This is an obscure text you will find nowhere else because it was written by the editor himself, John de Luca.
He set the text to his arrangement of AR HAD Y NOS, the Welsh tune for “All Through the Night”.
He unites the Word with the Eucharist to make a liturgically useful song to a familar tune gorgeous tune – what’s not to like?
Well, “tremendous Lover” probably sounds different to modern ears than it did to de Luca when he wrote it. “Eucharistic transformation” is a bit prosaic. Rhyming “Master” and “disaster” is a bit clunky – it would benefit from a bit of “alt”. Servicing the internal rhymes made his task more difficult.
I made two backings, and used a less pompous organ sound than usual for the second one.
1 I, the Word of God will treasure all of my life:
Truth and Justice without measure, healing our strife.
Jesus, Word of God, our brother, I will love and serve no other:
Follow this tremendous Lover, all of my life.
2 Word in Scripture, sure foundation: Source of true life:
Gospel Good News: New creation darkness made bright.
In the footsteps of the Master we are safe from all disaster;
Joy eternal ever after this earthly life.
3 Word made flesh, the bread of nature change with your might!
True encounter with our maker, now hid from sight.
Eucharistic transformation Power of God, our hearts to waken
Never will we be foresaken, all through our life.
My “alt” rewrite:
1 I, the Word of God will treasure all of my life:
Truth and Justice without measure, healing our strife.
Jesus, Word of God, our brother, I will love and serve no other:
Peace in your love rediscover, all of my life.
2 Word in Scripture, sure foundation: Source of true life:
Gospel Good News: New creation darkness made bright.
In the footsteps of the Master, help in sorrow, cheer in laughter;
Joy eternal ever after this earthly life.
3 Word made flesh, the bread of nature change with your might!
True encounter with our maker, now hid from sight.
Into your death we are taken, rising with you, hearts to waken
Never will we be foresaken, all through our life.
Beautiful understated organ, showing the benefit of human organists:
NLPHB sets this in F which is only a little too high – this sheet music is in G, oh dear.
