Charles Edward Ives: The Celestial Country (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


Forward flock of Jesus,
Salt of all the earth,
Till each yearning purpose
Springs to glorious birth;
Sick they ask for healing, 
Blind they grope, they grope for day;
Pour upon nations
Wisdom's loving, loving ray.

Forward out of error,
Leave behind the night.
Forward out of darkness,
Forward into light.
Forward when in childhood
Buds the infant mind.
All through youth and manhood
Forward till the veil be lifted,
Climb height to height!
Forward out of darkness:
On ever onward,
Climbing till our faith be sight.

?. Naught that country needeth

Language: English

Authorship

Henry Alford (1810-1871)


Naught that country needeth of these aisles of stone;
Where the Godhead dwelleth, temple there is none.
All saints that in these courts have stood
Are but babes and feeding on childrens food.
On through darkness,
On through sign and token,
On through stars amidst the night,
On to light, 
On through darkness,
On through sign and token,
Forward into light!