71. How tedious and tasteless the hours

1.
How tedious and tasteless the hours
When Jesus no longer I see;
Sweet prospects, sweet birds, and sweet flowers,
Have all lost 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.

2.
His name yields the 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.

3.
Content with beholding his face,
My all to his pleasure resigned,
No changes of season or place
Would make any change in my mind:
While blest with a sense of his love,
A palace a toy would appear;
And prisons would palaces prove,
If Jesus would dwell with me there.

4.
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 my sky,
Thy soul cheering presence restore;
Or take me to thee up on high,
Where winter and clouds are no more.

Text Information
First Line: How tedious and tasteless the hours
Title: How tedious and tasteless the hours
Meter: 8s
Language: English
Publication Date: 1854
Source: Baptist Harmony, p. 193
Tune Information
Name: GREEN FIELDS
Meter: 8s



Media
Audio recording: Big Singing
©APAD Digital Recordings
Audio recording: MP3
(Brock Organ)
MIDI file: GreenFields.midi
More media are available on the text authority and tune authority pages.

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