This edition was prepared by Oliver Doyle — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
A Morning Hymn
Staff Notation • Sacred, Sacred songs
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A Morning Hymn by Henry Purcell — Lyrics
Thou wakeful shepherd, that does Israel keep,
Rais’d by thy goodness from the bed of sleep,
To thee I offer up this hymn
As my best morning sacrifice;
May it be gracious in thine eyes
To raise me from the bed of sin.
And do I live to see another day,
I vow, my God, henceforth to walk thy ways,
And sing thy praise
All those few days
Thou shalt allow.
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About A Morning Hymn
Henry Purcell's A Morning Hymn is a deeply personal solo sacred song in English, suitable for a solo treble voice. The text is a prayer offered at the start of a new day, reflecting on past sins and vowing to live a more righteous life. The singer addresses God as a "wakeful shepherd," seeking forgiveness and consecrating the morning with a "hymn" as a "sacrifice." The lyrics explore themes of repentance and the desire to amend one's ways, with the singer contemplating the passage of time and the possibility of redemption. It's a poignant reflection on mortality and the hope for divine grace, making it a contemplative choice for devotional settings.
