Virtual accompanist
Play “God of Our Fathers”
Free same-meter accompaniment for God of Our Fathers (Rudyard Kipling): organ, piano or guitar playing the tune MELITA (John Bacchus Dykes) in four-part harmony, 5 verses, with the words on screen. Choose the key and speed, add an introduction, project the words on a TV, or practice your own choir part. Made for churches and home groups without a musician.
Sung here to MELITA (John Bacchus Dykes), a 8.8.8.8.8.8 tune — not necessarily the tune usually paired with this text. Any tune in the same meter fits the words.
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- 1God of our fathers, known of old,
- Lord of our far-flung battle line,
- Beneath Whose awful hand we hold
- Dominion over palm and pine:
- Lord God of hosts, be with us yet,
- Lest we forget, lest we forget.
- 2The tumult and the shouting dies;
- The captains and the kings depart;
- Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
- An humble and a contrite heart:
- Lord God of hosts, be with us yet,
- Lest we forget, lest we forget.
- 3Far called our navies melt away,
- On dune and headland sinks the fire;
- Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
- Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
- Judge of the nations, spare us yet,
- Lest we forget, lest we forget.
- 4If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
- Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe,
- Such boasting as the Gentiles use,
- Or lesser breeds without the law:
- Lord God of hosts, be with us yet,
- Lest we forget, lest we forget.
- 5For heathen heart that puts her trust
- In reeking tube and iron shard;
- All valiant dust that builds on dust,
- And, guarding, calls not Thee to guard:
- For frantic boast and foolish word,
- Thy mercy on Thy people, Lord.
About this music
MELITA — John Bacchus Dykes. 'Melita' John Bacchus Dykes, 1861. Setting: "Hymns Ancient and Modern", 1869.. The score is from the Open Hymnal Project, copied from Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1869 hymn 222. Tune from Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1861. %OHARRANGER unknown assumed Dykes, John Bacchus (1823-1876) words found in "The service of song for Baptist churches", 1876 Hymn 1070; music and setting are in the public domain. The words above are from the hymnal cited on the God of Our Fathers page.
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