LDS Hymn #59

Hymn #59 - Come, O Thou King of Kings

This is such a fun hymn to sing! Lots of movement. Fun to play on the piano, but much harder on the organ when you have to make it legato. Then you have the echoing tenor and bass on the third line--always love those. I have sung this song so many times, and knew we were singing about our desire for the Lord to come. Somehow I never put it together that it was singing about the Second Coming and Millennium. Last song of that in its section. Not sure why I never quite connected. But it is still wonderful!

Favorite lines:
*With healing in thy wings
*With songs of joy, a happier strain
*The wide expanse of heaven fill
*And ev'ry tongue sounds praise to thee

From the history book
Our wonderful Parley P. Pratt had this hymn published in 1840. They're not sure the story behind his writing it, but Brother George Pyper feels it was probably written amidst the trial in Missouri when the Saints would most especially be looking forward to the Savior coming again and taking way the pain, leaving behind joy and rejoicing. Even if not written during those trials, the memory of them likely remained freshly. The 1950 hymnal had the last two verses printed below the hymn and rarely sung, so they put them up with the other hymns to be sung more. Ironic that even then they knew about congregations' bad habit of not singing all verses, particularly ones printed below the music. Yet the current hymnal still has hymns printed that way and the verses are sadly neglected.

Lyrics

1. 1. Come, O thou King of Kings!
   We've waited long for thee,
   With healing in thy wings,
   To set thy people free.
   Come, thou desire of nations, come;
   Let Israel now be gathered home.
2. 2. Come, make an end to sin,
   And cleanse the earth by fire,
   And righteousness bring in,
   That Saints may tune the lyre
   With songs of joy, a happier strain,
   To welcome in thy peaceful reign.
3. 3. Hosannas now shall sound
   From all the ransomed throng,
   And glory echo round
   A new triumphal song;
   The wide expanse of heaven fill
   With anthems sweet from Zion's hill.
4. 4. Hail! Prince of life and peace!
   Thrice welcome to thy throne!
   While all the chosen race
   Their Lord and Savior own,
   The heathen nations bow the knee,
   And ev'ry tongue sounds praise to thee.
5. Text: Parley P. Pratt, 1807-1857
   Music: Anon., ca. 1889