The Christian — Family Devotion

Softly now the light of day

No. 563
Metre 7s.
Tune MERCY.
Words George W. Doane.
Music Louis M. Gottschalk, arr. by E. P. Parker.
Key B-flat major
Singing key B♭ major
Time 3/4
3 stanzas

Words

Softly now the light of dayFades upon our sight away;Free from care, from labor free,Lord, we would commune with thee.

Thou, whose all-pervading eyeNaught escapes, without, within,Pardon each infirmity,Open fault, and secret sin.

Soon from us the light of dayShall forever pass away;Then, from sin and sorrow free,Take us, Lord, to dwell with thee.

About this hymn

As printed As printed: running head «THE CHRISTIAN—FAMILY DEVOTION.»; hymn number «563» (large), tune name «MERCY. 7s.» centred over the music, «Louis M. Gottschalk, arr. by E. P. Parker.» at the right (capitals and small capitals). Stanza 1 is interlinear, between the staves, one line per system (two verse lines per system), with «1.» before «Soft-»; its first word is not in small capitals; «commune» is printed as one word without a hyphen although it is sung on two notes. Stanzas 2–3 are printed as text in the left column below the music, under the reference line «407, 720, 457.» in italics (= may also be sung to the tunes of hymns 407, 720 or 457), numbered «2», «3» without periods (written «2.», «3.» here, as in the other deliveries of this book). In stanza 2 the even lines are indented; in stanza 3 all four lines are flush — both as printed. «George W. Doane.» in italics after stanza 3. The print sets a thin space before «;» («a - way ;», «away ;»); it is closed up here. Spelling, punctuation and capitals are the print's.