(Part of a series singing through the hymnbook I grew up with: Great Hymns of the Faith)
This hymn is a very familiar hymn. If asked to give a good example of a common hymn, this could be it (though it might not be an example of a “true hymn”, per the musical experts). It has a straight message, encouraging, evokes Biblical images, with a rousing, rejoicing unison of lyric and music.
1
Come, we that love the Lord
And let our joys be known;
Join in a song with sweet accord,
and thus surround the throne.
2
Let those refuse to sing
Who never knew our God;
But children of the heav’nly King
May speak their joys abroad.
3
The hill of Zion yields
A thousand sacred sweets
Before we reach the heav’nly fields
or walk the golden streets
4
Then let our songs abound
And evr’y tear be dry;
We’re marching thru Emmanuel’s ground
To fairer worlds on high.
At The Rainbow 