This edition was prepared by Barry Johnston — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Davis
Staff Notation • Sacred
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4 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
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Davis by Anonymous — Lyrics
Joseph Swain, 1791 (1)
1. O thou, in whose presence my soul takes delight,
On whom in affliction I call;
My comfort by day, and my song in the night,
My hope, my salvation, my all.
Where dost thou at noontide resort with thy sheep,
To feed them in pastures of love?
For why in the valley of death should I weep,
Or alone in the wilderness rove?
2. O why should I wander an alien from thee,
Or cry in the desert for bread?
Thy foes will rejoice, when my sorrows they see,
And smile at the tears I have shed
Ye daughters of Zion, declare, have ye seen
The Star that on Israel shone?
Say, if in your tents my beloved has been,
And where with his flocks he is gone?
3. This is my beloved, his form is divine,
His vestments shed odors around;
The locks on his head are as grapes on the vine,
When autumn with plenty is crowned.,
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About Davis
This is a hymn by Joseph Swain, expressing profound spiritual longing and devotion. The text paints a picture of a soul seeking solace and presence in God, describing Him as comfort, song, hope, and salvation. The singer questions why they might wander alone or in distress, yearning for divine guidance and presence, as if searching for a beloved shepherd in pastures of love. The hymn also invokes the 'daughters of Zion' and references the 'Star that on Israel shone,' creating a rich biblical context for the personal expression of faith and dependence.
