I would not live alway
I would not live alway: I ask not to stay
- p. 35
- Key F major
- Time 3/4
- 4 stanzas
Words
⤢ Full screenI would not live alway: I ask not to stay,
Where storm after storm rises o'er the dark way
The few lurid mornings that dawn on us here,
Are enough for life's woes, full enough for its cheer.
2. I would not live alway: No—welcome the tomb,
Sice Jesus has lain there, I dread not its gloom
There, sweet be my rest, till he bid me arise,
To hail him in triumph descending the skies.
3. Who, who would live alway, away from his God ?
Away from yon heaven, that blissful abode,
Where rivers of pleasure flow o'er the bright plains,
And the noon-tide of glory eternally reigns ;
4. Where saints of all ages in harmony meet,
Their Savior and brethren, transported to greet ?
Where anthems of rapture unceasingly roll,
And the smile of the Lord is the feast of the soul.
Notes: "Sice" (stanza 2) is printed so — a misprint for "Since", kept as printed. "alway", "o'er", "Savior", "noon-tide" as printed; the spaced punctuation ("God ?", "reigns ;", "greet ?") is the print's. Stanza 3 line 2 and stanza 2 line 2 end without punctuation in the print. The interlinear lines print "here, . . ." and "rise, . . . ." (dots marking the melisma at the phrase end).
About this hymn
As printed From the Modern Psalmist.* (printed in italics under the title)
- Source
- Millennial Harp (Boston: Joshua V. Himes, 1843), archive.org scan hachride00hime
- Where
- printed page 35
- Checked
- score verified · 2026-09-16