I get the impression this one is imprinted on the brain of every cradle Catholic – I was spared. It is by Patrick Brennan and George Elvey, although Grattan Flood also gets a mention.
It sounds great on pipe organ. You can get better backing tracks than mine and sheet music here. Mine is just slightly out of control and very fake church organ.
Verse 1
Hail Redeemer, King divine!
Priest and Lamb, the throne is thine;
King, whose reign shall never cease,
Prince of everlasting peace.Refrain
Angels, saints and nations sing :
“Praise be Jesus Christ our King;
Lord of life, earth, sky and sea,
King of love on Calvary!”Verse 2
King, whose name creation thrills,
rule our hearts, our minds, our wills;
till in peace, each nation rings
with thy praises, King of kings.Refrain
Verse 3
King most holy, King of truth,
guard the lowly, guide the youth;
Christ the King of glory bright,
be to us eternal light.Refrain
Verse 4
Shepherd-king, o’er mountains steep
homeward bring the wandering sheep;
shelter in one royal fold
states and kingdoms, new and old.Refrain
Extra verses
Crimson streams, O King of grace,
drenched thy thorn-crowned head and face;
floods of love’s redeeming tide
tore thy hands, thy feet, and side.Eucharistic King, what love
draws thee daily from above,
clad in signs of bread and wine :
feed us, lead us, keep us thine!Sing with joy in ev’ry home :
“Christ our King, thy kingdom come!
To the King of ages, then,
honour, glory, love : Amen!”
Every cradle Catholic may get this implanted – but the problem is that they don’t all get the same tune! There are at least three different tunes in use, and it can be quite “interesting” when you put a group of people together and they all start trying to sing the one they know. Nuff said.
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Alleluia! The original words at last – the “lowly” are guarded, as indeed they should be, and the “youth” are guided – ditto! How many recent books are guiding them both!