Refrains

The refrain is the first line of a repeated section of a hymn, to be sung after each verse. Enter the refrain using identical capitalization and punctuation as in the hymnal. Try to include enough words to make it unique from the other refrains. If the refrain is written in multiple languages add the refrain first line in parentheses behind the top first line.

When including a refrain in the full text, use whatever word for this the hymnal uses. Add the refrain before or after the first stanza, identify it as "Refrain:" (or "Chorus:") leave a space, then add the text. After the succeeding stanzas add "[Refrain]" after the last line. There is no need to reenter the text. If there is a partial or whole refrain after the stanza and the hymnal doesn't identify it as a refrain, then do not separate it out as a refrain but copy it in its entirety at the end of each stanza.

If the text of the refrain changes a word each time through, it ceases to be a refrain. (Musically, it may be a refrain, but not
textually.) It's now part of the stanza, and therefore needs to be entered with its one-word variation at the end of each stanza.