LISTEN to a Beautiful Hymn Written by St Cardinal JH Newman "Lead Kindly Light" Sung by Choir - VIDEO
Saint Cardinal John Henry Newman was 33 years old when he found himself on a boat from the Sicilian city of Palermo to Marseille, France. Newman, who was recovering after being dangerously ill with a fever, was on the boat to return to his native England when he wrote the lyrics to “Lead, Kindly Light.” (LISTEN to Video below)
The context that Newman was recovering from a frightening illness in the middle of the sea gives insight to the lyrics:
LYRICS - Refrain: Lead, kindly Light, amid the gloom of evening.
Lord, lead me on! Lord, lead me on!
On through the night! On to your radiance!
Lead, kindly Light! Lead, kindly Light, kindly Light! (Continued below the Video)
1 The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Direct my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.
So lead me onward, Lord, and hear my plea. [Refrain]
2 Not always thus, I seldom looked for you,
I loved to choose and seek my path alone.
In spite of fear, my pride controlled my will,
Remember not my past, but lead me still. [Refrain]
3 So long your pow'r has blest me on the way,
And still it leads, past hill and storm and night!
And with the morn, those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost a while. [Refrain]
Tune BENIGNA (Dykes) or SANDON (Purday)Source: https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org
Score: https://hymnary.org/text/lead_kindly_light_amid_the_encircling_gl#authority_media_flexscores
LYRICS - Refrain: Lead, kindly Light, amid the gloom of evening.
Lord, lead me on! Lord, lead me on!
On through the night! On to your radiance!
Lead, kindly Light! Lead, kindly Light, kindly Light! (Continued below the Video)
1 The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Direct my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.
So lead me onward, Lord, and hear my plea. [Refrain]
2 Not always thus, I seldom looked for you,
I loved to choose and seek my path alone.
In spite of fear, my pride controlled my will,
Remember not my past, but lead me still. [Refrain]
3 So long your pow'r has blest me on the way,
And still it leads, past hill and storm and night!
And with the morn, those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost a while. [Refrain]
Tune BENIGNA (Dykes) or SANDON (Purday)Source: https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org
Score: https://hymnary.org/text/lead_kindly_light_amid_the_encircling_gl#authority_media_flexscores
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