Welsh: Arglwydd, arwain trwy’r
Exodus 13,16-17;
Text: William Williams (1717-1791) Tune: John Hughes (1873-1932)
1. Guide me, O thou great Redeemer,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
Hold me with thy powerful hand:
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven
Feed me till I want no more.
Feed me till I want no more.
2. Open thou the crystal fountain
Whence the healing stream shall flow;
Let the fiery, cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through:
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer
Be thou still my strength and shield.
Be thou still my strength and shield.
3. When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell's destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan's side:
Songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever give to thee.
I will ever give to thee.
Tr. Peter Williams (1722-1796)
MEDITATION
My dad, in a somewhat foggy kind of dementia, was like a boy that night. We had taken
him to Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis to hear the Augsburg Masterworks Chorale sing
Mozart’s Requiem. He thrilled to it. It all came back to him, flooding him with good
memories, a sweet moment to treasure. Two months later, as we stood around him
singing hymns he loved, and still responded to, he would tread “the verge of Jordan” and
die.
When we hear familiar music, we are brought back, subconsciously, to the many times
we have heard it before, and the many associations we have with it. This hymn, the one
hymn from Wales that is popular around the world, has such associations for many of us.
It makes me remember the wife of the bookstore manager at Luther Seminary, Mary. She
had a Welsh heritage which she promoted at every opportunity. She was especially fervent
about the Welsh songfests, Gymanfa Ganu, at which singers gather to sing Welsh hymns
in four parts. This is a major song in the repertoire.
She had taught her two daughters the Welsh and English versions so they could sing it by
heart. They disliked the revision from Jehovah to Redeemer and never would sing
Redeemer, substituting Jehovah every time.
Very late one night, in February, 1986, Mary, on a lark, had taken her daughters, Naomi
and Rebekah, to see the Ice Palace on Lake Phalen—she liked to do things like that. The
road was icy and a semi jackknifed in front of them. Naomi, their older daughter, was
killed instantly. Mary lay unconscious for some time, but recovered. The hymn, which of
course was sung at the funeral, always brings that tragedy back to me as I substitute
Jehovah in her memory.
It must be something like that for the British royal family. This hymn has been sung at
their grand public events for some time, like the funeral of Queen Mother Elizabeth.
It was a key hymn at the memorial service for Diana in 2007. Not surprisingly it was
sung at both Prince William’s and Prince Harry’s weddings. The many textures of their
experience with the hymn are overwhelming to feel as we watch them during the various
ceremonies.
The hymn uses the imagery of the Exodus pilgrimage to describe the Christian’s daily
journey forward. Led by a pillar of fire and a cloud, we receive bread from heaven, water
from the rock. God guides us until we stand on the verge of Jordan, waiting to be brought
over to Canaan. The hymn helps us pray for the Lord to guide us in our pilgrimage
through the wilderness and at the end. On the way, as we sing, memories flood over us;
every moment, whether sweet or tragic, is present all at once. As we grow older, there are
more and more such moments; they go deeper and deeper. No wonder sometimes we can
barely sing.
HYMN INFO
Written by Wales greatest hymn writer, William Williams, this became almost a national
anthem for the Welsh. Williams, who was ordained a deacon in the Anglican Church,
was refused ordination as a priest because his theology had moved toward Methodism
and its revivals. He suffered for this the rest of his life. Translated into English by Peter
Williams, also involved with Methodism, the version has been sung boisterously at
Rugby matches, in addition to many solemn and national celebrations or memorials. The
tune by John Hughes has been the favored one. Other texts also are associated with it, but
this one takes special place. Cwm Rhonndda, the name of the tune, meaning the Valley of
Rhonndda, is the name of a place in Wales.
LINKS
Diana’s memorial service 2007
Kate and William’s wedding
Massive choir/congregation
Michael Ball at Wembley
Swansea choir
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