Alabama
Shape-Note Gospel by William Walker;
ARTIST: William Walker; 1835
CATEGORY: Traditional Shape-Note Gospel;
DATE: 1818 (JohnsonAl); 1835 William Walker
RECORDING INFO: Singers of United Sacred Harp Musical Assoc. led by W. A. Wend
OTHER NAMES: "Prodigal," "Prodigal Son"
SOURCES: Southern Harmony
NOTES: Meter: C.M. "Alabama" appeared in William Walker's Southern Harmony as No. 116 a fuging tune. The hymn appears to be a fuging arrangement of "Prodigal" published in 1818 in JohnsonAL.
The 7th stanza is usually written, "Angels in shining order stand."
ALABAMA- William Walker
1. The cross of Christ inspires my heart,
To sing redeeming grace;
Awake, my soul, and bear a part
In my Redeemer's praise.
Oh, how can be compared to him
Who died upon the tree?
This is my dear delightful theme,
That Jesus died for me.
2. When at the table of the Lord
We humbly take our place,
The death of Jesus we record,
With love and thankfulness.
These emblems bring my Lord to view,
Upon the bloody tree,
My soul believes and feels it's true,
That Jesus died for me.
3. His body broken, nailed, and torn,
And stained with streams of blood,
His spotless soul was left forlorn,
Forsaken of his God.
'Twas then his Father gave the stroke
That justice did decree;
All nature felt the dreadful stroke,
When Jesus died for me.
4. Eli lama sabachthani,
My God, my God, he cried,
Why hast thou thus forsaken me!
And thus my Savior died.
But why did God forsake his Son,
When bleeding on the tree?
He died for sins, but not his own,
For Jesus died for me.
5. My guilt was on my Surety laid
And therefore he must die;
His soul a sacrifice was made
For such a worm as I
Was ever love so great as this?
Was ever grace so free?
This is my glory, joy and bliss,
That Jesus died for me.
6. He took his meritorious blood,
And rose above the skies,
And in the presence of his God,
Presents his sacrifice.
His intercession must prevail
With such a glorious plea
My cause cause can never, never fail,
For Jesus died for me.
7. Angels in shining order sit (stand)
Around my Savior's throne;
They bow with reverence at his feet
And make his glories known.
Those happy spirits sing his praise
To all eternity;
But I can sing redeeming grace
For Jesus died for me.
8. O! had I but an angel's voice
To bear my heart along,
My flowing numbers soon would raise
To an immortal song.
I'd charm their harps and golden lyres
In sweetest harmony,
And tell to all the heavenly choirs
That Jesus died for me.
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