Abide With Me

Henry Francis Lyte · 1847 · tune EVENTIDE
Key of D · public domain

Words

Verse 1Abide 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

Verse 2Swift 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

Verse 3I 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

Verse 4Hold 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

The story

Henry Francis Lyte had preached his last sermon at Lower Brixham in Devon, dying of tuberculosis, and wrote this in September 1847 before leaving for the south of France to try the air. He died there three weeks later. The words are the disciples' on the Emmaus road in Luke 24: abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. Lyte means the sentence twice over. It is sung at the FA Cup Final every year, which sounds absurd until you have heard a hundred thousand people who mostly do not go to church sing change and decay in all around I see, and mean it.

Chords in D

Verse 1 D G D A Abide with me, fast falls the eventide D G A D The darkness deepens, Lord with me abide D G D A When other helpers fail and comforts flee D G A D Help of the helpless, O abide with me Verse 2 D G D A Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day D G A D Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away D G D A Change and decay in all around I see D G A D O Thou who changest not, abide with me Verse 3 D G D A I need Thy presence every passing hour D G A D What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power D G D A Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be D G A D Through cloud and sunshine, Lord abide with me Verse 4 D G D A Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes D G A D Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies D G D A Heaven's morning breaks and earth's vain shadows flee D G A D In life, in death, O Lord abide with me

In the app you can move this to any key and it works out the capo for you.

Common questions

Who wrote Abide With Me? Henry Francis Lyte wrote the words in 1847.

What tune is it sung to? EVENTIDE, set here in the key of D.

What scripture is it built on? Luke 24:29.

Is Abide With Me free to use in church? Yes. The words are public domain, which means any church may sing them, print them in a bulletin, put them on a screen or record them, without asking permission and without paying anyone.

Themes

Evening · Death · Comfort

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