Abide With Me

"Abide with Me" is a Christian hymn composed by Henry Francis Lyte in 1847,
though the lyrics are usually sung to William Henry Monk's melody "Eventide" rather
than Lyte's original music. Lyte wrote the words to his poem while he lay dying from
tuberculosis, and lived only three weeks after its completion.

Meaning of the title

The name of the well-known Christian hymn, written by Henry Francis Lyte in
1847. A plea for God to be present in one's life.

Origin of the hymn

The first verse of Abide with Me, is traditionally sung at the English FA Cup
Final (each year since 1927). It was also sung at the wedding of Queen Elizabeth II
and that of her father, George VI.

"Abide with Me" was written by Henry F. Lyte shortly before his own passing
away. It has become one of the favorite hymns for Christians during times of despair
and deep distress.

Basis of the Text

The text was taken from the account of Christ's appearance with the two
disciples on the way to Emmaus and their statement found in Luke 24: 29 of the
Bible: "But they urged him strongly: "Stay with us for it is nearly evening; the day is
almost over. So he went in to stay with them."

Henry F. Lyte - Text Author

It has been said that only the person who can face the prospect of death
realistically is one able to live this life with purpose and confidence. Such was the
conviction Henry F. Lyte, an English pastor who wrote this hymn.
 Born in Scotland on June 1, 1793, Henry F. Lyte was educated at Trinity College,
Dublin, Ireland, and was a member of the Church of England. He was known to be
frail in body, and his health was continually threatened by asthma and tuberculosis.
Despite his physical frailties, he had a strong faith, and was a tireless worker with a
reputation as a poet, musician and minister. He coined the phrase, "It is better to wear
out than rust out." Wherever Henry Lyte ministered, he was greatly loved and admired
by his people. He died in 1847.

Lyte's Vocation and Calling

For the last 23 years of his life, Lyte pastured a parish church among lowly
fishing people at Lower Brixham, Devonshire, England. During the later years his
health became worse so that he was force to seek a warmer climate in Italy. For the
last sermon with his poor parishioners, it was recorded that Lyte was almost crawling
to the pulpit that his message sounded as coming from a dying man.

His final words made impact on his people when he said: "My desire is to induce
you to prepare for the solemn hour which must come to all by a timely appreciation
and dependence on the death of Christ." On his way to Rome, death overtook him at
Nice, France. He was buried there in the English cemetery on Nov 20, 1847.

Lyte is said to have written this text along with his own tune. It was only used in
England until it was first published in a book, Lyte's Remains. Its first appearance in
America was in Henry Ward Beecher's Plymouth Collection with the notation that
"Abide with Me" was meant to be read and not sung.

William Monk - Hymn Tune Composer

Later, the hymn was discovered by William H. Monk (1823-1889), prominent

music editor of the Anglican Church hymnal, Hymn Ancient and Modern, choir
director and organist at King's College, London. Monk composed for Lyte's text in
less than half an hour, the tune was named "Eventide." Monk was inspired by the
beauty of a glorious sunset while yet experiencing a deep personal sorrow.

Henry F. Lyte was a man who greatly loved the Lord with his whole being. He
came up with the saying, “It is better to wear out than to rust out,” and it perfectly
described his life.

During the last 23 years of his life he pastored a poor church in England. His
always suffered from poor health but during this time his health started to decline
even more. Finally on September 4, 1847 he preached his last sermon to his
congregation. He was in need of the warmer climate of Italy. His final sermon made a
deep impression to his congregation. It has been described that he had to practically
crawl up to the pulpit that day. He said during his sermon that it was his desire to
“induce you to prepare for the solemn hour which must come to all by a timely
appreciation and dependence on the death of Christ.” He never was able to make his
trip to Italy, he died on the journey. Shortly before preaching his last sermon he wrote
the words and tune to the hymn, “Abide With Me.” He based his hymn on the text
which tells the story of Christ on the way to Emmaus and the disciples statement,
“Abide with us: for it is toward evening and the day is far spent.” William H.
Monk (1823-1889)
Later William Monk wrote a new tune for the hymn. During a time of personal
sorrow, he was inspired by the beauty of the magnificent sunset.
Lyte was inspired to write this hymn as he was dying of tuberculosis; he finished
it the Sunday he gave his farewell sermon in the parish he served so many years. The
next day, he left for Italy to regain his health. He didn’t make it, though—he died in
Nice, France, three weeks after writing these words. Here is an excerpt from his fare-
well sermon: O brethren, I stand here among you today, as alive from the dead, if I
may hope to impress it upon you, and induce you to prepare for that solemn hour
which must come to all, by a timely acquaintance with the death of Christ.
For over a century, the bells of his church at All Saints in Lower Brixham, De-
vonshire, have rung out “Abide with Me” daily. The hymn was sung at the wedding of
King George VI, at the wedding of his daughter, the future Queen Elizabeth II, and at
the funeral of Nobel peace prize winner Mother Teresa of Calcutta in1997.

