Naval Hymn song Mass: Lakehaurst NAS 60's

10 Aug 98 - 07:52 AM (#34575)
Subject: Naval Hymn song Mass: Lakehaurst NAS 60's
From: elaine

Seeking title and composer/ copy of song Only information: Naval Hymn song at the end of Catholic Mass at Lakehaurst NAS, NJ while my father was stationed there in the 60's to 72 It's very important that I find this music

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10 Aug 98 - 08:10 AM (#34577)
Subject: Lyr Add: ETERNAL FATHER STRONG TO SAVE / NAVY HYMN
From: Ralph Butts

elaine.......

I Assume this is the one you're looking for. This is a very moving song, I'm surprised we don't hear it more. I searched for the music for years and finally found it in a little pocket-sized government hymnal, "Song and Service Book for Army and Navy", 1942 edition.

It was also sung in "Titanic".

.....Tiger

Eternal Father, Strong To Save (The Navy Hymn)
Words: William Whitting, 1860
Music: James B. Dykes, 1861

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard,
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walked’st on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage did’st sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

Most Holy Spirit! Who did’st brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

O, Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger’s hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe’er they go;
Thus, evermore, shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

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10 Aug 98 - 12:06 PM (#34594)
Subject: RE: Naval Hymn song Mass: Lakehaurst NAS 60's
From: BBJ

Stationed at NAS Pensacola FL in flight training, this was a favorite of the Naval Air Training Command Choir, but a verse for Naval Aviation/Aviators was added. It went:

Lord guard and guide the men who fly
Through thy great spaces in the sky.
Be with them always in the air
Through dark'ning storm and sunlight fair.
Oh hear us when we lift our prayer
For those in peril in the air.

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10 Aug 98 - 01:30 PM (#34601)
Subject: RE: Naval Hymn song Mass: Lakehaurst NAS 60's
From: Barbara

This is a piece of music that when sung, particularly by men's choir, moves me to tears. I remember it from JFK's funeral.
Part of what makes it beautiful is the walk-up (ascending parallel third run) in the tenor and bass in the first line and the modulation on 'ocean deep' that makes a dissonance all through that line, and resolves finally on 'hear us when we cry to Thee'.
The song is in a number of mainstream Protestant hymnbooks. I have it here in "The Worship Book", from Westminster Press in Philadelphia. In my experience one can usually purchase hymnbooks from a church or used bookstore.
Hope this helps
Blessings,
Barbara

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10 Aug 98 - 02:44 PM (#34607)
Subject: RE: Naval Hymn song Mass: Lakehaurst NAS 60's
From: Ralph Butts

Me, too, Barbara.

I've sung it for my father, a WWII Navy vet, with the all-too-predictable results.

.....Tiger

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10 Aug 98 - 03:03 PM (#34608)
Subject: RE: Naval Hymn song Mass: Lakehaurst NAS 60's
From: Joe Offer

Click here for a very nice presention on the hymn from the Cyber Hymnal. Is the song we're talking about the one you're looking for, Elaine?
-Joe Offer-

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10 Aug 98 - 04:26 PM (#34627)
Subject: RE: Naval Hymn song Mass: Lakehaurst NAS 60's
From: Ralph Butts

Interesting how these things develop. I read Joe's post, checked in at the Cyber Hymnal, and found out that was was where I had actually copied my words. Checking back with my service hymnal, I find a different second verse, as follows:

O Saviour, whose almighty word
The winds and waves submissive heard,
Who walked'st on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage did sleep;
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.

The other three verses are essentially as earlier post.....Tiger

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