Scripture Verse

Commit your works to the Lord. Proverbs 16:3

Introduction

portrait
Mary A. Lathbury (1841–1913)

Words: Ma­ry A. Lath­bu­ry, in the North­field Hym­nal (Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: Big­low & Main, 1902). Though we don’t know the song’s origin, it seems to sug­gest Lath­bu­ry was reach­ing out to gar­ment fac­to­ry wor­kers. The po­em, orig­in­al­ly ti­tled Song of Hope, won the Hull House Prize around 1896. Rod Ser­ling quot­ed the words on March 7, 1963, while nar­rat­ing the ep­i­sode No Time Like the Past on his tel­e­vi­sion show The Twil­ight Zone.

Music: George C. Steb­bins (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
George C. Stebbins (1846–1945)

Lyrics

Children of yesterday, heirs of tomorrow,
What are you weaving? labor and sorrow?
Look to your loom again, faster and faster
Fly the great shuttles prepared by the Mas­ter.
There’s life in the loom! Room for it, room!
There’s life in the loom! Room for it, room!

Children of yesterday, heirs of tomorrow,
Lighten the labor and sweeten the sorrow;
Now while the shuttles fly faster and faster,
Up and be doing the work with the Mas­ter.
He stands at the loom! Room for Him, room!
He stands at the loom! Room for Him, room!

Children of yesterday, heirs of tomorrow,
Look at your fabric of labor and sorrow;
Seamy and dark with despair and disaster,
Turn it and lo, the design of the Mas­ter.
The Lord’s at the loom! Room for Him, room!
The Lord’s at the loom! Room for Him, room!