Henry Francis Lyte: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Abide With Me

Henry Francis Lyte

“Abide With Me” as printed in The Canadian Soldiers' Song Book (1918).

Henry Francis Lyte: Collected Lyrics Text 1 1918 · historical text
Public domainSoldier songHistorical song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Canadian Soldiers' Song Book, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

Abide with me, fast falls the eventide;

The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide!

When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, O abide with me!

Verse 2

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;

Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;

Change and decay in all around I see;

O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

Verse 3

I need Thy presence every passing hour;

What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?

Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?

Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me!

Verse 4

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless,

Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;

Where is death's sting? where, grave, thy victory?

I triumph still, if Thou abide with me!

Verse 5

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;

Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies,

Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;

In life and death, O Lord, abide with me! Amen.

Credits

Written by Henry Francis Lyte

Words by Henry Francis Lyte. Historical text published in The Canadian Soldiers' Song Book (1918); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Canadian Soldiers' Song Book (1918), “Abide With Me”

The 1918 published edition is in the public domain in the United States (pre-1931 publication). Entries whose credited author died more than 70 years ago are also in the public domain in life-plus-70 jurisdictions; other entries are held.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-12. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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