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* Index of the First Line of Each Stanza, the Fifth Line of Eight Line Stanzas, and the First Line of the Chorus
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Columbus 67

The Sacred Harp, 1991 (Denson) Edition

Composer: Southern Harmony, 1835
Poet: Mercer's Cluster, 1823
Meter: Common Meter Double (8,6,8,6,8,6,8,6)
Stanza Poetry Source by First Line
1
Oh, once I had a glorious view
Of my redeeming Lord,
He said, "I'll be a God to you,"
And I believed His word.
But now I have a deeper stroke
Than all my groanings are;
My God has me of late forsook;
He's gone, I know not where.


Oh! once I had a glorious view, Stanza 1
2
Oh, what immortal joys I felt,
On that celestial day,
When my hard heart began to melt,
By love dissolved away!
By my complaint is bitter now,
For all my joys are gone;
I've strayed! I'm left! I know not how;
The light's from me withdrawn.


Oh! once I had a glorious view, Stanza 2
3
Once I could joy the saints to meet,
To me they were most dear;
I then could stoop to wash their feet,
And shed a joyful tear;
But now I meet them as the rest,
And with them joyless stay;
My conversation's spiritless,
Or else I've nought to say.


Oh! once I had a glorious view, Stanza 3
4
I once could mourn o'er dying men,
And longed their souls to win;
I travailed for their poor children,
And warned them of their sin;
But now my heart's so careless grown,
Although they're drowned in vice,
My bowels o'er them cease to yearn --
My tears have left mine eyes.


Oh! once I had a glorious view, Stanza 4
5
I forward go in duty's way,
But can't perceive Him there;
Then backward on the road I stray,
But cannot find Him there;
On the left hand, where He doth work,
Among the wicked crew,
And on the right I find Him not
Among the favored few.


Oh! once I had a glorious view, Stanza 5
6
What shall I do? Shall I lie down
And sink in deep despair?
Will He forever frown,
Nor hear my feeble prayer?
No; He will put His strength in me,
He knows the way I've strolled,
And when I'm tried sufficiently
I shall come forth as gold.


Oh! once I had a glorious view, Stanza 6