Hymn #49: Alleluia, Sing to Jesus

Lyrics: William Chatterton Dix, 1867.

Music: HYFRYDOL by Rowland Hugh Prichard.
ALLELUIA (WESLEY) by Samuel Sebastian Wesley.

Theme: “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11

Alleluia! sing to Jesus, His the scepter, his the throne
Alleluia! His the triumph, His the victory alone
Hark! the songs of peaceful Zion thunder like a mighty flood
Jesus out of every nation hath redeemed us by his blood.

Alleluia! not as orphans are we left in sorrow now
Alleluia! He is near us, faith believes nor questions how
Though the cloud from sight received him when the forty days were o’er
Shall our hearts forget his promise, I am with you evermore?

Alleluia! bread of heaven, here on earth our food and stay
Alleluia! here the sinful flee to thee from day to day
Intercessor, Friend of sinners, earth’s Redeemer, plead for me
Where the songs of all the sinless sweep across the crystal sea.

Alleluia! King eternal, thee the Lord of Lords we own
Alleluia! born of Mary, earth thy footstool, heaven thy throne
Thou within the veil hast entered, robed in flesh, our great High Priest
Thou on earth both Priest and Victim in the Eucharistic Feast.

WIlliam Chatterton DIx’s father wrote a biography of Thomas Chatterton and gave his son the poet’s middle name. William C. Dix also wrote the words to the famous Christmas carol set to GREENSLEEVES, What Child Is This?, and he translated several hymns from the Greek in addition to writing his own original poems and hymn lyrics. Dix wrote Alleluia, Sing to Jesus specifically to fill a need for Eucharistic hymns in the Church of England hymnal, Hymns Ancient and Modern; however, nowadays it is often sung without the final verse either as an Ascension Day hymn or as a general hymn of worship and praise.

Sources:
Hymnuts: Alleluia, Sing to Jesus
The Poets of the Church by Edwin Francis Hatfield.

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