A Song For You

We’ve just passed the Easter season for 2009. I don’t know if you celebrate this distinctly Christian special day and time of year or not. Even many who are Christians don’t necessarily celebrate this day or time of the year, not because they don’t believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus, but for other reasons. Some say that the life, death, and resurrection should be celebrated every day. Some say that religious holidays aren’t appropriate. Others don’t care that much about any holiday, religious or not.
I’m one of those that doesn’t really care that much about holidays. They’re OK, and I take the time off from work. I also buy gifts or whatever so as to not be too much of a stick-in-the-mud. But holidays just don’t do that much for me and I’m usually glad when they’re over.
I do, however, want to leave you with the lyrics of a song that has been sung for generations and is very appropriate for the Easter season. I first heard this song sung at a funeral when my grandfather was laid to rest. The choral group sang it at the cemetery. As a family, we chose to carry on that tradition and sing this song graveside at the funerals of my parents. The words evermore inspire me. The music that goes with these words gives them even more power and inspiration; if you don’t know the song, you’re missing something good.


Lift Your Glad Voices – Henry Ware

Lift your glad voices in triumph on high,
For Jesus hath risen, and man shall not die;
Vain were the terrors that gathered around Him,
And short the dominion of death and the grave;

He burst from the fetters of darkness that bound Him,
Resplendent in glory to live and to save!
Loud was the chorus of angels on high,
The Savior hath risen, and man shall not die.

Glory to God, in full anthems of joy;
The being He gave us death cannot destroy:
Sad were the life we must part with tomorrow,
If tears were our birthright, and death were our end;

But Jesus hath cheered the dark valley of sorrow,
And bade us, immortal, to Heaven ascend:
Lift then your voices in triumph on high,
For Jesus hath risen, and man shall not die.