Music Notes March 14th

What Wondrous Love is This?

This hymn has a very involved and interesting history that isn’t particularly well known, but one commentator on hymns does a great job in this blog of explaining it here.

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul?
What wondrous love is this, O my soul?
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul?

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
when I was sinking down, sinking down,
when I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing,
to God and to the Lamb I will sing,
to God and to the Lamb who is the great I Am,
while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
while millions join the theme, I will sing.

How Can I Keep From Singing?

The origin story for this hymn isn’t clear, but a compelling theory is that it was a Quaker hymn that Robert Lowry (the credited writer) discovered. It wasn’t uncommon for a compiler to assume credit for a hymn. The likelihood of Quaker origin is evidenced in the narratives of overcoming persecution – and the Quakers faced a lot of it for their theology and pacifism. One verse that is omitted from modern hymnals paints the picture:

In prison cell and dungeon vile
Our thoughts to them are winging,
When friends by shame are undefiled
How can I keep from singing?

My life flows on in endless song; above earth’s lamentation,
I hear the clear, though far off hymn that hails a new creation.

[Refrain:]
No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I’m clinging.
Since love is Lord of heav’n and earth, how can I keep from singing?

Through all the tumult and the strife, I hear the music ringing.
It finds an echo in my soul. How can I keep from singing? [Refrain]

What though my joys and comforts die? I know my Savior liveth.
What though the darkness gather round? Songs in the night he giveth. [Refrain]