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Mansfield L.M.

By Aldo Thomas Ceresa

Key
F♯ minor
Type
Plain tune
Time signature
4
4
Composed
2012–13
Text
Philip Doddridge, 1737

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Description

Named for Rev. D.H. Mansfield (1810-1855) of Maine, compiler of The American Vocalist (1848), and arranger of many of the folk hymns found in that collection. This song features several stylistic elements (including the use of sharped sol's and scotch snaps) that were typical of Mansfield's tunes in the minor mode.


Text

Lord of the Sabbath, hear our vows,
On this, thy day, in this, thy house;
And own, as grateful sacrifice,
The songs which from thy churches rise.

Thine earthly Sabbaths, Lord, we love,
But there's a nobler rest above;
To that, our longing souls aspire,
With earnest hope and strong desire.

No more fatigue, no more distress,
Nor sin, nor death shall reach the place;
No groans to mingle with the songs
Which rise up from immortal tongues.

O long-expected day, begin;
Dawn on these realms of woe and sin!
Fain would we leave this weary road,
And pass thro' death, to be with God.