To append yet another hymn to the series Then Sings My Soul: The Hymns of My Youth, we turn once more this week to Fanny Crosby, this one published in 1882 with music by William J. Kirkpatrick. It’s strange to realize how some of these old hymns that seem almost quaint and even somewhat timid at times were in my youth some of the highlights of the musical repertoire of the church. In this one, you even got to sing a little uptempo… you had to be careful not to trip up on some of the lyrics, though each verse slowed in their final lines. Reviewing the second verse in particular, the language looks quite dated. It was fairly normal in a conservative church in those days for archaic language to be heard (and sometimes spoken), of course. It just all seemed a natural part of the way things were.
How things have changed… even if much of the theology and sentiment of “Redeemed” remains unchanged, it is now expressed quite differently. How stranger still to think that even so many of those “updated” expressions are still behind the times in terms of cultural relevancy. Still, the song now — like so many in my list — bring back memories of holding a hymnbook among the rows of pews, thankful that we weren’t singing one of the “slow hymns!”
Redeemed
Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child and forever I am.Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am.Redeemed, and so happy in Jesus,
No language my rapture can tell;
I know that the light of His presence
With me doth continually dwell.Refrain
I think of my blessèd Redeemer,
I think of Him all the day long:
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.Refrain
I know I shall see in His beauty
The King in whose law I delight;
Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps,
And giveth me songs in the night.Refrain
I know there’s a crown that is waiting,
In yonder bright mansion for me,
And soon, with the spirits made perfect,
At home with the Lord I shall be.Refrain
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