Abide with me; Tis Eventide

The Story behind the hymn Abide with Me; 'Tis Eventide:  (found http://www.mormontabernaclechoir.org/articles/abide-with-me-tis-eventide?lang=eng)

 The lyrics and music to the hymn “Abide with Me; ’Tis Eventide” were heavily influenced by the American Civil War. Both the writer of the lyrics, Martin Lowrie Hofford, and the composer of the music, Harrison Millard, held positions in the Union forces and felt the widespread loss and sorrow that the war brought.

In 1863, Millard, a first lieutenant in the 19th New York Regiment, was wounded so badly in the Battle of Chickamauga that he was no longer fit for duty. That same year, Hofford was given charge of a military institute in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The two watched from their respective vantage points as fear spread throughout the country, lives were threatened, and a nation became divided.

That gloomy backdrop may give new insight to the lyrics, “Abide with me, ’tis eventide, and lone will be the night if I cannot commune with Thee, nor find in Thee my light. The darkness of the world, I fear, would in my home abide; Oh, Savior, stay this night with me, Behold, ’tis eventide.”

Jessie Evans would frequently perform “Abide with Me; ’Tis Eventide” as a soloist in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Evans, who would later marry Joseph Fielding Smith, began singing with the Choir at age 15. She possessed a unique contralto voice, which earned her the attention of professional opera companies. After touring professionally for some time she focused her attention on serving in the Church.

After reading this story behind the song and how it came to be really brings a new light to this song. My favorite line has always been, "O Savior, stay this night with me; Behold, 'tis eventide.

How comforting it is to sing or read those words and realize that all I have to do is cry out to my Savior and he will be there with me whenever needed. He will be a comfort and guide through the tough times in my life.

Here are the words to the song:

Abide with me; 'tis eventide.
The day is past and gone;
The shadows of the evening fall;
The night is coming on.
Within my heart a welcome guest,
Within my home abide.

 

[Chorus]
O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, 'tis eventide.
O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, 'tis eventide.

 

Abide with me; 'tis eventide.
Thy walk today with me
Has made my heart within me burn,
As I communed with thee.
Thy earnest words have filled my soul
And kept me near thy side.

 

[Chorus]
O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, 'tis eventide.
O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, 'tis eventide.

 

Abide with me; 'tis eventide,
And lone will be the night
If I cannot commune with thee
Nor find in thee my light.
The darkness of the world, I fear,
Would in my home abide.

 

[Chorus]
O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, 'tis eventide.
O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, 'tis eventide.

 

This is my favorite version of this song from EFY 2004: