Hymn
Watchman, Tell Us of the Night
Watchman, tell us of the night,
What its signs of promise are.
Traveller, o'er yon mountain's height,
See that glory beaming Star.
Watchman, does its beauteous ray
Aught of joy or hope foretell?
Traveller, yes; it brings the day,
Promised day of Israel.
Watchmen, tell us of the night;
Higher yet that Star ascends.
Traveller, blessedness and light,
Peace and truth its course portends.
Watchman, will its beams alone
Gild the spot that gave them birth?
Traveller, ages are its own;
See, it bursts o'er all the earth.
Watchman, tell us of the night,
For the morning seems to dawn.
Traveler, darkness takes its flight;
Doubt and terror are withdrawn.
Watchman, let Thy wanderings cease;
Hie Thee to thy quiet home.
Traveller, lo! the Prince of Peace,
Lo! the Son of God is come.
Watchman, Tell Us of the Night — Text from The Church Hymnal, 1920. Public domain. https://yeshuanow.com/hymns/watchman-tell-us-of-the-night
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Questions about this hymn
Who wrote Watchman, Tell Us of the Night?
The words of Watchman, Tell Us of the Night were written by John Bowring; the version here was published in 1920. The library holds 4 more hymns by John Bowring, including Upon the Gospel's Sacred Page and In the Cross of Christ.
Is Watchman, Tell Us of the Night public domain?
Yes. The words here are taken from The Church Hymnal, published in 1920. Works published before 1931 are out of copyright in the United States, so you can print, project, perform and record this hymn freely. How we source and check every hymn.
What is the metre of Watchman, Tell Us of the Night?
Watchman, Tell Us of the Night is in 7.7.7.7 D. Hymns in the same metre can usually be sung to the same tunes — for example, Pleasant Are Thy Courts Above, The Spirits of the Just Made Perfect and Holy Spirit, Faithful Guide.