Jerusalem
(aka And Did Those Feet In
Ancient Times)
Words by William Blake (1757-1827)
And
did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England
And did the countenance divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem
Among those dark satanic mills?
Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England
The lyrics were written January 12, 1918 by Cecil
Spring-Rice (1859-1918). The music from Gustav Holst (1874-1934) Planets
suite (the hymn from Jupiter). In
its hymn form it is known as Thaxted. T
I VOW to thee, my country, all earthly things above,
entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love:
the love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,
that lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
the love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
the love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.
And there’s another country, I’ve heard of long ago,
most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;
we may not count her armies, we may not see her King;
her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;
and soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,
and her ways are ways of gentleness and all her paths are peace.