Here is a song, which doth belong

General information

Here is a song, which doth belong is a text first recorded in the Hymn Tune Index in 1794, as the underlay of the tune 'West-Sudbury' by William Billings. Billings attributes the text as 'Words from Mr. John Peck', but only gives one Double Common Metre verse. Elisha West of Woodstock, Vermont similarly set the hymn to a Double Common Meter tune ('Solemn Song') in his collection The Musical Concert (Northampton: 1802).

A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, compiled by Paul Himes and Jonathan Wilson (Greenfield, MA: published by Clark & Hunt, 1818) gives seven Common Metre verses of the text, as Hymn 123.

Settings by composers

• William Billings — Hatfield  English STB
• William Billings — West-Sudbury  English SATB
• William Walker — An Address for All  English SATB
• Elisha West — Solemn Song  English SATB

 

Text and translations

First verse as given in William Billings' The Continental Harmony (Boston: 1794) English text Here is a song, which doth belong, To all the human race, Concerning death, who steals the breath, And blasts the comely face. Come listen all unto the call, Which I do make to day, For you must die, as well as I, And pass from hence away. As given in A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, comp. Himes & Wilson (Greenfield, MA: Clark & Hunt, 1818) English text I sing a song which doth belong To all the human race, Concerning death, which steals the breath, And blasts the comely face. Come, listen all unto the call, Which I do make to-day, For you must die as well as I, And pass from hence away. No human power can stop the hour Wherein a mortal dies; A Caesar may be great to-day, Yet death may close his eyes. Though some do strive and do arrive To riches and renown, Enjoying health, and swim in wealth, Yet death will bring them down. Though beauty grace your comely face, With roses white and red, A dying fall will spoil it all, For Absalom is dead. Though you require the best attire, Appearing fine and fair, Yet death will come into the room, And strip you of them there. For princes high and beggars die, And mingle with the dust; The rich, the brave, the poorest slave, The wicked and the just.

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