Homecoming

Every hymn in this lane was born out of a passage. Here the passage scrolls — verse by verse, in time — while the hymn itself carries it, so each explains the other: the text gives the hymn its weight, and the hymn gives the text its memory. The words and tunes are public domain; each recording is freely licensed and credited on its page. King James Version.

Amazing GraceEphesians 2:1–22 · with Amazing Grace — 5 minutesNewton’s hymn over the whole of the grace chapter: dead in trespasses, quickened by grace, the far-off brought nigh, strangers made fellowcitizens of the household of God. Sung bare — one voice, no instruments.How Can I Keep from Singing?Psalm 30 · Psalm 40:1–3 · with How Can I Keep from Singing? — 3 minutesTwo psalms of a man lifted out of the pit — mourning turned into dancing, a new song put in his mouth — scrolled under the hymn they gave us.Will the Circle Be UnbrokenRevelation 21:1–7 · with Will the Circle Be Unbroken — 3 minutesThe funeral hymn over the chapter of the better home: a new heaven and a new earth, all tears wiped away, and no more death, neither sorrow nor crying.Creator of the Stars of NightLuke 1:68–79 · Isaiah 9:2, 6–7 · with Creator of the Stars of Night — 3 minutesThe Church’s Advent hymn to the coming Light, over the two songs of His promise: Zacharias blessing God for the dayspring from on high, and Isaiah watching light rise on a people in darkness — for unto us a child is born.Abide With MeLuke 24:13–32 · with Abide With Me — 4 minutesThe hymn Lyte wrote from one verse of this chapter, scrolled over the whole road: the stranger who walked with them unrecognized, the bread broken, the eyes opened, and the run back to Jerusalem in the night. Sung by one voice, unaccompanied.Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing1 Samuel 7:7–12 · with Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing — 2 minutesRobinson’s hymn over the tight scroll of the stone-raising itself: Israel gathered at Mizpeh, the Philistines routed by thunder, and Samuel setting his stone between Mizpeh and Shen. Sung by one voice, unaccompanied.Holy, Holy, HolyIsaiah 6:1–8 · with Holy, Holy, Holy — 2 minutesHeber’s Trinity hymn over Isaiah’s vision of the throne: the seraphim crying Holy, holy, holy, the posts of the door moving at the voice, and the prophet undone — and cleansed, and sent. Played, not sung.The Old Rugged CrossGalatians 6 · with The Old Rugged Cross — 4 minutesBennard’s cross hymn over the whole last chapter of Galatians — bearing one another’s burdens, sowing and reaping, the marks of Christ — ending where the hymn ends, at the glorying in the cross. Played, not sung.Just As I AmJohn 6:35–51 · with Just As I Am — 3 minutesElliott’s invitation hymn over the bread-of-life discourse — “I am the bread of life” — to the promise the hymn leans its whole weight on: the one who comes is not cast out. A 1917 recording, shellac and all.Softly and TenderlyMatthew 11:20–30 · with Softly and Tenderly — 3 minutesThompson’s call — “Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling” — over the chapter of woes on the unrepentant cities, turning at the end into the call itself: Come unto me. A 1907 recording.Rock of AgesExodus 33:12–23 · with Rock of Ages — 3 minutesToplady’s hymn over Moses on the mount — “shew me thy glory” — and the goodness passing by, and the hand over the cleft of the rock the hymn hides in. A 1917 recording.When I Survey the Wondrous CrossIsaiah 53 · with When I Survey the Wondrous Cross — 4 minutesWatts’s great cross hymn over the whole suffering-servant chapter — despised and rejected, wounded for our transgressions, silent before his shearers — the survey, verse by verse. Played, not sung.I Surrender AllRomans 12 · with I Surrender All — 4 minutesVan DeVenter’s hymn over the whole of Romans 12 — the living sacrifice, the renewed mind, the body given member by member, love without dissimulation to the last verse. Played, not sung.Jesus Paid It AllIsaiah 1:10–20 · with Jesus Paid It All — 3 minutesHall’s hymn over Isaiah’s arraignment of a weary, laden people — and its turn: “Come now, and let us reason together.” The verse the chorus answers is in the scroll, in its place. Played, not sung.Nothing But the BloodHebrews 9:11–22 · with Nothing But the Blood — 3 minutesLowry’s refrain — “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus” — over Hebrews’ own account of that blood: the better tabernacle, the once-for-all offering, the remission. Played, not sung.Love Lifted MePsalm 40 · with Love Lifted Me — 4 minutesA church choir sings Rowe’s hymn over the whole of Psalm 40 — waited patiently, lifted out of the miry clay, a new song in the mouth, and the prayer at the end: “make no tarrying, O my God.”Are You Washed in the Blood?Revelation 7:9–17 · with Are You Washed in the Blood? — 2 minutesHoffman’s searching question