The Cyber Hymnal ‎#11298

11298. Our Fathers Long Ago

1 When across the ocean wide,
Where the heaving waters flow,
Came the Mayflower o’er the tide,
With our fathers long ago;
When they neared the rocky strand,
And their chorus rent the air,
Children in that pilgrim band
Clasped their little hands in prayer,
Children in that pilgrim band
Clasped their little hands in prayer.

2 Sweetly rang their evening hymn
O’er that region vast and wide,
Through the forest dark and dim,
And the rocking pines replied.
’Twas a cold December night,
And the earth was robed in snow,
But the stars with mellow light
Blest our fathers long ago,
But the stars with mellow light
Blest our fathers long ago.

3 When the early buds were seen,
And the robin’s song was heard
Children frolicked on the green,
Happy as the woodland bird;
Culled the daisy young and fair,
Watched the brooklet’s quiet flow,
Banished every cloud of care
From our fathers long ago,
Banished every cloud of care
From our fathers long ago.

4 When our country’s banner bright
Told her deeds of noble worth,
Children hailed its radiant light,
Hailed the land that gave them birth.
Children now rejoice to hear,
All their youthful hearts can know,
And the precepts still revere
Of their fathers long ago,
And the precepts still revere
Of their fathers long ago.

Text Information

• First Line: When across the ocean wide
• Title: Our Fathers Long Ago
• Author: Fanny Crosby
• Meter: 77.77.77.77.77
• Language: English
• Source: The Golden Censer by William Bradbury (New York: William B. Bradbury, 1864)
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: HAGÅTÑA
• Composer: William Batchelder Bradbury (1864)
• Meter: 77.77.77.77.77
• Key: A Major
• Copyright: Public Domain