Thanks for being a Hymnary.org user. You are one of more than 10 million people from 200-plus countries around the world who have benefitted from the Hymnary website in 2024! If you feel moved to support our work today with a gift of any amount and a word of encouragement, we would be grateful.

You can donate online at our secure giving site.

Or, if you'd like to make a gift by check, please make it out to CCEL and mail it to:
Christian Classics Ethereal Library, 3201 Burton Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
And may the promise of Advent be yours this day and always.

Art Thou Drifting?

O my brother, art thou drifting? Drifting toward a sea?

Author: P. P. Bilhorn
Tune: [O my brother, art thou drifting]
Published in 13 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Thou art drifting down life's river,
Drifting t'ward a sea,
From whose shore no bark returneth,
'Tis Eternity.

Chorus:
Thou art drifting, thou art drifting,
Drifting to Eternity;
Thou art drifting, thou art drifting,
Drifting to Eternity.

2 At its mouth lie rocks tremendous,
Blacker than despair,
Many a noble bark, my brother,
Has been shipwrecked there. [Chorus]

3 Hark! the wild white waves are foaming,
Hungry, fierce, and bold,
O'er the shattered vessel dashing,
Dreadful, icy, cold. [Chorus]

4 But beyond these raging billows,
Lies a happy shore,
Where the saints, redeemed through Jesus,
Dwell forevermore. [Chorus]

5 Oh! my friend, thy bark shall never
Reach that happy shore,
Till the Lord becomes your Pilot,
He will guide thee o'er. [Chorus]

6 Call Him with entreaty urgent,
Call Him near thy side,
Then o'er roughest, darkest billows,
Safely thou shalt glide. [Chorus]

Source: Crowning Glory No. 1: a choice collection of gospel hymns #115

Author: P. P. Bilhorn

Pseudonyms: W. Ferris Britcher, Irene Durfee; C. Ferris Holden, P. H. Rob­lin (a an­a­gram of his name)… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: O my brother, art thou drifting? Drifting toward a sea?
Title: Art Thou Drifting?
Author: P. P. Bilhorn
Language: English
Refrain First Line: O! my brother, art thou drifting
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 13 of 13)

Bells of Heaven #d407

Page Scan

Bilhorn's Male Chorus No. l #10

TextPage Scan

Crowning Glory No. 1 #115

TextPage Scan

Crowning Glory No. 2 #21

Page Scan

Crowning Glory #21

Page Scan

Golden Grain #206

Page Scan

Songs of Victory #54

Page Scan

Soul Winning Songs #116

Sunday School Chimes #d134

Page Scan

Temple Songs #180

The Crowning Glory Nos. 1 and 2 #d258

The Crowning Glory Nos. 1 and 2 #d373

The Supplement to "The Century Gospel Songs" #d116

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.