Tuesday 4 November 2008

I’ll Aye Sing o’ Jesus

Provided by: June Marshall (Portadown) and Gordon Steel (Glasgow)
Source: “Sacred Scotch Solos" by Alexander Halliday
Date: Circa 1920?
Tune: Afton Water

............

Oh, think o’ Jesus, wha cam’ for tae save us,
In this weary warl’ He has journeyed through;
In the wilderness soucht us, wi’ His precious bluid boucht us,
An’ boucht a free pardon for me an’ for you
Sae look jist a wee at Garden Gethsemane
See Him rowin’ in ag’ny, His cup was sae fu’
Heavy was the burden, but sae willin’ tae bear it
That big draps o’ sweat, like bluid, fell frae His broo

Chorus:
O, think o’ Jesus! Oh, think o’ Jesus,
Dearer than ony, sweeter tae me
I’ll aye sing o’ Jesus, I’ll aye sing o’ Jesus
For noo by His grace I’m leevin’ quite free

Oh, think o’ Jesus, as He stan’s afore Pilate
Condemned for a villain, when frae sin He was clean
Though they wrangly accused Him, an’ cruelly used Him
Yet he ne’er spak’ a word, though the tears filled His een
Think hoo they mocked Him, they scoffed Him and slapped Him
Put a reed in His han’, wi’ a robe wrapped Him roon’
Then a croon o’ thorns they twined o’ long briars
And stuck in His broo till the bluid trinkled doon

Oh, think o’ Jesus as He gangs tae Mount Calvary
Jeerd by the crood, baith woman an’ man
Their wicked han’s taen Him, and on the cross laid Him
Wi’ hammer an’ nails cruel work they began
Then hung Him up between earth and heaven
God’s spotless Lamb there for me an’ for you
Amid their mockings and sayings, an’ terrible daein’s
He cried, “Faither, forgi’e them, they know not what they do”

Oh, think of Jesus, as they row’d Him in linen
An’ laid Him in the cauld tomb nae mair for tae see
Yet, early in the mornin’, as the third day was dawnin’
Up owre sin, death, an’ hell He was stan’in’ quite free
He’s awa’ noo in glory at the side o’ His Faither
An’ there intercedin’ for you an’ for me
He bade me tae tell ye He wants for tae save ye
If ye only will come, He will mak’ ye quite free

{ NB - the musical notation below has been sourced separately from the hymnal where the lyrics were published }