LONDONERRY AIR- I Cannot Tell Why He Whom angels Worship

I CANNOT TELL WHY HE WHOM ANGELS WORSHIP
Author: W. Y. Fullerton (c. 1920)
Tune: LONDONDERRY AIR
1 I cannot tell why He Whom angels worship,
Should set His love upon the sons of men,
Or why, as Shepherd, He should seek the wanderers,
To bring them back, they know not how or when.
But this I know, that He was born of Mary
When Bethlehem’s manger was His only home,
And that He lived at Nazareth and laboured,
And so the Saviour, Saviour of the world is come.
2 I cannot tell how silently he suffered,
as with his peace he graced this place of tears,
or how his heart upon the cross was broken,
the crown of pain to three and thirty years.
But this I know, he heals the broken-hearted
and stays our sin and calms our lurking fear
and lifts the burden from the heavy laden;
for still the Saviour, Saviour of the world is here.
3 I cannot tell how he will win the nations,
how he will claim his earthly heritage,
how satisfy the needs and aspirations
of east and west, of sinner and of sage.
But this I know, all flesh shall see his glory,
and he shall reap the harvest he has sown,
and some glad day his sun will shine in splendour
when he the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is known.
4 I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship,
when at his bidding every storm is stilled,
or who can say how great the jubilation
when every heart with love and joy is filled.
But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture,
and myriad myriad human voices sing,
and earth to heav'n, and heav'n to earth, will answer,
“at last the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is King!”
It was also used as a setting for "I would be true" by Howard Arnold Walter at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales:
I would be true, for there are those that trust me.
I would be pure, for there are those that care.
I would be strong, for there is much to suffer.
I would be brave, for there is much to dare.
I would be friend of all, the foe, the friendless.
I would be giving, and forget the gift,
I would be humble, for I know my weakness,
I would look up, and laugh, and love and live.”
"Londonderry Air" was also used as the tune for the southern gospel hit "He Looked Beyond My Fault", written by Dottie Rambo and first recorded by her group, The Rambos, in 1968.
Other hymns sung to this tune are:
"O Christ the same through all our story’s pages" - Timothy Dudley-Smith
"O Dreamer Leave Thy Dreams For Joyful Waking"
"I Love Thee So"
"My Own Dear Land"
"We Shall Go Out With Hope of Resurrection"
"Above the Hills of Time the Cross Is Gleaming"
"Lord of the Church, We Pray for our Renewing" - Timothy Dudley-Smith
"Above the Voices of the World Around Me"
"What Grace is Mine" - Kristyn Getty
"O Son of Man our hero strong and tender"
"Since Long Ago" - Watchman Nee
"O Loving God" - Paulette M. McCoy
"Go, silent friend", by John L. Bell and Graham Maule

[@kennethcormier8514]

I LOVE the sound of a K. Kawai piano. Every note is rich, distinctive, and delicate!

[@jfulysse9629]

No better way to prepare me to sleep ! Thanks for that new music opening a new month ! Great and peaceful music, I do love it !!

[@teresaaholman]

@@jfulysse9629 you’re welcome 🙏🏻 I love it too!

[@jonkubetz3416]

So happy for you! Glad you got to play on a grand piano! Have a wonderful week!

[@WilliamVance-y5r]

Awesome Job Teresa ! You Bless my Heart!

[@teresaaholman]

@@WilliamVance-y5r thank you 🙏🏻 this is such a beautiful melody….

[@jonkubetz3416]

Just got back from the mall with my grandsons and fed them lunch and my phone notified me that you had recorded another song. What a wonderful weekend with our 4 grandchildren! To have you playing in addition is so wonderful! So beautiful Teresa! Both you, your playing and the lyrics. Great start to February! Thank you so much!

[@teresaaholman]

@@jonkubetz3416 I was with four of my grandchildren this weekend too… in fact this recording was made at their house (they have this beautiful grand piano.!) My upright does not sound this good..lol

[@adamkrolikowski892]

😮😢😊🎉

[@genewood9062]

"He heals the broken-hearted". I testify that this is true. But it can take serious amounts of time.

[@teresaaholman]

@@genewood9062 absolutely. Praying for you today as you grieve the loss of your beloved spouse… 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@genewood9062]

@@teresaaholman Thank you. Although I just edited that out. Thought I overstepped my bounds.

[@teresaaholman]

@@genewood9062 it’s all good 👍 I lost my first husband in 1999. It took me 10 years to fully recover (and then I married my current husband)… I understood what a broken heart was -for my heart really physically hurt terribly. A person is never the same.

[@timrozitis961]

Wow - it's a beautiful tune, but even moreso the way you play it on the piano here!

[@teresaaholman]

@@timrozitis961 thank you 🙏🏻 I enjoyed recording it!! Blessings to you.