Hymn meter
8.7.8.7 D
A hymn's meter counts the syllables in each line of a stanza. 8.7.8.7 D means each stanza has 8 lines of 8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 8 and 7 syllables — 60 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 8.7.8.7 D
33 hymns in 8.7.8.7 D
- Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing — Come, Thou Fount of ev’ry blessing,
- Love Divine, All Loves Excelling — Love divine, all love excelling,
- What a Friend We Have in Jesus — What a friend we have in Jesus,
- Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken — Glorious things of thee are spoken,
- Evening Prayer — Savior, breath an evening blessing
- Praise the Lord! Ye Heavens Adore Him — Praise the Lord, ye heav'ns, adore Him;
- Hail, Thou once-despisèd Jesus! — Hail, Thou once despised Jesus!
- Here Am I, Send Me — Hark! the voice of Jesus crying,
- I've Found a Friend — I've found a Friend; O, such a Friend!
- All the Way My Savior Leads Me — All the way my Saviour leads me;
- Through the Night of Doubt and Sorrow — Thro the night of doubt and sorrow
- Lord, With Glowing Heart I'd Praise Thee — Lord, with glowing heart I'd praise Thee
- Hark! The Sound of Holy Voices — Hark! the sound of holy voices,
- Alleluia! Sing to Jesus — Alleluia! sing to Jesus!
- Alleluia! Alleluia! — Alleluia! Alleluia!
- Once to Every Man and Nation — Once to every man and nation
- Call Jehovah Thy Salvation — Call Jehovah thy salvation,
- Is Not This the Land of Beulah? — I am dwelling on a mountain,
- See, the Conqueror Mounts in Triumph! — See the Conqu'ror mounts in triumph;
- Round the Lord in Glory Seated — Round the Lord in glory seated
- God Her Everlasting Light — Hear what God the Lord hath spoken:
- The Dying Christian — Happy soul, thy days are ended,
- Courage, Brother, Do Not Stumble — Courage, brother, do not stumble,
- Savior, sprinkle many nations — Savior, sprinkle many nations;
- How Can I Keep from Singing — My life flows on in endless song;
- Give Me Jesus — Take the world, but give me Jesus
- Take Me, O My Father, Take Me — Take me, O my Father, take me!
- Farther on, but how much farther — Dark and thorny is the desert,
- Heavenly Father, Send Thy Blessing — Heav'nly Father, send Thy blessing
- Invitation to Follow the Lamb — Humble souls, who seek salvation,
- Sitting at the Feet of Jesus — Sitting at the feet of Jesus,
- To Thee, O Lord — To Thee, O Lord, our hearts we raise
- Resurrection Song — Sing with all the sons of glory,