We are Passing Away

Top Text Author Text Info Tune Timeline Page Scans Instances

Death rides on every passing breeze

Author: Reginald Heber
Tune: [Death rides on every passing breeze]
Published in 13 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Death rides on every passing breeze,
And lurks on every flower;
Each season has its own disease,
Its peril every hour!

2 Our eyes have seen the rosy light
Of youth's soft cheek decay;
And fate descend in sudden night
On manhood's middle day.

3 Our eye have seen the steps of age
Halt feebly to the tomb;
And yet shall earth our heart engage,
And dreams of days to come?

4 Then, mortal, turn! thy danger know;
Where'er thy foot can tread,
The earth rings hollow from below,
And warns thee of our dead!

5 Turn, mortal, turn! thy soul apply
To truth divinely given:
The dead, who underneath thee lie,
Shall live for hell or heaven!

Source: The Book of Worship #414

All representative texts • Compare texts ^ top

Author: Reginald Heber

Reginald Heber was born in 1783 into a wealthy, educated family. He was a bright youth, translating a Latin classic into English verse by the time he was seven, entering Oxford at 17, and winning two awards for his poetry during his time there. After his graduation he became rector of his father's church in the village of Hodnet near Shrewsbury in the west of England where he remained for 16 years. He was appointed Bishop of Calcutta in 1823 and worked tirelessly for three years until the weather and travel took its toll on his health and he died of a stroke. Most of his 57 hymns, which include "Holy, Holy, Holy," are still in use today. -- Greg Scheer, 1995… Go to person page >

^ top