Lord Revive Us (Savior Visit Thy Plantantion)

David Summerford plays mountain dulcimer, mandolin and guitar while the words are accompanied by scenes of crops in both lush and drought conditions.
Among the many gems in the 1779 hymn book called Olney Hymns produced by John Newton and William Cowper is this powerful poem. The tune is named Return Again and is found in the Sacred Harp (although I altered the harmony)

Savior, visit Thy plantation,
Grant us, Lord, a gracious rain!
All will come to desolation,
Unless Thou return again.

Keep no longer at a distance,
Shine upon us from on high;
Lest, for want of Thine assistance;
Every plant would droop and die.

Surely, once Thy garden flourished,
Every part looked gay and green;
Then Thy Word our spirits nourished,
Happy seasons we have seen!

But a drought has since succeeded,
And a sad decline we see; Lord,
Thy help is greatly needed,
Help can only come from Thee.

Where are those we counted leaders,
Filled with zeal, and love, and truth?
Old professors, tall as cedars,
Bright examples to our youth!

Some, in whom we once delighted,
We shall meet no more below;
Some, alas! we fear are blighted,
Scarce a single leaf they show.

Younger plants—the sight how pleasant,
Covered thick with blossoms stood;
But they cause us grief at present,
Frosts have nipped them in the bud!

Dearest Savior, hasten hither,
Thou canst make them bloom again;
O, permit them not to wither,
Let not all our hopes be vain!

Let our mutual love be fervent,
Make us prevalent in prayers;
Let each one esteemed Thy servant,
Shun the world's bewitching snares.

Break the tempter's fatal power,
Turn the stony heart to flesh;
And begin, from this good hour,
To revive Thy work afresh.

Lord, revive us, Lord, revive us,
All our help must come from Thee,
Lord, revive us,Lord, revive us,
All our help must come from Thee.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• David
• Summerford
• mountain
• dulcimer
• olney
• hymns
• sacred
• harp
• John
• Newton

[gjackson659]

On my way back from a Choral Eucharist held in St. James Cathedral in Toronto this morning, I heard a choral and instrumental version of this hymn. It particularly ministered to me, as I had been contemplating the sudden and unexpected death of our 21-year old on November 17th, 2010. She was a music education and vocal dual major in her final year in Nyack College. Thanks for posting this, so I could share the link on facebook.

[iamjohere]

oh it is wonderful to hear you play. Thank you for the opportunity to listen. I started playing the dulcimer a couple of months ago and I just love it. Jo Davidson

[dholeton]

Very Nice David

Thanks for the lyrics and the history also. I had to dig out one of my hymnals because the melody on the refrain sounded very familiar. It sounds like parts of the refrain are very similar to Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing (and others with the same melody) which has a melody from supposedly an old folk tune named Nettleton that was written by either John Wyeth or Asahel Nettleton maybe aroun 1813. I think the two melodies are close but not the same.

Thanks

Dave