Singing the Living Tradition ‎#209

209. O Come, You Longing Thirsty Souls

1 O come, you longing thirsty souls,
drink freely from the spring.
And come, you weary, famished folk,
and end your hungering.
Why spend yourself on empty air?
Why not be satisfied?
For everywhere a feast is spread
that’s always at our side.

2 For as the rain and snow above
fall not in vanity,
but for this purpose water earth:
to feed humanity.
So shall the word of spirit serve
as seed within our loam,
that we may bear so rich a yield
as brings the harvest home.

3 For we shall go in peace secure
and leave in joy sublime!
The hills outside will burst with song,
the trees will clap in time!
No more shall thorns and nettles grow!
The bay tree and the pine
shall sign for us th’eternal Name
that makes the world a shrine.

Text Information

• First Line: O come, you longing thirsty souls
• Title: O Come, You Longing Thirsty Souls
• Meter: C.M.D.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1993
• Scripture:
  Isaiah 55
• Topic: Jewish and Christian Teachings: Worship; The Bible; Communion; These Things Shall Be
• Source: Isaiah 55, Metrical version

Tune Information

• Name: FOREST GREEN
• Harmonizer: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872-1958
• Meter: C.M.D.
• Key: F Major or modal
• Source: English melody
• Copyright: Used by perm. of Oxford University Press
• Notes: Now Public Domain