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Abide with Me

Author: Henry Francis Lyte
Composer: William Henry Monk
Year: 1847
Style: traditional
Public Domain
★★★★★ Doctrinally Excellent
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Theological Analysis

Written by Henry Lyte as he was dying of tuberculosis, this hymn is one of the most moving prayers in Christian hymnody. It progresses from evening to death to resurrection morning, sustained throughout by the single plea: "Abide with me." The penultimate verse's triumph over death quotes 1 Corinthians 15:55.

✓ Theological Strengths

  • Written on Lyte's deathbed — utterly authentic
  • Progresses from eventide through death to heaven's morning
  • Quotes 1 Cor 15:55: 'Where is death's sting?'
  • God's immutability contrasted with 'change and decay'
  • The cross as the believer's last and best vision

AI Theological Check

Chord Chart

Verse 1
  Abide C with me; G fast falls F the C eventide;
  The Am darkness F deepens; G Lord, with me C abide.
  When C other G helpers F fail and Dm comforts flee,
F Help of the C helpless, G7 O abide with C me.
Verse 2
  Swift C to its G close ebbs F out life's C little day;
  Earth's Am joys F grow G dim; its glories pass C away;
  Change C and G decay F in all Dm around I see;
F O Thou who C changest G7 not, abide with C me.
Verse 3
  I C need Thy G presence every F passing C hour.
  What Am but F Thy G grace can foil the C tempter's power?
  Who, C like G Thyself, F my guide Dm and stay can be?
F Through cloud and C sunshine, G7 Lord, abide with C me.
Verse 4
  I C fear no G foe, with F Thee at C hand to bless;
  Ills Am have F no G weight, and tears no C bitterness.
  Where C is G death's F sting? Where, Dm grave, thy victory?
F I triumph still, C if G7 Thou abide with C me.
Verse 5
  Hold C Thou Thy G cross before F my closing C eyes;
  Shine Am through F the G gloom and point me C to the skies.
  Heaven's C morning G breaks, F and earth's Dm vain shadows flee;
F In life, in C death, G7 O Lord, abide C with me.

Full Lyrics

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.

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.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.

What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?

Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?

Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;

Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.

Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?

I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;

Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.

Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;

In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

This hymn is in the public domain.

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