Slogging through the hymns that I haven’t covered already on this blog from CWB, I am a little disappointed at so few Australian hymns. I’m getting a few forgotten folk mass era songs and lots of old hymns to old tunes that are no longer in high rotation. At least the Praise to God hymnal had lots of Australian obscurities.
I am noting a lot of texts translated from German or Latin set to old English or German tunes.
This Marian hymn is translated from German by Brian Moore SJ (“Maria zu lieben”) and here set to a traditional English tune, GALLERY CAROL.
1 To love you O Mary is all my desire,
In joy and in sorrow my heart all afire
With love and with longing true service to give,
Your own still in dying, your own while I live.
2 O Mary, O Maiden, most gentle and just,
As greatly I love you so greatly I trust.
You are, and have shown it, a mother to me,
In living and dying your child shall I be.
3 O Mother, your grace to my promise impart,
Your name sealing steadfast my mouth and my heart:
Be with me in dying and reach down your hand
and graciously lead me to the heavenly land.
This Youtube clip is a different tune but has a commentary on the hymn and a different translation.
This is the original use of the “Gallery Carol”.