One of the reasons for covering everything in this hymn book is to have another go at a backing using an organ, when it is clearly suited to the hymn. I used to avoid using the organ styles in BIAB, because the native organ sounds were lousy. Things are a little better now.
This hymn is a traditional piece that found its way into As One Voice so I blogged it here, fifteen years ago.
The text by Horatius Bonar, a name familiar from my Presbyterian upbringing, is here set to the venerable folk tune, KINGSFOLD, as arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams.
My brother, who remains not just a Presbyterian, but so traditional he wrote a book about only accepting the singing of metrical psalms in church, would appreciate the fact Bonar would never have heard his hymns sung in his own church. They were originally meant for Sunday School use. This is a fascinating article on the origin of the hymn.
… and so this Presbyterian Sunday School song became traditional hymn that was set to a folk tune and is now part of the heritage of the English speaking church, even for Catholics.
This site has a free melody line arrangement with chords and here is some organ sheet music.
The text has both baptism and funerals covered, which is a neat trick.
1 I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Come unto me and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down
Thy head upon my breast”.
I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary, worn, and sad;
I found in him a resting place,
And he has made me glad.2 I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one,
Stoop down and drink, and live”.
I came to Jesus, and I drank
Of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
And now I live in him.3 I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“I am this dark world’s light;
Look unto me, thy morn shall rise,
And all thy day be bright”.
I looked to Jesus, and I found
In him my star, my sun;
And in that light of life I’ll walk
Till trav’lling days are done.
It is a robust tune that survives many styles.