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