LYRICS

1. I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace like a river.
   I’ve got peace like a river in my soul, I’ve got peace like a river.
   I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace like a river in my soul.
2. I’ve got love like an ocean, I’ve got love like an ocean.
   I’ve got love like an ocean in my soul, I’ve got love like an ocean.
   I’ve got love like an ocean, I’ve got love like an ocean in my soul.
3. I’ve got joy like a fountain, I’ve got joy like a fountain.
   I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul, I’ve got joy like a fountain.
   I’ve got joy like a fountain, I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul.
4. I’ve got peace, love and joy like a river, I’ve got peace, love and joy like a river.
   I’ve got peace, love and joy like a river in my soul. I’ve got peace, love and joy like a river.
   I’ve got peace, love and joy like a river. I’ve got peace, love and joy like a river in my soul.

When Morning Gilds the Skies
(1744)
“From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord’s name is to be praised.” Psalm 113:3

Hymn Background:

This Psalm scripture is the theme behind this anonymous Catholic hymn.  “Beim fruhen Morgenlicht,” which first appeared in the German hymnbook Katholisches Gesangbuch in 1744.

It was translated into English a hundred years later by Edward Caswall, a Roman Catholic priest.  Edward had grown up in an Anglican parsonage in Yately, England, where his father was a Church of England minister.  Following in his father’s footsteps, Edward became an Anglican curate in Stratford-sub-Castle, Wiltshire.  But in 1847, he converted to Catholicism.  He delighted in translating ancient hymns from Latin into English and is the translator who gave us St. Bernard’s “Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee.”

In  translating this hymn, he rendered the verses freely and even added some of his own.  Those who love this hymn will be pleased to learn that the original English version had 28 verses.  Listed below are some you may not see in modern hymnbooks:

• When you begin the day, O never fail to say; May Jesus Christ be praised!  And at your work rejoice, to sing with heart and voice, May Jesus Christ be praised!
• Be this at meals your grace, in every time and place; May Jesus Christ be praised!  Be this, when day is past, of all your thoughts the last, May Jesus Christ be praised!
• When mirth for music longs, this is my song of songs;  May Jesus Christ be praised!  When evening shadows fall, this rings my curfew call, May Jesus Christ be praised!
• Sing sun and stars of space, sing ye that see His face; May Jesus Christ be praised!  God’s whole creation o’er, for aye and evermore; May Jesus Christ be praised!

When Morning Gilds the Skies
LYRICS:

1. When morning gilds the skies, my heart awaking cries,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer to Jesus I repair;
May Jesus Christ be praised!

2. Discordant humankind, in this your concord find,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let all the earth around ring joyous with the sound,
May Jesus Christ be praised!

3. Sing suns and stars of space;  sing all that see his face;
May Jesus Christ be praised!
God’s whole creation o’er both now and evermore;
May Jesus Christ be praised!

4. Be this while life is mine, my canticle divine;
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this the eternal song, through all the ages long:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

Sweet, Sweet Spirit