"My Father"

This Is My Father's World by Maltbie D. Babcock 1858-1901

1 This is my Father's world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas--
His hand the wonders wrought.

2 This is my Father's world:
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker's praise.
This is my Father's world:
He shines in all that's fair;
In the rustling grass, I hear Him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.

3 This is my Father's world:
O let me ne'er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father's world:
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King: let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let earth be glad!

Brother Glen

 

We've sung that in my Church many times. It's one of our favorites.

Another is a variation of the one below. The women and men each have a different part they sing.

Each verse builds into a crescendo in the refrain at:
"No water can swallow the ship where lies
the Master of ocean and earth and skies"

When the men get to that crescendo we try to make the windows quake, and I know for a fact our singing echoes around the holler as I've been outside administering spankings many a time during that song and I've heard it.

"Master the Tempest is Raging"

1 Master, the tempest is raging!
The billows are tossing high!
The sky is o'ershadowed with blackness,
No shelter or help is nigh;
Carest thou not that we perish?"
How canst thou lie asleep,
When each moment so madly is threat'ning
A grave in the angry deep?

Refrain:
The winds and the waves shall obey thy will.
"Peace, be still!" [Ladies] "Peace, be still!" [Men]
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea,
Or struggles or evil, whatever it be,
No water can swallow the ship where lies
the Master of ocean and earth and skies:
They all shall sweetly obey thy will.
"Peace, be still! Peace, be still!"
They all shall sweetly obey thy will.
"Peace, peace, be still!"

2 Master, with anguish of spirit
I bow in my grief today;
The depths of my sad heart are troubled,
Oh, waken and save, I pray;
Torrents of sin and of anguish
Sweep o’er my sinking soul!
And I perish! I perish, dear Master:
Oh, hasten and take control. [Refrain]

3 Master, the terror is over,
The elements sweetly rest;
Earth’s sun in the calm lake is mirrored,
And heaven’s within my breast.
Linger, O blessed Redeemer,
Leave me alone no more;
And with joy I shall make the blest harbor,
And rest on the blissful shore. [Refrain]