over John’s answer — the great multitude no man could number, out of every nation, standing before the throne in white robes, and the Lamb in the midst of it feeding them.Nearer, My God, to TheeGenesis 28:10–22 · with Nearer, My God, to Thee — 5 minutesAdams’s Bethel hymn over Bethel itself: the ladder, the stone pillow, the vow at dawn. The same chapter Wayfaring reads at Bethel — here under the hymn it fathered. Sung by one voice, unaccompanied.In the GardenJohn 20:11–18 · with In the Garden — 3 minutesMiles’s hymn over Mary in the garden at dawn — weeping at the empty tomb, mistaking the gardener, and the one word “Mary.” The text Woven reads in “Rabboni,” completed by the hymn that came out of it. Played, not sung.Be Thou My VisionPsalm 73 · with Be Thou My Vision — 4 minutesThe old Irish prayer over the whole of Psalm 73 — Asaph envying the foolish, entering the sanctuary, and coming out where the hymn lives: God his strength and his portion for ever. Played, not sung.Blessed AssuranceHebrews 10:19–28 · with Blessed Assurance — 3 minutesCrosby’s “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine” over Hebrews’ drawing-near: the veil opened by the blood, the true heart, the profession held fast without wavering.Crown Him with Many CrownsRevelation 5:8–14 · with Crown Him with Many Crowns — 3 minutesBridges’s hymn over the throne room itself, from the Lamb taking the book to the Amen: the new song, the ten thousand times ten thousand, and every creature in heaven and earth joining in. Sung by a congregation.’Tis So Sweet to Trust in JesusProverbs 3:1–12 · with ’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus — 3 minutesStead’s hymn of trust over Solomon’s charge to his son — mercy and truth bound about the neck, honouring the LORD with substance, a father’s correction not despised. The trust verse stands at the scroll’s heart. Played, not sung.It Is Well With My SoulPhilippians 4:4–13 · with It Is Well With My Soul — 3 minutesSpafford’s hymn — written out of grief, “when sorrows like sea billows roll” — over Paul’s rejoicing from prison, and the contentment learned in whatsoever state. A 1906 quartet recording.When We All Get to HeavenRevelation 21:1–7 · with When We All Get to Heaven — 2 minutesHewitt’s heaven hymn over the heaven chapter — the new heaven and new earth, the tabernacle of God with men, no more death nor crying. The same passage “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” closes on. Played, not sung.What a Friend We Have in JesusPhilippians 4:4–20 · with What a Friend We Have in Jesus — 4 minutesScriven’s hymn — “all our sins and griefs to bear” — over nearly the whole of Philippians 4: rejoice in the Lord alway, be careful for nothing, pray, and the God of peace supplying every need. Played, not sung.Praise to the Lord, the AlmightyPsalm 103 · with Praise to the Lord, the Almighty — 4 minutesNeander’s great praise hymn over the whole of Psalm 103 — forgiven iniquities, healed diseases, a crown of lovingkindness, mercy from everlasting to everlasting. The psalm Woven opens with, here complete.All Creatures of Our God and KingPsalm 148 · Psalm 150 · with All Creatures of Our God and King — 4 minutesFrancis’s canticle over the two psalms it sings — heaven and earth, sun and moon, dragons and deeps, kings and children, trumpet and timbrel — everything that hath breath, praising. Sung by a congregation.Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and NeedyLuke 15:11–24 · with Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy — 3 minutesHart’s invitation over the Prodigal’s homecoming half of the parable: the far country, the husks, the coming to himself, and the father running — robe, ring, and the fatted calf.Fairest Lord JesusPsalm 45 · with Fairest Lord Jesus — 3 minutesThe old German hymn — “Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature” — over the whole royal wedding psalm: the king fairer than the children of men, grace poured into his lips, his throne for ever and ever. Sung by one voice, unaccompanied.Praise God, from Whom All Blessings FlowPsalm 100 · with Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow — 1 minuteKen’s doxology — the four lines every church knows by heart — over the short psalm beneath them: “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.” A blessing-length piece, by nature. Sung by one voice, unaccompanied.Pass Me Not, O Gentle SaviourLuke 18:35–43 · with Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour — 2 minutesCrosby’s plea over the Gospel’s own pass-me-not: a blind man by the wayside, told to hold his peace, crying the more — and the Lord standing still for him. A 1923 recording, shellac and all. It is presented here with one middle verse omitted, as congregations have always sung their chosen verses.

These pieces also live at The Holland Press: thehollandpress.com/homecoming