Hear the Cry

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O'er the ocean's rolling waters

Author: Clara McAlister Brooks
Tune: [O'er the ocean's rolling waters]
Published in 4 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 O’er the ocean’s rolling waters,
From an eastern land today,
Comes a cry from heathen daughters,
“Save us ere we’re lost for aye”;
Loud we hear their voices crying,
Borne upon each floating breeze,
For their souls in sin are dying,
While we idly wait at ease.

Refrain:
Who will go, oh, who will go,
Bear the message o’er the sea?
Oh, who will go?

2 Home and friends to us seem nearer,
As we hear their pleading cry;
Native land seems even dearer—
Still in tears they moan and sigh;
“Will not someone leave his nation?
You are saved, but we are lost!”
Jesus died for all creation—
Who will come at any cost? [Refrain]

3 “Though your home and friends you cherish,
Will you not regard the cries
From the lips of those who perish,
As they rend the vaulted skies;
Many come with sect confusion,
Who themselves are in the night,
Bringing only more delusion;
Who will bring the gospel light?” [Refrain]

4 Go, my brother, o’er the ocean,
Leave behind all earthly dross;
Prove to God thy life’s devotion,
Lift the banner of His cross;
Jesus left His home in glory,
Died to set the captives free;
Go and tell the wondrous story,
Bear the message o’er the sea.[Refrain]

Source: Timeless Truths #149

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Author: Clara McAlister Brooks

Birth: Oct. 9, 1882, Parke County, Indiana, USA Death: Mar. 20, 1980, Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA Clara McAlister Brooks was one of our early songwriters and four of her pieces are in the current hymnal. From the earliest days of the movement we have had women prominent in all forms of our ministry—missionaries, evangelists, teachers, pastors, and God has honored their sacrificial labors. For that reason we can stand in amazement when here, in the 1970s, such old-line denominations as the Episcopal church are being racked with controversy over whether the ordination of women is permissible. But before we gather Pharisaic robes about ourselves, perhaps we need to look candidly at the way in which we, too, succumbed to so… Go to person page >

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First Line:	O'er the ocean's rolling waters
Title:	Hear the Cry
Author:	Clara McAlister Brooks
Meter:	8.7.8.7 D with refrain
Refrain First Line:	Who will go, O who will go
Copyright:	Public Domain