[Main] [Poetry Index]* [Poets] 1991 Denson Revision: [Titles] [Pages] [First Lines]* 2012 Cooper Revision: [Titles] [Pages] [First Lines]*
* Index of the First Line of Each Stanza, the Fifth Line of Eight Line Stanzas, and the First Line of the Chorus
[Previous] [Next]

Green Fields 127

The Sacred Harp, 2012 Revised Cooper Edition

Composer: The Kentucky Harmonist, 1818
Poet: John Newton, 1779
Meter: Common Meter Double (8,6,8,6,8,6,8,6)
Stanza Poetry Source by First Line
1
How tedious and tasteless the hours,
When Jesus no longer I see!
Sweet prospects, sweet birds, and sweet flow'rs,
Have lost all their sweetness to me;
The midsummer sun shines but dim,
The fields strive in vain to look gay;
But when I am happy in Him,
December's as pleasant as May.


How tedious and tasteless the hours,, Stanza 1
2
His name yields a richest perfume,
And sweeter than music His voice;
His presence disperses my gloom,
And makes all within me rejoice;
I should, were He always thus nigh,
Have nothing to wish or to fear;
No mortal so happy as I,
My summer would last all the year.


How tedious and tasteless the hours,, Stanza 2
3
Dear Lord, if indeed I am Thine,
If Thou art my sun and my song,
Say, why do I languish and pine?
And why are my winters so long?
O drive these dark clouds from the sky,
Thy soul cheering presence restore,
Or take me to Thee up on high,
Where winter and clouds are no more.


How tedious and tasteless the hours,, Stanza 4