1 Dropping down the troubled river,
To the tranquil, tranquil shore;
Dropping down the misty river,
Time’s willow-shaded river,
To the spring embosomed shore,
Where the sweet light shineth ever,
And the sun goes down no more.
O wondrous, wondrous shore!
O wondrous, wondrous shore!
2 Dropping down the winding river,
To the wide and welcome sea;
Dropping down the narrow river,
Man’s weary, wayward river,
To the blue and ample sea,
Where no tempest wrecketh ever,
Where the sky is fair and free.
O joyous, joyous, sea!
O joyous, joyous, sea!
3 Dropping down the noisy river,
To our peaceful, peaceful home;
Dropping down the turbid river,
Earth’s bustling, crowded river,
To our gentle, gentle home;
Where the rough roar riseth never,
And the vexings cannot come;
O loved and longed for home!
O loved and longed for home!
4 Dropping down the eddying river,
With a helmsman true and tried;
Dropping down the perilous river,
Mortality’s dark river,
With a sure and heav’nly guide;
Even Him who, to deliver
My soul from death, hath died;
O Helmsman true and tried!
O Helmsman true and tried!
5 Dropping down the rapid river,
To the dear and deathless land;
Dropping down the well known river,
Life’s swoll’n and rushing river,
To the resurrection-land;
Where the living live for ever,
And the dead have joined the band;
O fair and blessèd land!
O fair and blessèd land!
Source: The Cyber Hymnal #16196
Horatius Bonar was born at Edinburgh, in 1808. His education was obtained at the High School, and the University of his native city. He was ordained to the ministry, in 1837, and since then has been pastor at Kelso. In 1843, he joined the Free Church of Scotland. His reputation as a religious writer was first gained on the publication of the "Kelso Tracts," of which he was the author. He has also written many other prose works, some of which have had a very large circulation. Nor is he less favorably known as a religious poet and hymn-writer. The three series of "Hymns of Faith and Hope," have passed through several editions.
--Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872… Go to person page >
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