Country celestial (Neale, set by C. Ives) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


For thee, O dear, dear Country, 
Mine eyes their vigils keep;
For very love, beholding
Thy happy name, they weep.
The mention of thy glory
Is uction to the breast,
Balm in time of sickness,
And love, and life and rest.

With jasper glow thy bulwarks,
Thy streets with em'ralds blaze;
The sardius and the topaz 
Unite in thee their rays;
Thine ageless walls are bonded
With amethyst unpriced;
Saints built up its fabric,
The cornerstone is Christ.

Oh sweet and blessed Country,
The home of God's elect!
Oh sweet and blessed Country
That eager hearts expect!
O Jesus, in mercy bring us 
To that dear land of rest!
Thou art, with God the Father,
And Spirit blest, ever blest.

Authorship

John Mason Neale

Based on

text

Bernard of Cluny (fl. 1150)

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

Charles Edward Ives (1874-1954)

Date added to the website: 2003-11-05.

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