Indexes for The Sacred Harp, 2025 Edition
329 Vain World Adieu
Words: Seamen’s Devotional Assistant, 1830
Music: Arr. Edmund Dumas, 1856. Alto S. M. Denson, 1911
Meter: Particular Meter
When for eternal worlds we steer,
And seas are calm and skies are clear,
And faith in lively exercise,
And distant hills of Canaan rise,
The soul for joy then claps her wings,
And loud her hallelujah sings,
Vain world, adieu,
And loud her hallelujah sings,
Vain world, adieu.
With cheerful hope her eyes explore
Each landmark on the distant shore:
The trees of life, the pastures green,
The crystal stream — delightful scene.
Again for joy she claps her wings,
And loud her hallelujah sings,
Vain world, adieu,
And loud her lovely sonnet sings,
Vain world, adieu.
The nearer still she draws to land,
More eager all her pow’rs expand;
With steady helm, and free-bent sail,
Her anchor drops within the veil.
Again for joy she claps her wings,
And her celestial sonnet sings,
I’m there at last,
And her celestial sonnet sings,
I’m there at last.
And seas are calm and skies are clear,
And faith in lively exercise,
And distant hills of Canaan rise,
The soul for joy then claps her wings,
And loud her hallelujah sings,
Vain world, adieu,
And loud her hallelujah sings,
Vain world, adieu.
With cheerful hope her eyes explore
Each landmark on the distant shore:
The trees of life, the pastures green,
The crystal stream — delightful scene.
Again for joy she claps her wings,
And loud her hallelujah sings,
Vain world, adieu,
And loud her lovely sonnet sings,
Vain world, adieu.
The nearer still she draws to land,
More eager all her pow’rs expand;
With steady helm, and free-bent sail,
Her anchor drops within the veil.
Again for joy she claps her wings,
And her celestial sonnet sings,
I’m there at last,
And her celestial sonnet sings,
I’m there at last.