Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

When Morning Gilds the Sky

Traditional

“When Morning Gilds the Sky” as printed in The Canadian Soldiers' Song Book (1918).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 291 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

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!'

Verse 2

Whene'er the sweet church bell

Peals over hill and dell,

'May Jesus Christ be praised!'

O hark to what it sings,

As joyously it rings,

'May Jesus Christ be praised!'

Verse 3

When sleep her balm denies,

My silent spirit sighs,

'May Jesus Christ be praised!'

When evil thoughts molest,

With this I shield my breast,

'May Jesus Christ be praised!'

Verse 4

Does sadness fill my mind?

A solace here I find,

'May Jesus Christ be praised!'

Or fades my earthly bliss?

My comfort still is this,

'May Jesus Christ be praised!'

Verse 5

In heaven's eternal bliss

The loveliest strain is this,

'May Jesus Christ be praised!'

The powers of darkness fear

When this sweet chant they hear,

'May Jesus Christ be praised!'

Verse 6

To God, the Word, on high,

The host of angels cry,

'May Jesus Christ be praised!'

Let mortals, too, upraise

Their voice in hymns of praise;

'May Jesus Christ be praised!'

Verse 7

Let earth's wide circle round

In joyful notes resound,

'May Jesus Christ be praised!'

Let air and sea and sky,

From depth to height, reply,

'May Jesus Christ be praised!'

Verse 8

Be this, while life is mine,

My canticle divine,

'May Jesus Christ be praised!'

Be this the eternal song

Through all the ages on,

'May Jesus Christ be praised!'Amen.

Credits

Written by Traditional

Traditional words. 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), “When Morning Gilds the Sky”

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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