When I realise that Rock Of Ages hasn’t been posted on Sunday Songs yet, I am reminded just how many absolutely outstanding hymns and songs there really are.
I won’t write much about Augustus Toplady or these words. Just search your way around the internet to find a wealth of material.
Growing up a Presbyterian in Australia meant that these words were formatively associated with the reflective tune Petra. The more widely known, and relatively more uptempo tune of Toplady is also fondly remembered. A few contemporary tunes for these words have been written, but this is a case, I believe, where the quality and renown of the traditional tunes is such that ‘retuning’ these words seems more an exercise in personal indulgence than in necessity.
The lyrics.
1.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me
Let me hide myself in thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Cleanse me from its guilt and pow’r.
2.
Not the labors of my hands
Can fulfil thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears for ever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and thou alone.
3.
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to thee for dress,
Helpless, look to thee for grace;
Foul, I to the Fountain fly;
Wash me, Saviour, or I die.
4.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyelids close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee.
This is a choral rendition of the hymn to Toplady.
Here’s the tune Petra played on the organ. No vocals.
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