For All The Saints!

In honor of All Saints Day, I repost this performance of For All the Saints, which I crafted a few alternate melodies, rendering it it singable for nine [!] verses.

Of all the hymn-videos I have posted, this one is one of my most popular. Enjoy it through to the end. And if you want the music notation, be sure to download here.

FOR ALL THE SAINTS
Text: William W. How, 1823-1897
Music: Ralph Vaughan Williams, Sine Nomine (1906). P.D.
Alt. melodies: Nick Alexander (c) 2013

1. For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Your Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

2. Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

3. For the Apostles’ glorious company,
Who bearing forth the Cross o’er land and sea,
Shook all the mighty world, we sing to Thee: Alleluia!

4. For the Evangelists, by whose blest word,
Like fourfold streams, the garden of the Lord,
Is fair and fruitful, be Thy Name adored.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

5. The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise, be blessed: Alleluia!

6. O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win with them the victor’s crown of gold.
Allelu – ia!

7. And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.
Allelu – ia!

8. O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
All are one in Thee, for all are Thine: Alleluia!

9. From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!

New arrangement copyright (c) 2013 by Nick Alexander