When Jordan Hushed His Waters Still

Christmas Hymn

For Christmas Eve

Version 2

Compare:
When Jordan Hushed His Waters Still, Version 1
 When Jordan Hushed His Waters Still, Version 3

Words: Thomas Campbell (1777-1844)

Music: See Below
Meter: L. M.

Source: J. G. Adams and E. H. Chapin, eds., Hymns for Christian Devotion - Especially Adapted to the Universalist Denomination. Boston: Abel Tompkins, 1853, #205.

1. When Jordan hushed his waters still,
And silence slept on Zion's hill;
When Bethlehem's¹ shepherds through the night
Watched o'er their flocks by starry light:

2. Hark! from the midnight hills around,
A voice of more than mortal sound,
In distant hallelujahs stole,
Wild murm'ring o'er the raptured soul.

3. "O Zion! lift thy raptured eye,
The long expected hour is nigh;
The joys of nature rise again,
The Prince of Salem comes to reign.

4. "He comes, to cheer the trembling heart,
Bids Satan and his host depart;
Again the day-star gilds the gloom,
Again the bowers of Eden bloom."

Notes:

1. Or: Salem's. Return

A. H. Palmer (below) adds this third verse:

3. On wheels of light, on wings of flame,
The glorious hosts of Zion came;
High heaven with songs of triumph rung,
While thus they struck their harps and sung.

This verse was followed by a "Full Chorus," an adaptation of verse 3 above:

O Zion, O Zion,
Lift up thy raptured eye, lift up thy raptured eye.
The long-expected hour is nigh,
The joys of nature rise again,
The long-expected hour is nigh,
The joys of nature rise again.
King of Salem, King of Salem,
The King of Salem comes to reign,
The King of Salem comes to reign,
The King of Salem comes to reign,
The King of Salem comes to reign,
The King of Salem comes to reign. Amen.

Palmer omits verse 4, above.

Sheet Music Arrangement by A. H. Palmer (Boson: J. M. Russell, 1885)

#463 of Russell's Musical Library - Sacred.
Source: Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, America Singing: Nineteenth-Century Song Sheets.
(American Memory, Performing Arts-Music)

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