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Happy the city where their sons

Happy the city where their sons

Author: Isaac Watts
Published in 40 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

Happy the city where its sons,
like pillars on a palace face,
and daughters, bright as polished stones,
give strength and beauty to the place.
Happy the country where the sheep,
cattle and corn, have large increase;
where all securely work or sleep,
and none of plunder break the peace.

Happy the land that loves the Lord,
whose people know the Savior’s ways,
relying on God’s holy word,
rejoicing with their songs of praise.
Happy the nation thus endowed;
but more divinely blest are those
who trust you, all-sufficient God,
for all the good your grace bestows.


Source: In Melody and Songs: hymns from the Psalm versions of Isaac Watts #101

Author: Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts was the son of a schoolmaster, and was born in Southampton, July 17, 1674. He is said to have shown remarkable precocity in childhood, beginning the study of Latin, in his fourth year, and writing respectable verses at the age of seven. At the age of sixteen, he went to London to study in the Academy of the Rev. Thomas Rowe, an Independent minister. In 1698, he became assistant minister of the Independent Church, Berry St., London. In 1702, he became pastor. In 1712, he accepted an invitation to visit Sir Thomas Abney, at his residence of Abney Park, and at Sir Thomas' pressing request, made it his home for the remainder of his life. It was a residence most favourable for his health, and for the prosecution of his literary… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Happy the city where their sons
Author: Isaac Watts
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

WOODBURY (Wood)


THORNY DESERT


WINCHESTER NEW

The original version of WINCHESTER NEW appeared in Musikalisches Handbuch der geistlichen Melodien, published in Hamburg, Germany, in 1690 by Georg Wittwe. It was set to the text “Wer nur den lieben Gott” (see 446). An expanded version of the tune was a setting for "Dir, dir Jehova" (see 203) in…

Go to tune page >


Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #12051
  • PDF (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer Score (NWC)

Instances

Instances (1 - 3 of 3)
Text

In Melody and Songs #101

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #12051

The Shenandoah Harmony #19

Include 37 pre-1979 instances
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