The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #116567 Message #2503723
Posted By: Joe Offer
28-Nov-08 - 03:08 PM
Thread Name: DT Correction: Years Are Coming / Years of Peace
Subject: DT Correction: Years Are Coming
YEARS ARE COMING
Music: HYFRYDOL, Rowland Hugh Prichard, 1811-1887)
Years are coming, speed them onward
When the sword shall gather rust,
And the helmet, lance, and falchion
Sleep at last in silent dust.
Earth has heard too long of battle,
Heard the trumpet's voice too long.
But another age advances,
Seers foretold in ancient song.
Years are coming when forever
War's dread banner shall be furled,
And the angel Peace be welcomed,
Regent of a happy world.
Hail with song that glorious era,
When the sword shall gather rust,
And the helmet, lance and falchion
Sleep at last in silent dust.
Source: Singing the Living Tradition, Beacon Press, Unitarian Universalist Association, 1993. This book attributes the words to Adin Ballou, 1803-1890)- see attribution notes below.
Adin Ballou, 1849; alt.
A "falchion" is a broad, short sword. One version uses "arrow" instead of "falchion."
Another source says that the lyrics were written in 1849 by Universalist minister Adin Ballou (1803-1890).
Additional information and the suggested alternate tune, PETERSON, obtained from conjubilant.blogspot.com.
Alternate Tune: PETERSON (8.7.8.7.)
Emily S. Perkins, 1921
The lyrics appear attributed to "anonymous" in the hymnal Hymns for Christian Worship, by Louisa Adams Beal (1910). This book suggests "Love Divine" (LeJeune) as a tune.
Any for the tunes from Love Divine, All Loves Excelling will work with this song. Singing the Living Tradition suggests HYFRYDOL, which is the tune I associate with "Love Divine." Here are the three tunes I found associated with "Years Are Coming": (tunes copied from www.cyberhymnal.org - all are in the public domain)