Evangelical Lutheran Worship ‎#343

343. My Song Is Love Unknown

1 My song is love unknown,
my Savior’s love to me,
love to the loveless shown
that they might lovely be.
Oh, who am I that for my sake
my Lord should take frail flesh and die?

2 He came from his blest throne
salvation to bestow;
the world that was his own
would not its Savior know.
But, oh, my friend,
my friend indeed,
who at my need his life did spend!

3 Sometimes we strew his way
and his sweet praises sing;
resounding all the day
hosannas to their king.
Then, “Crucify!” is all their breath,
and for his death they thirst and cry.

4 We cry out, we will have
our dear Lord made away,
a murderer to save,
the prince of life to slay.
Yet cheerful he to suff'ring goes
that he his foes from thence might free.

5 If life no house, no home
my Lord on earth might have;
in death no friendly tomb
but what a stranger gave.
What may i say? Heav'n was his home
but mine the tomb wherein he lay.

6 Here might I stay and sing --
no story so divine!
Never was love, dear King,
never was grief like thine.
This is my friend, in whose sweet praise
I all my days would gladly spend!

Text Information

• First Line: My song is love unknown
• Title: My Song Is Love Unknown
• Author: Samuel Crossman, 1624-1683 (alt.)
• Meter: 6 6 6 6 4 4 8
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2006
• Topic: Lent; Atonement; Good Friday; Love
• Notes: Alternate tune: RHOSYMEDRE

Tune Information

• Name: LOVE UNKNOWN
• Composer: John Ireland, 1879-1962
• Meter: 6 6 6 6 4 4 8
• Key: D Major
• Copyright: © 1924 John Ireland, admin. The John Ireland Trust
• Notes: Now Public Domain.