Across the River

Representative Text

1 When for me the silent oar
Parts the silent river,
And I stand upon the shore
Of the strange forever,
Shall I miss the loved and known?
Shall I vainly seek my own?
Shall I miss the loved and known?
Vainly seek my own?

2 Can the bonds that make us here
Know ourselves immortal,
Drop away like foliage sere
At life's inner portal?
What is holiest below
Must forever live and grow;
What is holiest below
Must forever grow.

3 He who plants within our hearts
All this deep affection,
Giving, when the form departs,
Fadeless recollection,
Will but clasp the unbroken chain
Closer when we meet again;
Will but clasp the unbroken chain
When we meet again.

4 Therefore dread I not to go
O'er the silent river;
Death, thy hastening oar I know;
Bear me, thou life giver!
Through the waters to the shore,
When mine own have gone before;
Through the waters in the shore,
Where they're gone before.

Source: The Morning Stars Sang Together: a book of religious songs for Sunday schools and the home circle #85

Author: Lucy Larcom

Larcom, Lucy, was born at Beverley Farm, Massachusetts, in 1826. Her Poems were published in 1864. Her hymn, "When for me the silent oar" [Death Anticipated), was published in 1868. She died in 1893. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: When for me the silent oar
Title: Across the River
Author: Lucy Larcom
Language: English
Refrain First Line: When for us the silent oar
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 24 of 24)
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A Book of Song and Service #153

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Good-Will Songs #26

Heart and Voice #d295

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Heart and Voice #265

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Heavenward #105

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Hymns of the Centuries #218

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Hymns of the Christian Centuries #213

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Hymns of the Spirit #617

Jubilate Deo #346

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Songs for Sunday Schools and Gospel Meetings #121

Spiritual Songs of the First National Association of Spiritualists #d139

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Spiritualist Hymnal #137

Sunday School Songs. 3rd ed. #d137

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Sunday-School Songs #28

The American Hymnal #d658

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The Carol #125

The Church Hymnal #d478

TextPage Scan

The Morning Stars Sang Together #85

The Sabbath School Queen #d104

The Spiritual Harp #d286

The St. Alban Hymnal #d496

The Sunny Side #d154

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Worship Song #525

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