This page is provided so that you can hear the tunes of items which we use in church. Mostly they are written by the vicar. Please note that they are copyright - we are very happy to give permission to you to use them, but we would like to hear about it. Please include any use on your Christian Copyright Licence returns.
Down this page:
- the words,
- the story,
- the sheet music,
- media player.
They shall grow not old
They shall grow not old
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
In the morning sunlight after the dark and cold
those who fought on Jesus' side will ever remain with him.
Those who live by faith and trust in the Son divine,
Although on earth they struggle with sin and pain,
When the dawn shall pierce all clouds and the sky shall shine,
All the work they did shall prove that they did not live in vain.
When what seems like waste is weighed at the end of time,
When life is hushed and cares of the world grow dim,
Lord we thank you for your promise of joy sublime
by your cross and death that pays the price for our human sin.
Bind us back to you, and nerve us afresh for fight,
that we may spend ourselves in the cause of good.
By your Holy Spirit, daily increase our light:
that on your return we may be found doing what we should.
Words and music copyright © John Hartley 2007.
Story behind the song
This song was written in response to a request on the COIN (Christians on the Internet) music discussion e-mail list, for an anthem to be sung at a service for the for the Cambridgeshire Regiment Old Comrades Association. (The "Anthem" version will have some variations from verse to verse of the hymn.) The words take the famous lines of Binyon and attempt to assure the listener that those who serve the Lord Jesus in faith will be united with him at the end.
John Hartley.
Windows Media Player. When you click the left-hand "play" button your computer should have started to play the tune. If it didn't, you might be able to get the tune by clicking here, or by right-clicking the link, choosing "save target as", saving it onto your computer, and then opening it with a music-playing program.
Please remember that a midi file of a tune isn't supposed to be a state-of-the-art musical arrangement - it is only supposed to give a basic idea of how the tune goes. Any reasonable organist / keyboard player / music group could make it sound far better.