Cringe-making lines in hymns

[edbowie]

In the long history of hymnody, Emily Elliot's 'Thou didst leave thy throne' is, in my view, a particular low point. I challenge anyone to sing this verse with a straight face:


The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest
in the shade of the forest tree;
but thy couch was the sod, O thou Son of God,
in the deserts of Galilee

[musicus]

Yeah, those couches are a *beep*...

(OK; I faked that beep. And I had long thought that that particular bold rhyme was unique to WH Auden: I'm afraid there's many a spectacled sod / Prefers the British Museum to God. Apparently not.)

[dunstan]

Not cringe making, but a fantastic opening rhetorical question for a hymn ("She" being the church):

Who is she that stands triumphant rock in strength upon the rock, like some city crowned with turrets braving storm and earthquake shock?

[edbowie]

Slightly off topic but it is interesting to consider hymns that, during their life, have lost some of their verses along the way.

'O for a thousand tongues to sing' was written with 18 verses including these two:

Harlots and publicans and thieves
In holy triumph join!
Saved is the sinner that believes
From crimes as great as mine.

Murderers and all ye hellish crew
In holy triumph join!
Believe the Savior died for you;
For me the Savior died.

Interesting that publicans were once ranked along side harlots and thieves ! No doubt at a time before Christians themselves turned to the bottle ! Although singing this hymn to the tune 'Lyngham' would drive anyone to drink !!

[edbowie]

The section of the English Hymnal entitled 'For Mission Services' is a rich seam of cringemaking hymns. What was RVW thinking off?

This is my fav:

Ho, my comrades! see the signal waving in the sky! Reinforcements now appearing, victory is nigh. Refrain: "Hold the fort, for I am coming," Jesus signals still; wave the answer back to heaven, "By Thy grace we will." See the mighty host advancing, Satan leading on; mighty ones around us falling, courage almost gone! Refrain Fierce and long the battle rages, but our help is near; onward comes our great Commander, cheer, my comrades, cheer! Refrain

I think the response to this would be the foetal position not just a cringe !

[gwyn]

edbowie said

This is my fav:
Ho, my comrades! see the signal waving in the sky!

Abso. Cracking good tune though. Just googled this about it
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/o/holdfort.htm

My two are:
Gladly my cross I'd bear - as in Gladly my cross-eyed bear

and

Can a woman's tender care
cease toward that child she bare?
(I could only visualise a little girl bear-cub on singing this).

[docmattc]

The section of the English Hymnal entitled 'For Mission Services' is a rich seam of cringemaking hymns.

A while back I was given "Sacred songs and solos. Revised and enlarged with standard hymns 1200 pieces" compiled by Ira Sankey.
There's no date in this book, but looking at the preface and Sankey's biog, I'd guess its 1890-1900
I can't quote some of the lines in the mission section because it might get us into trouble with the race relations people. It was very definitely a different era.

There is a world where people come and go has a few cringey rhymes in it. I especially like
"When will we wake from comfort and from ease, / and strive together to create a world of love and... peas?"

[gwyn]

EPISCOPAL ORDINATION OF MSGR. JOSEPH S. MARINO (LIVE) 2 1/2 hr
Ordination of Msgr. Joseph .S Marino as Archbishop and Papal Nuncio to Bangladesh.
From the Cathedral of St. Paul, Birmingham. Alabama
Sat 3/29/08 11:30 AM ET & 8:30 AM PT LIVE
Sun 3/30/08 4:00 AM ET & 1:00 AM PT ENCORE

I watched this broadcast live via EWTN today. Overall it was fine. But while the Faithful received Holy Communion a soloist gave the most toe-curlingly excruciating rendition of Amazing Grace that I've ever, EVER heard.

[musicus]

Continuing this thread's early-morning tradition, having awoken at 4pm:

... Gladly my cross I'd bear - as in Gladly my cross-eyed bear ...

I won't take that personally!

[gwyn]

Continuing this thread's early-morning tradition, having awoken at 4pm:

Gwyn wrote:
... Gladly my cross I'd bear - as in Gladly my cross-eyed bear ...

Guffaw

[Southern Comfort]

The Methodist Hymnal 1933, no 472:

Come in, O come! The door stands open now;
I knew Thy voice; Lord Jesus, it was Thou.

The English Hymnal also 1933, no 638 (Jerusalem, my happy home), a treasure chest of gems:

12 Thy Saints are crowned with glory great;
They see God face to face;
They triumph still, they still rejoice:
Most happy is their case.

.....

24 Te Deum doth Saint Ambrose sing,
Saint Austin doth the like;
Old Simeon and Zachary
Have not their songs to seek.

.....

and perhaps the most classic of all:

23 Our Lady sings Magnificat
With tune surpassing sweet;
And all the Virgins bear their parts,
Sitting about her feet.

[oopsorganist]

.......
dark night has come down on us Mother and we.......

[organist]

The section of the English Hymnal entitled 'For Mission Services' is a rich seam of cringemaking hymns. What was RVW thinking off?

This is my fav:

Ho, my comrades! see the signal waving in the sky! Reinforcements now appearing, victory is nigh. Refrain: "Hold the fort, for I am coming," Jesus signals still; wave the answer back to heaven, "By Thy grace we will." See the mighty host advancing, Satan leading on; mighty ones around us falling, courage almost gone! Refrain Fierce and long the battle rages, but our help is near; onward comes our great Commander, cheer, my comrades, cheer! Refrain

I think the response to this would be the foetal position not just a cringe !

I may be wrong but I think RVW was forced to include some of these horrors by the publishers? Just as he had a supplement of horrid tunes?

[docmattc]

From that rich seam in the English Hymnal that edbowie mentions:

"waft, waft, ye winds, his story"

Our Lady sings Magnificat
With tune surpassing sweet;
And all the Virgins bear their parts,
Sitting about her feet.

At what point in the history of the english language was this not an innuendo?

And some would have us believe that dubious liturgical music is a post VCII invention

[gwyn]

Southern Comfort and docmattc quoted

And all the Virgins bear their parts,
Sitting about her feet.

Yes indeed, I'd forgotten about that (or maybe repressed it).

I recall first experiencing that line in my youthful anglican days, we were in procession at the time. Three of us lads became hysterical with boundless laughter beyond conscious control. Funnier that that was that others never ever got the innuendo. Deo gratias maybe?

Delightful thread this one.