Firstpublished:1919 2ndpublished:1934 in New Songs of Paradise, Edition 5, no. 38 Description: A gospel hymn. Voicing not stated, but apparently for three to four treble voices. Accompaniment by a Basso continuo in effect, probably originally on a keyboard instrument.
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Original text and translations
English text
1. Like the action of the ground,
On its axis turns around,
‘Neath the sun of mighty power, life and light;
So a wretched sinner whom,
When he sees his awful doom,
Turns from sin and seeks to know and do the right.
Chorus
Has the sun crossed the line, do you know?
Has he melted all the ice and the snow?
Have the birds begun to sing,
Do you feel the joy of spring?
Has the sun crossed the line, do you know?
2. Wintertime when earth is bare,
Lifeless, dreary everywhere,
Winds are high, and all about is hard and cold;
So a life that’s full of sin,
Where no light has entered in,
And the peace of God has never filled the soul.
3. When the sun has crossed the line,
And the earth has left behind
Ice and snow and stormy winter raging high;
It is like a weary soul,
Turning from the world so cold,
To the bosom of the Lord, a ransomed child.
4. When the earth has turned around,
And the sun has warmed the ground,
Then the ice will melt and swollen rivers flow;
So when he has found the Lord,
And received His gracious word,
All the filthiness of sin will have to go.
5. Have you seen the pretty flowers,
Blessed with evening dew and showers?
Fragrant language, happy fields and woods employ;
Do you wonder at a soul,
When the Lord has made him whole,
If he shouts when he is filled with heaven’s joy?
6. Earth in summer-time produce
Fruit for every creature’s use,
Not a bit is over-kept for selfish greed;
So a soul that’s saved indeed
Grows his fruit from righteous seed,
Not for self but all is for another’s need.
English text