Lead Kindly Light by Lyrica Sacra

4,934 views • Apr 10, 2017

Description

Words: John H. Newman | Music: James Croegaert
Arr. Lloyd Kaufman 

Lead kindly light amid th' encircl’ing gloom,
     lead thou me on.
The night is dark and I am far from home,
     lead thou me on.
Keep thou my feet, I do not ask to see
     the distant scene, 
     one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor pray'd that thou
     shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path, but now,
     lead Thou me on.
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
     pride ruled my will: 
     remember not past years.

So long Thy pow’r has blessed me,
     sure it still will lead me on,
O’er moor and fen, or crag and torrent
     ‘til the night is gone;
And with the morn,
     those angel faces smile which I have loved
     long since, and lost awhile.

Lead kindly light, amid th' encircl’ing gloom,
     lead thou me on!

The Historic Faith · Hymn Companion

Lead Kindly Light by Lyrica Sacra

Words by John Henry NewmanMusic by John Bacchus DykesWritten 1833Tune LUX BENIGNA

Lead, Kindly Light, amid th' encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou
Shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now
Lead Thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will: remember not past years.

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on,
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone;
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.

Story Behind the Song

John Henry Newman wrote the text in 1833 as a poem titled “The Pillar of the Cloud” while ill and delayed during a Mediterranean journey, longing for guidance as he tried to return to England. The hymn’s best-known tune, LUX BENIGNA, was composed by John Bacchus Dykes in 1865. The text has become one of the classic English hymns of trust in divine guidance amid uncertainty.

Scripture

Found In

The English Hymnal, Hymns Ancient and Modern, The Hymnal 1982, Trinity Hymnal, Worship and Rejoice