by John Donne (1572 - 1631)
A Hymn to God the Father See original
Language: English
Wilt thou forgive that sin where I begun, Which is my sin though it were done before? Wilt thou forgive those sins, through which I run, And do run still, though still I do deplore? When thou hast done, thou hast not done, For I have more. Wilt thou forgive that sin by which I've won Others to sin? And made my sin their door? Wilt thou forgive that sin which I did shun A year or two: but wallow'd in, a score? When thou hast done, thou hast not done, For I have more. I have a sin of fear, that when I've spun My last thread, I shall perish on the shore; Swear by thy self, that at my death thy Sun shall shine as he shines now, and heretofore; And having done that, thou hast done, I fear no more.
Composition:
- Set to music by Elizabeth Maconchy (1907 - 1994), "A Hymn to God the Father", 1965, first performed 1966 [ tenor and piano ]
Text Authorship:
- by John Donne (1572 - 1631), "A Hymn to God the Father", written 1623
See other settings of this text.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 151