by Isaac Watts (1674 - 1748)
Africa
Language: English
Now shall my inward joy arise, And burst into a Song; Almighty Love inspires my Heart, And Pleasure tunes my Tongue. God on his thirsty Sion-Hill Some Mercy-Drops has thrown, And solemn Oaths have bound his Love To shower Salvation down. Why do we then indulge our Fears, Suspicions and Complaints? Is he a God, and shall his Grace Grow weary of his saints? Can a kind Woman e'er forget The Infant of her Womb, And 'mongst a thousand tender Thoughts Her Suckling have no Room? Yet, saith the Lord, should Nature change, And Mothers Monsters prove, Sion still dwells upon the Heart Of everlasting Love. Deep on the Palms of both my Hands I have engraved her Name; My Hands shall raise her ruined Walls, And build her broken Frame.
Text Authorship:
- by Isaac Watts (1674 - 1748) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by William Billings (1746 - 1800), "Africa" [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Ross Klatte
This text was added to the website: 2026-03-28
Line count: 24
Word count: 131