Lead On, Lead On, O Kindly Light is by Emma and Stuart Townend from the Stuart Townend album Courage.
The lyrics:
1.
Lead on, lead on, O kindly Light
Amid th’ encircling gloom;
Though far from home in the darkest of night,
Still You will lead me on.
The distant scene, the path before me
I do not ask to see;
But guard my feet o’er mountain & valley
One step sufficient for me.
2.
‘Lead on. Lead on’ not always my prayer
When pride embittered my soul;
My heart grown hard, my sight firm resolved
To choose the path I should go.
The cares of day, so shallow and fleeting
Shine bright yet cannot endure;
Now fear is gone, my past is forgiven,
My sin remembered no more!
3.
Lead on, lead on with power and grace
The road Your footsteps have worn,
Till break of dawn discovers your face
And I am truly home.
With childlike faith through joy & through sorrow
My journey finally done,
My rest and calm in light everlasting
Where loved and Lover are one.
Words and Music: Emma Townend and Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2017 Townend Songs (Adm. by Song Solutions http://www.songsolutions.org).
It’s a bit sad though, that the Townends don’t seem to have given any credit to John Henry Newman. Hopefully they have somewhere, but I couldn’t find it in my quick search tonight…
Agreed. Modern songwriters usually credit older lyricists when they appropriate, add to, or change their works. It’s somewhat inexplicable. I appreciate the paraphrase version of the lyrics. I should have noted the Newman hymn in my comments above.