A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.
John 13:34–35
Words: Charles Swain, in A Selection of Sacred Songs, edited by Elias Nason (Boston, Massachusetts: Saxton & Pierce, 1842), number 96.
Music: From Oriola, by William B. Bradbury (New York and Cincinnati, Ohio: Moore, Wilstach, Keys & Company and Ivison & Phinney, 1860), number 186 (🔊 pdf nwc).
Let us love one another,
Not long may we stay
In this brief world of mourning,
So brief is life’s day;
Some fade ere ’tis noon,
And few linger till eve;
O, there breaks not a heart
But leaves someone to grieve.
And the fondest, the purest,
The truest that met,
Ever still found the need
To forgive and forget;
Then O, tho’ the hopes
That we nourished decay,
Let us love one another
As long as we may.
Thus we’ll love one another,
’Midst sorrow the worst,
Unaltered and fond
As we loved at the first;
Tho’ the false wing of pleasure
May change and forsake,
And the bright urn of wealth
Into particles break.
There are some sweet affections
That earth cannot buy,
That cling but the closer
When sorrow draws nigh,
And remain with us yet,
Though all else pass away—
Yes, we’ll love one another
As long as we stay.