Elisabeth learned this tune from the hymnal she grew up singing with at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Kalamazoo, MI. The melody, Dundee, appears in several places for different seasons and for different occasions, including solstice/Christmas celebration and funeral rites. We collected the verses we liked best from these different versions. We chose the words that were most comforting, and sang them often during the period when Pat Carroll, our now departed loved one, was ill.
Music: Dundee, Scottish Psalter (1655)
Words: “The People Who in Darkness Walked” (John Morrison, 1781), “God Moves In Mysterious Ways” (William Cowper, 1774), “Let Saints On Earth In Concert Sing” (Charles Wesley, 1756) “O God of Bethel, By Whose Hand” (Philip Doddridge, 1736)
Source: 1982 Hymnal, Public Domain/Creative Commons
lyrics
The people who in darkness walk, have seem a glorious light
On them broke forth the heavenly dawn, who dwelt in death and night
To hail thy rising son of life, the gathering nations come
Joyous as when the reapers bear, their harvest treasures home
Ye fearful saints fresh courage take, the clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break, in blessings on your head
Her purposes will ripen fast, unfolding every hour
The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower
Oh, spread thy covering wings around, till all our wanderings cease
And, at our mother’s loved abode, our souls arrive in peace
E’ven now by faith we join our hands, with those that came before
And greet the ever-living bands, on the eternal shore
credits
from Hearth & Hymn,
released December 17, 2013
Elisabeth Pixley-Fink: Vocals
Samantha Cooper: Violin, Vocals
A minimalist folk duo known for their close harmony sisterhood, Hearth & Hymn rearranges old songs that move them with a
queer, feminist lens. Hearth & Hymn has released two albums through Earthwork Music: Hearth & Hymn and Lullaby Bangers. The project is co-produced by songwriters Samantha Cooper (Sam) and Elisabeth Pixley-Fink (EPF) who both grew up within “kitchen music” traditions....more
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