Religious services
"Abide with Me" is popular across many denominations, and was said to be a
favourite of King George V[1] and Mahatma Gandhi. It was sung at both the wedding
of King George VI and that of his daughter, who would go on to become Queen
Elizabeth II. It is also often sung at Christian funerals.
FA Cup and Rugby League Challenge Cup finals
Since 1927 it has been sung before the kick-off at the FA Cup Final and Rugby
League Challenge Cup final.[1]
A live recording of the hymn, performed by the Liverpool Metropolitan
Cathedral Choir at the memorial service for victims of the Hillsborough Disaster in
1989, was released as a B side for the "Ferry Cross the Mersey" charity single which
topped the UK singles chart for three weeks in May, 1989.

Military services
The hymn is sung at the annual Anzac Day services in Australia and New
Zealand[2], and in some Remembrance Day services in Canada[3] and the United
Kingdom. It is also played by the combined bands of the Indian Defence Forces
during the annual Beating Retreat ceremony held on 29th January. A choral version of
this hymn has been arranged by Moses Hogan.

Jazz
Thelonious Monk recorded the tune (instrumentally) with his jazz septet unter
the title "Abide with Me" as start of the 1957 album Monk's Music. In 2006 two
different tracks have been reissued as start of the second disc of The Complete 1957
Riverside Recording, the documentation of the cooperation of Thelonious Monk and
John Coltrane.

In Films and Television

In an episode of Touched by an Angel Tess develops Alzheimer's Disease, and
keeps words "the darkness deepens" while Monica becomes increasing distraught by
the illness. When Monica finally accepts Tess's illness, Tess then sings the next line,
"Lord, with me abide" and has a miraculous recovery.
In the film A Bridge Too Far, wounded British paratroopers trapped in Arnhem
sing this hymn at a field hospital during a ceasefire.
In a flashback during an episode of the television series Lost, this hymn is played on
the organ as the character Charlie is in confession.
In The Full Monty Lomper plays "Abide with Me" at his mothers funeral scene.
The Danny Boyle film 28 Days Later has the hymn on its soundtrack: A female solo
rendition can be heard in the background of the scene where Jim returns to his parents'
house in Deptford and finds their bodies.
The hymn appears at the end of the Doctor Who episode "Gridlock", in which
"The Old Rugged Cross" also appears. " Abide with Me" also appears on the series 3
soundtrack. The line "change and decay in all around I see" was quoted in the 1980s
Doctor Who story Kinda.
In Latter Days the hymn is heard.
In 1991, TV personality Vic Reeves wrote a dance-mixed version of the song on his
album, 'I Will Cure You'. The version features dance beats and is of the rave style,
popular during the early nineties.
In 1997, "Abide with Me" was recorded by Sir Elton John and included in the
album Carnival: Rainforest Foundation Concert. A live version has been broadcast
featured in the TV show called An Evening with Elton John.
Other
In Salisbury, Rhodesia, on November 11, 1968, the British South Africa Police
Band played "Abide with Me" when the 1964 Rhodesian Flag bearing the Union Jack
was lowered for the last time and replaced by the flag that lasted until the end of
White minority rule.

The Christian hymn "Abide with Me" is certainly one of the most popular if not
the most popular of hymns and is to be found in the hymnals of all Christian
denominations. It was composed by the Scottish poet and hymnologists Henry Francis
Lyte (1793-1847) just before his death in 1847. It was completed on the same day as
his last sermon to the congregation in his parish church, "All Saints" in Lower
Brixham, Devonshire. In fact the emotional impact of the situation of drawing near to
death and the occasion of his last words to the congregation is acutely felt in the
words of the hymn. He went to meet the Lord three weeks later having died of
tuberculosis.
Uppermost in his mind at that time was death and the need for the Lord's
presence in these trying moments, "when other helpers fail, and comforts flee". His
faith in his Redeemer never failed. He lived constantly in the presence of the Lord as
the "help of the helpless", as the one "who changest not". In every, swiftly passing
hour he felt the need for the Lord's presence: "I need thy presence every passing
hour". In these moments more than in any others he felt the vanity of life, its
precarious nature, its fleeting joys and glory and sought, in the presence of the Lord,
the source of abiding life, joy, glory and victory. It was in the Lord that he saw the
light that "shines through the gloom", it was in the Lord that he saw his "guide and
stay" both in life and in death.
 
Lyte was buried in the English Cemetery of the Holy Trinity Church, in Nice.
"Abide with Me" was one of Mahatma Gandhi's and King George V's favourite
hymns and, for some unknow reason, is also sung at the FA Cup Final that marks the
end of the English soccer season.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Abide with me fast falls the eventide,
The darkness deepens Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee
Help of the helpless, O abide with me!

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day,

Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see
O Thou who changest not, abide with me!

I need Thy presence every passing hour

What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?
Thru cloud and sunshine, O abide with me!

Hold Thou Thy word before my closing eyes,

Shine thru the gloom and point me to the skies;
Heaven’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!