Notes on the Hymn
The "Come, We that Love the Lord" lyrics results from a collaboration of authors living about 150 years apart. Isaac Watts, known as the "Father of English Hymnody," wrote the ten verses. Robert Lowry, perhaps, best known for "Shall We Gather at the River," https://faithmusicconnection.com/shall-we-gather-at-the-river-lyrics/ wrote the refrain. Lowry also composed a tune for lyrics and refrain, appropriately named, "Marching to Zion."
Isaac Watts (1674-1748) Source: Wikipedia.com
Come, We that Love the Lord
by Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Refrain by Robert Lowry (1826-1899)
(stanzas 1 & 2)
Come, we that love the Lord,
And let our joys be known;
Join in a song with sweet accord,
Join in a song with sweet accord
And thus surround the throne,
And thus surround the throne.
Refrain
We’re marching to Zion,
Beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We’re marching upward to Zion,
The beautiful city of God.
Robert Lowry (1826-1899) Source: Wikipedia.com
The sorrows of the mind
Be banished from the place;
Religion never was designed
Religion never was designed,
To make our pleasures less,
To make our pleasures less.
Refrain
(3 & 4)
Let those refuse to sing,
Who never knew our God;
But favorites of the heavenly King,
But favorites of the heavenly King
May speak their joys abroad,
May speak their joys abroad.
Refrain
The God that rules on high,
And thunders when He please,
Who rides upon the stormy sky,
Who rides upon the stormy sky,
And manages the seas,
And manages the seas.
Refrain
(5 & 6)
This awful God is ours,
Our Father and our Love;
He will send down his heav’nly powers,
He will send down his heav’nly powers,
To carry us above,
To carry us above.
Refrain
There we shall see His face,
And never, never sin!
There, from the rivers of His grace,
There, from the rivers of His grace,
Drink endless pleasures in,
Drink endless pleasures in.
Refrain
(7 & 8)
Yea, and before we rise,
To that immortal state,
The thoughts of such amazing bliss,
The thoughts of such amazing bliss,
Should constant joys create,
Should constant joys
Refrain
The men of grace have found,
Glory begun below.
Celestial fruits on earthly ground
Celestial fruits on earthly ground
From faith and hope may grow,
From faith and hope may grow.
Refrain
(9 & 10)
The hill of Zion yields
A thousand sacred sweets
Before we reach the heav’nly fields,
Before we reach the heav’nly fields,
Or walk the golden streets,
Or walk the golden streets.
Refrain
Then let our songs abound,
And every tear be dry;
We’re marching through Immanuel’s ground,
We’re marching through Immanuel’s ground,
To fairer worlds on high,
To fairer worlds on high.
Refrain
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Keep Singing!
Dr. Larry