Day Is Dying in the West

A strong hymn for the end of day, composed with an eye to the sight of sunset over the lake during evening devotions at the Chatauqua lectures.  As will be seen, only some simple substitutions are necessary for the most part to moderninze the lyrics.  The song is, however, a bit of a puzzle in that the chorus carries on the rhyme scheme in the first two verses, but does not shift to follow the new rhyme scheme of the last verses.  These latter verses were written about two years after the initial two verses.  This may be attributable to printing concerns that the chorus not change.  With song slides, this is generally no longer a problem and so a chorus revision to maintain the verse 3 and 4 rhyme scheme has been suggested.  Note:  Break Thou the Bread of Life is the daytime hymn written by Mary Lathbury, inspired by the same setting on the shores of Lake Chautauqua.

Original lyrics:

Day is dying in the west;
Heav’n is touching earth with rest;
Wait and worship while the night
Sets her evening lamps alight
Thro’ all the sky.

  Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!  
  Heav’n and earth are full of THEE;
  Heav’n and earth are praising THEE,
  O Lord Most High!

Lord of life, beneath the dome
Of the universe, THY home,
Gather us who seek THY face
To the fold of THY embrace,
For THOU ART nigh.

  Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!
  Heav’n and earth are full of THEE;
  Heav’n and earth are praising THEE,
  O Lord Most High!

While the deep’ning shadows fall,
Heart of love, enfolding all,
Thro’ the glory and the grace
Of the stars that veil THY face,
Our hearts ascend.

  Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!
  Heav’n and earth are full of THEE;
  Heav’n and earth are praising THEE,
  O Lord Most High!

When forever from our sight
Pass the stars, the day, the night,
Lord of angels, on our eyes
Let eternal morning rise,
And shadows end.

  Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!
  Heav’n and earth are full of THEE;
  Heav’n and earth are praising THEE,
  O Lord Most High!

Lyrics by Mary Lathbury

Renewal lyrics:

Day is dying in the west;
Heav’n is touching earth with rest;
Wait and worship while the night
Sets her evening lamps alight
Thro’ all the sky.

  Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!
  Heav’n and earth are full of YOU;
  Heav’n and earth are praising YOU,
  O Lord Most High!

Lord of life, beneath the dome
Of the universe, YOUR home,
Gather us who seek YOUR face
To the fold of YOUR embrace,
O STAY NEARBY!

  Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!
  Heav’n and earth are full of YOU;
  Heav’n and earth are praising YOU,
  O Lord Most High!

While the deep’ning shadows fall,
Heart of love, enfolding all,
Thro’ the glory and the grace
Of the stars that veil YOUR face,
Our hearts ascend.

  Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!
  Heav’n and earth are full of YOU;
  Heav’n and earth are praising YOU,
  O Lord OUR FRIEND!*

When forever from our sight
Pass the stars, the day, the night,
Lord of angels, on our eyes
Let eternal morning rise,
And shadows end.

  Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!
  Heav’n and earth are full of YOU;
  Heav’n and earth are praising YOU,
  O Lord OUR FRIEND!

Renewal lyric changes by RH Reinhard (c) 2014