Singing the Living Tradition ‎#140

140. Hail the Glorious Golden City

1 Hail the glorious golden city,
pictured by the seers of old:
everlasting light shines o'er it,
wondrous tales of it are told.
Wise and righteous men and women
dwell within its gleaming wall;
wrong is banished from its borders,
justice reigns supreme o'er all.

2 We are builders of that city.
All our joys and all our groans
help to rear its shining ramparts;
all our lives are building stones.
Whether humble or exalted,
all are called to task divine;
all must aid alike to carry
forward one sublime design.

3 And the work that we have builded,
oft with bleeding hands and tears,
oft in error, and in anguish,
will not perish with our years:
it will live and shine transfigured
in the final reign of right:
it will merge into the splendors
of the city of the light.

Text Information

• First Line: Hail the glorious golden city
• Title: Hail the Glorious Golden City
• Author: Felix Adler, 1851-1933
• Meter: 8.7.8.7.D.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1993
• Topic: Words and Deeds of Prophetic Women and Men: In Time To Come; The City; Justice and Equity; Labor; These Things Shall Be

Tune Information

• Name: HYFRYDOL
• Composer: Rowland Hugh Prichard, 1811-1887
• Meter: 8.7.8.7.D.
• Key: F Major or modal