'Twas on That Dark, That Doleful Night

Representative Text

1 It was a dark and dismal night
when pow'rs of earth and hell arose
against the Son, our God's delight,
and friends betrayed him to his foes.

2 Before the mournful scene began,
he took the bread and blessed and broke.
What love through all his actions ran!
What wondrous words of grace he spoke!

3 "This is my body, slain for sin;
receive and eat the living food."
Then took the cup and blessed the wine:
"This is my all-atoning blood."

4 "Do this," he said, "till time shall end,
in mem'ry of your dying friend;
meet at my table and record
the love of your departed Lord."

5 Jesus, your feast we celebrate;
we show your death; we sing your name
till you return and we shall eat
the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Source: Christian Worship: Hymnal #417

Author: Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts was the son of a schoolmaster, and was born in Southampton, July 17, 1674. He is said to have shown remarkable precocity in childhood, beginning the study of Latin, in his fourth year, and writing respectable verses at the age of seven. At the age of sixteen, he went to London to study in the Academy of the Rev. Thomas Rowe, an Independent minister. In 1698, he became assistant minister of the Independent Church, Berry St., London. In 1702, he became pastor. In 1712, he accepted an invitation to visit Sir Thomas Abney, at his residence of Abney Park, and at Sir Thomas' pressing request, made it his home for the remainder of his life. It was a residence most favourable for his health, and for the prosecution of his literary… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: 'Twas on that dark, that doleful night
Title: 'Twas on That Dark, That Doleful Night
Author: Isaac Watts
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

WINDHAM


HAMBURG

Lowell Mason (PHH 96) composed HAMBURG (named after the German city) in 1824. The tune was published in the 1825 edition of Mason's Handel and Haydn Society Collection of Church Music. Mason indicated that the tune was based on a chant in the first Gregorian tone. HAMBURG is a very simple tune with…

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ROCKBRIDGE


Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #6869
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
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Instances

Instances (1 - 7 of 7)
TextPage Scan

Christian Worship (1993) #136

Text

Christian Worship #417

Hymns of the Saints #337

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #6869

The Harmonia Sacra #57B

The New Century Hymnal #225

The Shenandoah Harmony #27

Include 357 pre-1979 instances
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