[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]

Mortality 50t

The Sacred Harp, 1991 (Denson) Edition

Composer: Daniel Read, 1785
Poet: Isaac Watts, 1719
Meter: Long Meter (8,8,8,8)
Stanza Poetry Source by First Line
1
Death, like an overflowing stream,
Sweeps us away; our life's a dream,
An empty tale, a morning flow'r,
Cut down and withered in an hour.
THRO' ev'ry Age, Eternal God,, Stanza 5
2
Our age to sev'nty years is set;
How short the time! How frail the state!
And if to eighty we arrive,
We'd rather sigh and groan than live.
THRO' ev'ry Age, Eternal God,, Stanza 6
3
Teach us, Oh Lord, how frail is man;
And kindly lengthen out the span,
Till a wise care of piety
Fit us to die and dwell with Thee.
THRO' ev'ry Age, Eternal God,, Stanza 8