Meaning:
The name of the well-known Christian hymn, written by Henry Francis Lyte in
1847. A plea for God to be always present, in one's life and through death.
Background:
The first verse of Abide with Me is traditionally sung at the English FA Cup
Final (every year since 1927). It was also sung at the wedding of Queen
Elizabeth II and at that of her father, George VI.
Abide With Me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word;
But as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.
Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings,
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea--
Come, Friend of sinners, and thus bide with me.
Thou on my head in early youth didst smile;
And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee,
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.
I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
- www.phrases.org.uk [edited]
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Fear seeps through the lines and reminds me of a story. Once upon a time, some
particularly antsy desperadoes were drowning in the terror of their own
mortality and perceived average-ness. "Amor fati" ain't good enough and
"memento mori" unacceptable. Out of depth at every turn, they decided to imagine
their way out. They cooked up the tales of a god and have since succeeded in
offloading the unbearables onto them. Double-thinking is often needed and
at times schizophrenia breaks out and upsets the apple cart. With enough peeps
buying, however, the stuff works well, most of the time.
