Scripture Verse

O send out Thy light and Thy truth. Psalm 43:3

Introduction

portrait
John H. Alleman
1859–1938

Words: J. M. Paul­ding, 1893.

Music: An­ta­na­na­ri­vo John H. Al­le­man (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know Pauld­ing’s full name, or where to get a good pho­to of him (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Turn on the search-light, oh, let its bright ray
Come flashing and gleaming across the dark wave;
Turn on the search-light, and let it betray
The darkness of sin and God’s power to save.

Refrain

Turn on the search-light, oh, may it disclose
Some life being lost on the billows of sin;
Yes, turn on the search-light, oh, who is it knows,
Some heart may be open His light to let in.

Turn on the search-light, flash deep in the soul,
That carelessly drifts t’ward the dangerous bar;
Turn on the search-light where darkly doth roll
The breakers whose dashing we hear from afar.

Refrain

Turn on the search-light, oh, let its bright eye
Pierce e’en to the depths of thy innermost soul;
Turn on the search-light, oh, heed you the cry,
Ere some one is lost on that dangerous shoal.

Refrain