Hatfield

The music of this hymn, originally appearing in The Waterhouse Manuscript of 1780 and later in Billings's own collection The Singing Master's Assistant in 1794, possesses a direct and forthright character. Its sturdy three-part harmony for treble, tenor, and bass voices gives equal weight to each line of text, creating a sense of communal reflection. The English lyrics address a universal theme: the inevitability of death. The text speaks plainly about death's power to overcome all earthly beauty and distinction, citing Absalom's demise as a poignant example. This straightforward presentation makes it a powerful meditation on mortality, suitable for reflection.