Indexes for The Sacred Harp, 2025 Edition
445 Passing Away
Words: Charles Wesley, 1763
Music: John A. Watson, 1872. Alto William Walker, 1873
Meter: Common Meter (8,6,8,6)
And must I be to judgment brought
And answer in that day
For ev’ry vain and idle thought
And ev’ry word I say?
[chorus]
We are passing away
To that great judgment day.
Yes, ev’ry secret of my heart
Shall shortly be made known
And I receive my just desert
For all that I have done.
How careful, then, ought I to be,
With what religious fear,
Who such a strict account must give
For my behavior here.
And answer in that day
For ev’ry vain and idle thought
And ev’ry word I say?
[chorus]
We are passing away
To that great judgment day.
Yes, ev’ry secret of my heart
Shall shortly be made known
And I receive my just desert
For all that I have done.
How careful, then, ought I to be,
With what religious fear,
Who such a strict account must give
For my behavior here.