or walking the shadowy vale. [Refrain]

Source: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal #431

Author: Erastus Johnson

Johnson, Erastus. (April 20, 1826--June 16, 1909, Waltham, Massachusetts). This man whose life was singularly active and varied was born in a logging camp at Lincoln, Maine. He was buried in Jackson, Maine. He entered the Academy at Calais, Maine, at the age of fifteen, spent two years there, taught school for the next six, and then entered Bangor Theological Seminary. His health failed, and, threatened with the loss of his sight, was compelled to give up preparation for the ministry. On the advice of his physician he took a sea voyage, embarging on the ship Gold Hunter en route from New York to California. The crew of the ship mutinied just before rounding Cape Horn and as Johnson was the only person on board who knew anything about naviga… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: O sometimes the shadows are deep
Title: The Rock That Is Higher Than I
Author: Erastus Johnson
Language: English
Refrain First Line: O then to the Rock let me fly
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #5833
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)

Instances

Instances (1 - 15 of 15)
TextPage Scan

African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal #431

Church Gospel Songs and Hymns #209

Church Hymnal, Mennonite #430

TextPage Scan

Hymns of Faith #387

Page Scan

Praise for the Lord (Expanded Edition) #649

Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs #692

Redeeming Love #74

Page Scan

Sacred Selections for the Church #126

Sacred Songs of the Church #839

Audio

Small Church Music #2535

Songs of Faith and Praise #974

TextPage Scan

The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal #296

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #5833

TextPage Scan

The New National Baptist Hymnal (21st Century Edition) #268

TextPage Scan

Yes, Lord! #147

Include 266 pre-1979 instances
Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.