Old Melodies

I would not live alway, I ask not to stay

No. 1178
Metre 11s. D.
Tune AFTON.
Words William A. Muhlenberg.
Music Arranged.
Key G major
Singing key F major
Time 3/4
2 stanzas

Words

I would not live alway, I ask not to stayWhere storm after storm rises dark o'er the way;The few lurid mornings that dawn on us hereAre enough for life's woes, full enough for its cheer.I would not live alway; no; welcome the tomb,Since Jesus has lain there, I dread not its gloom;There sweet be my rest till he bid me ariseTo hail him in triumph descending the skies.

Who, who would live always, away from his God,Away from yon heaven, that blissful abode,Where the rivers of pleasure flow o'er the bright plains,And the noontide of glory eternally reigns?There saints of all ages in harmony meet;Their Saviour and brethren transported to greet;There anthems of rapture unceasingly roll,And the smile of the Lord is the feast of the soul.

About this hymn

As printed As printed: running head «MISCELLANEOUS—OLD MELODIES.»; hymn number «1178» (large), tune name «AFTON. 11s. D.» centred over the music (condensed capitals; the «D.» in small capitals), «ARRANGED.» at the right. A reader of this copy wrote «Flow Gently Sweet» in ink between the number and the tune name (not part of the print). No reference line. Stanza 1 is interlinear: in system 1, «1.» before two lines enclosed in braces, «I would not live al-way, I ask not to stay Where storm after storm rises dark o'er the way;» (sung the first time, first ending «1st.») and «The few lu - rid morn ings that (omit.) . . . . . . . . . . . . .» (sung on the repeat; «(omit.)» in italics = skip the first ending), with «dawn on us here» right of the closing brace under the second ending «2d.»; system 2 carries «Are enough for life's woes, full enough for its cheer. I would not live alway; no; welcome the tomb, Since Je - sus has» and system 3 «lain there, I dread not its gloom; There sweet be my rest till he bid me a - rise To hail him in triumph descending theskies.» («theskies.» set close: «the skies.»). Stanza 1 below is written in the order sung, one verse per line (8 lines of 11 or 12 syllables); «al-way», «lu - rid», «morn ings», «Je - sus», «a - rise» are written as whole words. Stanza 2 follows as text in two columns of four lines each, numbered «2» without a full stop (numbered «2.» here like stanza 1). Long lines are turned over with an indent («God,», «bright plains,», «greet ;», «soul.»); each verse is one line here. «William A. Muhlenberg.» in italics at the right after stanza 2. Stanza 2 line 1 prints «always,» (stanza 1 has «alway»); kept as printed. The print sets a thin space before «;» and «?» («way ;», «meet ;», «greet ;», «reigns ?»); it is closed up here. Apostrophes straight. Spelling, punctuation and capitals are the print's.