What Are We For?

Why have we lips, if not to sing

Author: Anonymous
Published in 33 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 Why have we lips, if not to sing
The praises of our heav’nly king?
Why have we hearts, if not to love,
Our Father and our friend above?

Refrain:
What are we for? What are we for?
What are we for?
What are we for, but to serve the Lord,
With every deed, and thought and word?

2 Why were our curious bodies made,
And every part in order laid?
Why, but that each of us might stand
A living wonder from His hand? [Refrain]

3 Why have we souls, if not to know
The God from whom our mercies flow?
Sure this can never be our lot,
Like senseless brutes, to know Him not! [Refrain]

4 Why have we life? If not to gain
Immortal life, ’tis worse than vain;
This is the end for which ’twas giv’n—
We live on earth, to live in Heav’n. [Refrain]

5 Why did the Savior leave the sky,
Hang on a cross, and bleed and die?
And why are kind persuasions sent
To call and win us to repent? [Refrain]

6 Surely it is—that robed in white
And made well-pleasing in His sight,
Our souls may join the happy throng,
And sing the everlasting song. [Refrain]

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #13190

Author: Anonymous

In some hymnals, the editors noted that a hymn's author is unknown to them, and so this artificial "person" entry is used to reflect that fact. Obviously, the hymns attributed to "Author Unknown" "Unknown" or "Anonymous" could have been written by many people over a span of many centuries. Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Why have we lips, if not to sing
Title: What Are We For?
Author: Anonymous
Language: English
Refrain First Line: What are we for?
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #13190
  • PDF (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer Score (NWC)

Instances

Instances (1 - 33 of 33)

A Selection of Psalms and Hymns #d66

Page Scan

A Selection of Psalms and Hymns, for the use of Sunday Schools #4

Page Scan

A Service Book #126

Page Scan

Augsburg Songs for Sunday Schools and other services #3

Augsburg Songs, Nos. l and 2 Combined #d367

Banner of Love #d89

Banner of Love No. 1 for the Sunday School #d44

Banner of Love Nos. 1, 2 & 3 #d136

Page Scan

Bradbury's Sabbath School Melodies, and Family Choir #3

Page Scan

Bright Gems #3

Familiar Hymns, Alphabetically Arranged. #d305

Page Scan

Hymn, Tune, and Service Book for Sunday Schools #22

Liturgy and Hymns for Sunday Schools #d202

Page Scan

Notes of Victory for Sunday Schools #199

Page Scan

One Hundred Progressive Hymns #24

Oriola #d298

Oriola #d303

Page Scan

Silver Wings #8

Page Scan

Songs of Beulah #103

Page Scan

Songs of the Covenant #110

Sunday School Hymn Book #d194

Page Scan

Sunday-School Hymns #36

Page Scan

The American Baptist Sabbath-School Hymn-Book #81

The Anniversary and Sunday School Music Book No. 1-5 #d212

The Baptist Sabbath School Hymn Book #d496

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #13190

The Hymnist #d136

Page Scan

The Sabbath School Bell #76b

Page Scan

The Sabbath School Lute #7

The Westminster Collection of Sabbath School Hymns and Tunes #d137

Union Hymns. Rev. #d490

Union Hymns. Rev. #d506

Exclude 32 pre-1979 instances
Suggestions or corrections? Contact us