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Play “The Vanity of Man as Mortal”

Free same-meter accompaniment for The Vanity of Man as Mortal (Isaac Watts): organ, piano or guitar playing the tune ST. ANNE (William Croft) in four-part harmony, 6 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 ST. ANNE (William Croft), a Common Meter (8.6.8.6) tune — not necessarily the tune usually paired with this text. Any tune in the same meter fits the words.

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  1. 1Teach me the measure of my days,
  2. Thou Maker of my frame!
  3. I would survey life's narrow space,
  4. And learn how frail I am.
  5. 2A span is all that we can boast;
  6. A fleeting hour of time;
  7. Man is but vanity and dust,
  8. In all His flower and prime.
  9. 3Vain race of mortals, see them move
  10. Like shadows o'er the plain:
  11. They rage and strive, desire and love,
  12. But all the noise is vain.
  13. 4Some walk in honor's gaudy show;
  14. Some dig for golden ore;
  15. They toil for whom they do not know,
  16. And straight are seen no more.
  17. 5What should I wish or wait for then,
  18. From creatures, earth, and dust?
  19. They make our expectations vain,
  20. And disappoint our trust.
  21. 6Now I resign my earthly hope,
  22. My fond desires recall;
  23. I give my mortal interest up,
  24. And make my God my all.

About this music

ST. ANNE — William Croft. Setting: composite found in "The Lutheran Hymnary", 1913.. The score is from the Open Hymnal Project, copied from 'The Lutheran Hymnary', 1913, Hymn 261. Arrangement is composite, first half from "Hymns Ancient and Modern", 1869, Hymn 231. ed William Henry Monk Second half is from "The Hymnal Companion to the Book of Common Prayer", 1890, Hymn 279. ed. Charles Vincent, D.J. Wood, John Stainer; music and setting are in the public domain. The words above are from the hymnal cited on the The Vanity of Man as Mortal page.

Played in your browser with instrument sounds from the FluidR3 soundfont by Frank Wen (MIT license). No recordings are used.

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