hymnsandbooks

Wednesday 2 April 2014

WORLD WAR ONE - WW1 - SSAFA HYMN 2


A century passes, memories will fade



1                                   A century passes, memories will fade;
                                      war’s sun goes down, sharp pain is hid in shade.
                                      Yet still we pray for peace, as those men prayed;
                                      we will remember them. [we will remember, we will remember.]

2                                   Ten times ten thousand fell amid that rage.
                                      What is the gain we measure from that age,
                                      once reaped from carnage on that harrowed stage?
                                      We will remember them. [We will remember, we will remember.]

3                                   While some were buried, others have no grave,
                                      unmarked they fell, yet all, we say, were brave,
                                      and still we stand in thanks for all they gave:
                                      we will remember them. [we will remember, we will remember.]

4                                   Then let us work and move and strive for peace
                                      until the grace of God can bring release,
                                      and then all nations sing and never cease:
                                      Alleluia! [Alleluia! Alleluia!]

                                                Andrew Pratt (born 1948)


The tunes ENGELBERG or SINE NOMINE are commended for this text. When using SINE NOMINE the alternative verse endings shown in square brackets should be sung.

                                © Copyright 2014 Stainer & Bell Ltd, 23 Gruneisen Road, London N3 1DZ
                                Telephone: 020 8343 3303    Fax: 020 8343 3024
                                email: post@stainer.co.uk   website: www.stainer.co.uk
                               

For the period 2014–2018 all royalties received for use of this hymn will be donated to SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Families Association) – the National Armed Forces Charity providing support for military families.

Copies may be made for local church use if you hold a current Church Copyright Licence and include the use on your returns to CCLI. Alternatively, you need, prior to use to send £12.00 (£10.00 + VAT) to Stainer & Bell Ltd. This fee will be accepted until 31.12.2018. The making of local church hymn/song books (unless covered by the terms of your Church Copyright Licence) and all wider and commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd.


WORLD WAR ONE - WW1 - HYMN FOR SSAFA 1



Once crimson poppies bloomed


                1              Once crimson poppies bloomed
                                out in a foreign field,
                                each memory reminds
                                where brutal death was sealed.
                                The crimson petals flutter down,
                                still hatred forms a thorny crown.

                2              For in this present time
                                we wait in vain for peace,
                                each generation cries,
                                each longing for release,
                                while war still plagues the human race
                                and families seek a hiding place.

                3              How long will human life
                                suffer for human greed?
                                How long must race or pride,
                                wealth, nationhood or creed
                                be reasons justifying death
                                to suffocate a nation’s breath?

                4              For everyone who dies
                                we share a quiet grief,
                                the pain of loss remains,
                                time rarely brings relief,
                                and so we will remember them
                                and heaven sound a loud amen.

                                                                Andrew Pratt (born 1948)

                                The tune LITTLE CORNARD is commended for this text

                                © Copyright 2012 Stainer & Bell Ltd, 23 Gruneisen Road, London N3 1DZ
                                Telephone: 020 8343 3303    Fax: 020 8343 3024
                                email: post@stainer.co.uk   website: www.stainer.co.uk
                               

For the period 2014–2018 all royalties received for use of this hymn will be donated to SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Families Association) – the National Armed Forces Charity providing support for military families.

Copies may be made for local church use if you hold a current Church Copyright Licence and include the use on your returns to CCLI. Alternatively, you need, prior to use to send £12.00 (£10.00 + VAT) to Stainer & Bell Ltd. This fee will be accepted until 31.12.2018. The making of local church hymn/song books (unless covered by the terms of your Church Copyright Licence) and all wider and commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd.


Tuesday 1 April 2014

METAPHOR...Uneasy language strains to form a vocal backdrop for the earth

Uneasy language strains to form
a vocal backdrop for the earth,
each metaphor will slip and slide
as rank confusion comes to birth.

We need to grip these powerful tools
which bring a richness to our thought,
to understand each twist and turn,
while finer truth is being wrought.

Transcendent energies will surge
beyond the value of each word,
that sound a deeper, richer note,
and challenge what once seemed absurd.

So bring these strategies to bear,
to make a mightier music now.
And as we listen earth will groan,
praise comes, creation shows us how!
Andrew Pratt 31/3/2014
Following a lecture by Rosalind Selby at Luther King House

HYMNS AND POEMS POSTED ON THIS BLOG MAY BE USED FREELY LOCALLY WITH ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. TO PUBLISH FOR PROFIT PLEASE CONTACT THE AUTHOR. For more hymns go to Hymns page For Books by Andrew Pratt follow LINKS on the Links page. Books are available on the following sites: Amazon, Stainer & Bell Ltd, Twelvebaskets, SCM-Canterbury Press Latest book due Summer 2010 SCM Studyguide Practical Skills for Ministry - follow this link - http://www.scm-canterburypress.co.uk/bookdetails.asp?ISBN=9780334043591 Andrew Pratt lectures at Luther King House, The Partnership for Theological Education, Manchester as a Methodist Tutor at Hartley Victoria College