“Abide With Me”

This is another classic hymn that is the core of one of our band’s standard tunes, “Abide With Me.” Based on the Bible verse John 15:7 (NASB) “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” This is not a prosperity gospel promise, but rather it denotes a daily close relationship with Christ, through prayer, obedience, relinquishment of self-reliance, relying on Him to sustain us though the ups and downs of life on Earth.

“Abide with Me” was written in 1847 by Henry Francis Lyte, who was an Anglican vicar serving at a fishing village at Lower Brixham in England. Lyte’s posting there likely contributed to his poor respiratory health. He had struggled with poor health for years, most likely leading to tuberculosis. He wrote the hymn while he was suffering from what proved to be his final illness.

According to tradition, he composed “Abide With Me” around the time he delivered his final sermon at his parish. Within weeks, he left for Italy in hopes that the more favorablie climate would aid his recovery but it was not to be. Lyte died later that same year in Nice.

Themes include the passing of time in life, our human frailty and the desire for God’s comfort and presence as we face trials and death. The words might not be as famous without their now-standard melody, “Eventide,” composed by William Henry Monk in 1861. Monk wrote the tune specifically for Lyte’s text, and its slow, steady progression perfectly matches the hymn’s reflective mood.

The band’s arrangement is a sensitive, Latin flavored instrumental that captures the essence of the original hymn tune.

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“To God be the glory.”