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August 13, 2004
Time to pause and think this one through carefully ...
Perhaps the Bishop of Hulme would like to ban this one, too. Set to music by Gustav Holst, who lost both his sons in the slaughter of the battlefields of Ypres and the Somme.
Turn back, O man
Forswear thy foolish ways
Old now is earth
And none may count her days
Yet thou, her child
Whose head is crowned with flames
Still will not hear
Thine inner God proclaims
Turn back, O man
Forswear thy foolish ways
Earth might be fair
And all men glad and wise
Age after age their tragic
empires rise
Built while they dream
And in that dreaming weep
Would man but wake
From out his haunted sleep
Turn back, O man...
Forswear thy foolish ways
Earth shall be fair
And all her people one
Not till that hour
Shall God's whole will be done
Now, even now
Once more from earth to sky
Peals forth in joy
Man's old undaunted cry
Earth shall be fair
And all her people one!
Words are by Clifford Bax (1919) and the Anthem setting is by Gustav Holst. It appears also as a hymn (in the extended post) sung to the "Old 124th". The Holst setting is one of the most moving I have ever heard. There are several recordings of it, and it is worth listening to it if you can find a copy.
Perhaps the Bishop and his coterie of trendy lefty friends with their liberationist theology and their abject denial of everything which has made this country something to be proud to be associated with would like to bury this sentiment as well - because it might remind people of a need to actually subscribe to a set of values which are above human creation?
Next thing you know he'll be suggesting we ditch the 10 Commandments. Let's see now, because they're too Jewish? Might offend murderers, adulterers and thieves, robbers, and other sundry offenders?
The Hymn version is as follows:
Turn back, O man, forswear thy foolish ways.
old now is earth, and none may count her days.
yet thou, her child, whose head is crowned with flame,
still wilt not hear thine inner God proclaim,
"Turn back, O man, forswear thy foolish ways."
Earth might be fair and all men glad and wise.
age after age their tragic empires rise,
built while they dream, and in that dreaming weep:
would man but wake from out his haunted sleep,
earth might be fair and all men glad and wise.
Earth shall be fair, and all her people one:
nor till that hour shall God's whole will be done.
Now, even now, once more from earth to sky,
peals forth in joy man's old undaunted cry:
"Earth shall be fair and all her folk be one!"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Words: Clifford Bax, 1919
Source:
The Oremus Hymnal
Posted by The Gray Monk at August 13, 2004 02:00 PM