Ageless Words to a New Tune

In recent years, one of my favorite things has become sitting at a piano with a book of old songs with amazing words and singing a new tune to the lyrics (since my fingers aren’t trained to play most music as it’s written 🙂  )  I recently got to do this at Jono’s as he let me use their house and piano when they were out of town.

Here’s the result:     Awake, Arise, Lift Up Your Voice (click on title to hear)

(words by Christopher Smart 1722-1771)

Awake, arise, lift up your voice,
let Easter music swell;
rejoice in Christ, again rejoice
and on his praises dwell.

Oh, with what gladness and surprise
the saints their Savior greet;
nor will they trust their ears and eyes
but by his hands and feet,

those hands of liberal love indeed
in infinite degree,
those feet still free to move and bleed
for millions and for me.

His enemies had sealed the stone
as Pilate gave them leave,
lest dead and friendless and alone
he should their skill deceive.

O Dead arise! O Friendless stand
by seraphim adored!
O Solitude again command
your host from heaven restored!