Lone, Wild Bird, The
Hymn composed by
William WalkerContextual information
Henry Richard McFadyen, who was pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Pinetops, NC, tells the story: “The hymn was written on a quiet Sunday afternoon in the fall or winter of 1925 and sent to the [Homiletic and Pastoral] Review. It was forgotten until I was surprised with an announcement that I had been awarded third prize in the contest.” It was first published in 1927 with the opening line, “The lone, wild fowl.”
Our UU hymnal doesn't contain McFadyen’s second verse:
Each secret thought is known to Thee,
My whole life’s path, whate’er it be;
My days, my deeds, my hopes, my fears,
My deepest joys, my silent tears.
David N. Johnson set McFadyen’s poem to the tune of Prospect.
This hymn appears as #15 in Singing the Living Tradition.
Henry Richard McFadyen, who was pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Pinetops, NC, tells the story: “The hymn was written on a quiet Sunday afternoon in the fall or winter of 1925 and sent to the [Homiletic and Pastoral] Review. It was forgotten until I was surprised with an announcement that I had been awarded third prize in the contest.” It was first published in 1927 with the opening line, “The lone, wild fowl.”
Our UU hymnal doesn't contain McFadyen’s second verse:
Each secret thought is known to Thee,
My whole life’s path, whate’er it be;
My days, my deeds, my hopes, my fears,
My deepest joys, my silent tears.
David N. Johnson set McFadyen’s poem to the tune of Prospect.
This hymn appears as #15 in Singing the Living Tradition.
Tune Name
PROSPECT
Tune Name
Text Meter
L.M.
10.9.10.9
Song Composer
William WalkerHymn Arranger
Composer Background information
Spiritual tags
Other tags
Lyricist Background information
Arranger Background information
Lyrics
The lone, wild bird in lofty flight
is still with thee, nor leaves thy sight.
And I am thine! I rest in thee.
Great spirit come and rest in me.
The ends of earth are in thy hand,
the sea’s dark deep and far-off land.
And I am thine! I rest in thee.
Great spirit come and rest in me.
Resources
Music XML and MEI and MIDI and Musescore files