This edition was prepared by William Chimiak — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Abide with me
Staff Notation • Sacred, Hymns
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13 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
SATB · William Chimiak
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SATB · Andrew Sims
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SATB · Andrew Sims
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SATB · Christoph Lahme
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SATB · Douglas Walczak
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SATB · Enrique Igoa
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SATB · Crys Armbrust
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SATB · J. Ashley Hall
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SATB · Simone Olivieri
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SATB · Alberto Orlandini
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SATB · Nikolaus Hold
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SATB · Nikolaus Hold
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Abide with me by William Henry Monk — Lyrics
1. Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
2. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
3. Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word;
But as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.
4. Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings,
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea,
Come, Friend of sinners, and thus bide with me.
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About Abide with me
The words of this well-known hymn paint a scene of deepening twilight and the passing of life's day, evoking a profound sense of human vulnerability. The text pleads for divine presence and steadfast companionship, particularly in times of failing strength and fading earthly comforts. It expresses a longing for God's unchanging nature to remain a constant, even amidst relentless change and decay. The plea is not for a fleeting visit but for an abiding, intimate presence, seeking solace and refuge in the divine 'Friend of sinners' to navigate life's journey. This SATB arrangement, set in English, offers a rich harmonic setting for this moving devotional text.
