I could sing it all day long. It's by a 19th Century writer, Henry Alford, who also wrote Come, ye thankful people, come.
Ten thousand times ten thousand has a very fine tune, managing to combine the majestic and the lyrical, thrilling and deeply touching at the same time, written for it by the English composer Geoffrey Shaw.
The internet has lots of references to the words (some PC'd versions best ignored), but I can't find that tune (Gresham) anywhere - it must have slipped into oblivion, which is a terrible shame as words and music are near perfect together.
The tune's copyright on my old hymnary is dated 1915, when the hymn must have had an especial resonance.
1 Ten thousand times ten thousand
In sparkling raiment bright,
The armies of the ransomed saints
Throng up the steeps of light:
'Tis finished, all is finished,
Their fight with death and sin:
Fling open wide the golden gates,
And let the victors in.
2 What rush of alleluias
Fills all the earth and sky!
What ringing of a thousand harps
Bespeaks the triumph nigh!
O day, for which creation
And all its tribes were made!
O joy, for all its former woes
A thousand fold repaid!
3 O then what raptured greetings
On Canaan's happy shore;
What knitting severed friendships up,
Where partings are no more!
Then eyes with joy shall sparkle,
That brimmed with tears of late;
Orphans no longer fatherless,
Nor widows desolate.
4 Bring near Thy great salvation,
Thou Lamb for sinners slain;
Fill up the roll of Thine elect,
Then take Thy power and reign:
Appear, Desire of nations,
Thine exiles long for home;
Show in the heavens Thy promised sign;
Thou Prince and Saviour, come.
..Just wanted to share it, if you've read this far thankyou for your time
Ten thousand times ten thousand has a very fine tune, managing to combine the majestic and the lyrical, thrilling and deeply touching at the same time, written for it by the English composer Geoffrey Shaw.
The internet has lots of references to the words (some PC'd versions best ignored), but I can't find that tune (Gresham) anywhere - it must have slipped into oblivion, which is a terrible shame as words and music are near perfect together.
The tune's copyright on my old hymnary is dated 1915, when the hymn must have had an especial resonance.
1 Ten thousand times ten thousand
In sparkling raiment bright,
The armies of the ransomed saints
Throng up the steeps of light:
'Tis finished, all is finished,
Their fight with death and sin:
Fling open wide the golden gates,
And let the victors in.
2 What rush of alleluias
Fills all the earth and sky!
What ringing of a thousand harps
Bespeaks the triumph nigh!
O day, for which creation
And all its tribes were made!
O joy, for all its former woes
A thousand fold repaid!
3 O then what raptured greetings
On Canaan's happy shore;
What knitting severed friendships up,
Where partings are no more!
Then eyes with joy shall sparkle,
That brimmed with tears of late;
Orphans no longer fatherless,
Nor widows desolate.
4 Bring near Thy great salvation,
Thou Lamb for sinners slain;
Fill up the roll of Thine elect,
Then take Thy power and reign:
Appear, Desire of nations,
Thine exiles long for home;
Show in the heavens Thy promised sign;
Thou Prince and Saviour, come.
..Just wanted to share it, if you've read this far thankyou for your time
