Good Night

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When softly fades the dying day

Author: F. E. Belden
Tune: [When softly fades the dying day]
Published in 6 hymnals

Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 When softly fades the dying day,
And mortal cares we fold away,
Then with the last faint ray of light,
All nature seems to say Good night.

Refrain:
Good night, good night,
May angels bright,
Their vigils keep till morning light,
Good night, good night,
Good night, good night.

2 And when the deeper shadows fall,
And nature veils as with a pall,
Then pray’rs of evening take their flight
From lips that softly say Good night. [Refrain]

3 O Father, give us sweet repose
From all our earthly cares and woes,
And grant that heav’n may greet our sight
When we have said our last Good night. [Refrain]

Source: Gospel Melodies and Evangelistic Hymns #238

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Author: F. E. Belden

Belden was born in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1858. He began writing music in his late teenage years after moving to California with his family. For health reasons he later moved to Colorado. He returned to Battle Creek with his wife in the early 1880s, and there he became involved in Adventist Church publishing. F. E. Belden wrote many hymn tunes, gospel songs, and related texts in the early years of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Belden was able to rapidly write both music and poetry together which enabled him to write a song to fit a sermon while it was still being delivered. He also wrote songs for evangelist Billy Sunday. Though Belden’s later years were marred by misunderstandings with the church leadership over his royal… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	When softly fades the dying day
Title:	Good Night
Author:	F. E. Belden
Language:	English
Refrain First Line:	Good night, good night, may angels bright
Copyright:	Public Domain