This edition was prepared by Edmund Gooch — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
And am I only born to die
Staff Notation • Sacred, Hymns
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And am I only born to die by John Fawcett — Lyrics
And am I only born to die?
And must I suddenly comply
With nature's stern decree?
What after death for me remains:
Celestial joys or hellish pains,
To all eternity?
How then ought I on earth to live,
While God prolongs the kind reprieve,
And props the house of clay!
My sole concern, my single care,
To watch, and tremble, and prepare
Against the fatal day!
No room for mirth or trifling here,
For worldly hope, or worldly fear,
If life so soon is gone:
If now the Judge is at the door,
And all mankind must stand before
Th'inexorable throne!
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About And am I only born to die
John Fawcett's And am I only born to die is a powerful SATB hymn in English, suitable for reflection on mortality and the afterlife. The text, a profound meditation on life's brevity and the consequences of our actions, probes the fundamental questions of human existence. It urges listeners to consider their earthly lives in preparation for the Day of Judgement, where eternal destinies are determined. Fawcett's setting would offer a choir the opportunity to explore themes of repentance, spiritual vigilance, and the ultimate reckoning, making it a fitting choice for services focused on eschatology or personal spiritual examination.
