McCabe: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Jesus walking upon the Sea

McCabe

“Jesus walking upon the Sea” as printed in A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853).

McCabe: Collected Lyrics Text 1 1853 · historical text
Public domainHymnSacred song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from A First Series of Hymns and Songs, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

The waves are breaking snowy white

On the lake of Galilee,

The howling wind throughout the night

Upheaves the raging sea.

Verse 2

And tossing mid that tempest's roar

Are twelve poor fishermen,

Who vainly ply the struggling oar,

The wisn'd-for coast to gain:

Verse 3

When Jesus walks, amid the storm,

Upon the raging tide;

And bids the tremblers fear no harm,

And bids the storm subside.

Verse 4

O Jesu, when my soul is toss'd

On wild temptation's wave,

When confidence and hope are lost,

Be thou at hand to save.

Verse 5

Amid my darkness, grief, and pain,

Come, Jesu, then to me;

As erst to those poor fishermen

On the lake of Galilee.

Credits

Written by McCabe

Words by McCabe. Historical text published in A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853), “Jesus walking upon the Sea”

Every text in this 1853 collection is by Henry Formby (1816-1884), who died more than 140 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide; the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination.

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 2026-10-26. 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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