- Holy Week hymns and their Story
“Were You There”
April 07, 2023
This hymn comes to us from the heritage of the African American spiritual heritage. The spiritual symbolized black cultural identity and black expression as it evolved on the North American continent. The origin of this hymn is unknown. Most authorities credit it to slaves, passed on from generation to generation by oral tradition. It was first introduced publicly in the early 1870's. The verses of this spiritual each contain a response to the question “Were You There when ...” In the earliest known, written source, from 1892, the question ends in four ways: “when they crucified my Lord; when they crowned Him with thorns; when they pierced His side; when they laid Him in the tomb.?” Over time, the idea of “nailing Him to the cross” was added, having a special meaning to Christians of all time. [many attempt to piece it together with the lynchings that were taking place in society at the time, although comparing the two always seemed a bit of a stretch]. Closing each verse with “O, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.” This trembling was not in fear, but rather the emotional impact of seeing our Lord sacrifice Himself for mankind.Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh…Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?LSB 456
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Holy Week Hymns and their Story
“Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle” April 06, 2023 Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle;Sing the ending of the fray.Now above the cross, the trophy,Sound the loud triumphant lay;Tell how Christ, the world’s redeemer,As a victim won the day. LSB 454
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Hymns for Holy Week and their Story
“O Perfect Life of Love” March 05, 2023 O perfect life of love! All, all, is finished now,All that He left His throne above to do for us below. LSB 452
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Holy Week Hymns and their Story
“Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted” April 04, 2023 Irish Evangelical Thomas Kelly (1769-1855) first published this hymn in his “Hymns on Various Passages of Scripture” in 1804. In these verses, we are given a glimpse of the earnestness in preaching for which Kelly was well known. The language of justice and guilt in this hymn, reflects, […]
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Hymns of Holy Week and their Story
April 03, 2023 “Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted” O Sacred head now wounded, with grief and shame laid down,Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown.O sacred head what glory, what bliss, till now was Thine!Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine. LSB 450
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Hymns of Holy Week and their Story
March 31, 2023 “Jesus in Your Dying Woes” 1 “Father forgive them” (Luke 23:34)2 “Today you will be with me…” (Luke 23:43)3 “Woman behold your son” (John 19:26-27)4 “My God, My God …” (Matthew 27:46)5 “I thirst” (John 19:28)6 “It is finished” (John 19:30)7 “Father into Your hands …” (Luke 23:46) And so we sing, […]
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Hymns of Holy Week and their Story
March 30, 2023 “When You Woke that Thursday morning” When You woke that Thursday morning,Savior, teacher, faithful friend,Thoughts of self and safety scorning,Knowing how the day would end;Lamb of God, foretold for ages,Now at last the hour had comeWhen but One could pay sin’s wages;You assumed their dreadful sum. LSB 445
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Hymns of Holy Week and their Story
March 29, 2023 “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” Hosanna, loud hosanna, the little children sang;Through pillared court and temple the lovely anthem rang.To Jesus, who had blessed them, close folded to His breast,The children sang their praises, the simplest and the best. LSB 443
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Hymns of Holy Week and their Story
March 28, 2023 “All Glory, Laud and Honor” Refrain: All glory, laud, and honor to You, Redeemer, King,To whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring. You are the King of Israel and David’s royal Son,Now in the Lord’s Name coming, our King and Blessed One. [Refrain] LSB 442
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Hymns of Holy Week and their Story
March 27, 2023 “Ride On, Ride On, in Majesty” Ride on, ride on in majesty! Hark! All the tribes hosanna cry.O Savior meek, pursue Thy road, with palms and scattered garments strowed. LSB 441
