1 When the tempest high is raging,
O thou Master of the sea,
Be my Refuge; Rock of Ages,
Shelter me!
Refrain:
Shelter me, shelter me!
O my everlasting Refuge, shelter me!
Shelter me, shelter me!
Rock of Ages, shelter me!
2 When amid success and pleasure
I would wander, ever be
Watching guarding; blessed Master,
Shelter me! [Refrain]
3 When I’m weak, and sorely tempted,
Then, O Master, unto thee
Would I turn for thy protection;
Shelter me! [Refrain]
4 When, at last, my labor’s ended,
And the judgment I shall see,
O eternal Rock of Ages,
Shelter me! [Refrain]
Source: Sunday School Voices: a collection of sacred songs #73
William C. Poole was born and raised on a farm in Maryland. His parents belonged to the Methodist church. He graduated from Washington College and became a Methodist minister in Wilmington, Delaware area. He was pastor of McCabe Memorial, Richardson Park and other churches. In 1913 he was superintendent of the Anti-Saloon League of Delaware. He wrote about five hundred hymns. The writing was done as recreation and a diversion from his pastoral work. His goal in writing as well as in being a minister was to help people.
Dianne Shapiro, from "The Singers and Their Songs: sketches of living gospel hymn writers" by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (Chicago: The Rodeheaver Company, 1916) Go to person page >
My Starred Hymns
My FlexScores
My Hymnals
My Purchased Files