O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.
Psalm 96:1
Words: Thomas H. Gill, 1867. Written at Whitsuntide, first published in The Golden Chain, 1869.
Music: St. Saviour (Baker) Frederick G. Baker, in the Bristol Tune Book, Second Series (London: Novello, Ewer, 1876) (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Gill or Baker (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
The glory of the spring how sweet!
The new-born life how glad!
What joy the happy earth to greet
In new, bright raiment clad!
Divine Redeemer, Thee I bless;
I greet Thy going forth;
I love Thee in the loveliness
Of Thy renewèd earth.
But O these wonders of Thy grace,
These nobler works of Thine,
These marvels sweeter far to trace,
These new births more divine:
This new-born glow of faith so strong,
This bloom of love so fair,
This new-born ecstasy of song,
And fragrancy of prayer!
Creator Spirit, work in me
These wonders sweet of Thine;
Divine Redeemer, graciously
Renew this heart of mine.
Still let new life and strength upspring,
Still let new joy be given;
And grant the glad new song to ring
Through the new earth and Heaven.