Hymn meter
7.7.7.7 D
A hymn's meter counts the syllables in each line of a stanza. 7.7.7.7 D means each stanza has 8 lines of 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7 and 7 syllables — 56 in all. Hymnals print the meter beside each text so that a congregation can sing the words to any tune with the same pattern.
The “D” means the pattern is doubled: an eight-line stanza made of two 4-line halves. Hymns in less common meters usually have one or two tunes written for them, so they are matched to a tune more strictly. Two texts with the same numbers can still differ in rhythm — some lines stress the first syllable, others the second — so a pairing should always be sung through before it is used in worship.
Below are the hymns in our library written in this meter and the public-domain tunes that fit them. Any text can be sung to any tune listed here; press play to hear a pairing.
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Pick the words, then choose a tune from the list in the player.
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Tunes in 7.7.7.7 D
19 hymns in 7.7.7.7 D
- Jesus, Lover of My Soul — Jesus, Lover of my soul,
- Watchman, Tell Us of the Night — Watchman, tell us of the night,
- Come, Ye Thankful People, Come — Come, ye thankful people, come.
- Holy Spirit, Faithful Guide — Holy Spirit, faithful guide,
- New Year's Day — While, with ceaseless course, the sun
- Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise — Hail the day that sees Him rise
- Sinners! Turn, Why Will You Die — Sinners, turn; why will ye die?
- The Song of Jubilee — Hark! the song of jubilee,
- Savior, When in Dust to Thee — Savior, when in dust to Thee
- What are these in bright array — Who are these in bright array,
- People of the living God — People of the living God,
- Pleasant Are Thy Courts Above — Pleasant are Thy courts above
- At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing — At the Lamb's high feast we sing
- The Spirits of the Just Made Perfect — Who are these arrayed in white,
- Songs of Thankfulness and Praise — Songs of thankfulness and praise,
- Love-Feast — Part the First
- I Am His, and He Is Mine — Loved with everlasting love,
- See How Great a Flame Aspires — See how great a flame aspires,
- Holy, Holy, Holy Lord — Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord