The year is gone beyond recall

Representative Text

1 The year is gone, beyond recall,
with all its hopes and fears,
with all its bright and gladdening smiles,
with all its mourners’ tears;

2 thy thankful people praise thee, Lord,
for countless gifts received;
and pray for grace to keep the faith
which Saints of old believed.

3 To thee we come, O gracious Lord,
the new-born year to bless;
defend our land from pestilence;
hive peace and plenteousness;

4 forgive this nation’s many sins;
the growth of vice restrain;
and help us all with sin to strive,
and crowns of life to gain.

5 From evil deeds that stain the past
we now desire to flee;
and pray that future years may all
be spent, good Lord, for thee.

6 O Father, let thy watchful eye
still look on us in love,
that we may praise thee, year by year,
with angel-hosts above.

7 All glory to the Father be,
all glory to the Son,
all glory, Holy Ghost, to thee,
while endless ages run.

Source: CPWI Hymnal #95

Translator: Francis Pott

Francis Pott studied at Brasenose College, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. in 1854, and M.A. in 1857. He was ordained Deacon in 1856, and Priest in 1857. He was Curate of Bishopsworth, Bristol, 1856; of Ardingley, Sussex, 1858; was appointed to Ticehurst in 1861; and is now incumbent of Northill, Bedfordshire. Mr. Pott has made many acceptable translations, and has edited "Hymns Fitted to the Order of Common Prayer, etc.;" a compilation of real merit. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A., 1872… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: The year is gone beyond recall
Latin Title: Lapsus est annus, redit annus alter
Translator: Francis Pott
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Lapsus est annus: redit annus alter. [New Year.] In the Meaux Breviary, 1713, and 1834, this is the hymn at compline after the first vespers of the festival of the Circumcision of our Lord. This would of course be said as the last office on Dec. 31. There is a rubric directing that at stanza v. all kneel down. So also in the Poictiers Breviary (Pictaviense), in which it probably originated. Neale, in his Hymni Ecclesiae, 1851, p. 162, gives the text e Breviario Meldensi, i.e. the Meaux Breviary. It is also in the Le Mans Breviary of 1748. Daniel, iv. 319, repeats the text from Neale. Also in L. C. Biggs's annotated Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1867. [Rev. W. A. Shoults, B.D.]
Translations in common use:—
1. The year is gone beyond recall. By F. Pott. Appeared in L. M. in his Hymns fitted to the Order of Common Prayer, 1861, No. 48, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines, and was repeated, unaltered, in the People's Hymnal, 1867, and others; and, abbreviated and altered, in the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge Church Hymns, 1871. In 1861 the compilers of Hymns Ancient & Modern transposed Archdeacon Pott's L.M. translation into C.M., thus necessitating many alterations. This text has been adopted by several hymnals, including Kennedy, 1863, Allon's Congregational Psalter Hymnal, 1886, and others. In these forms this translation is extensively used.
2. The year is gone, another dawns. By W. Cooke, written for and published in the Hymnary, 1872.
Translation not in common use:—
Past is the old year, now begins another. J. W. Hewett, 1859.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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Church Hymnal, Fifth Edition #83

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