Whispering Hope

Words and Music by Septimus Winner - 1868
(Hebrews 6:19)

Soft as the voice of an angel,
Breathing a lesson unheard,
Hope with a gentle persuasion
Whispers her comforting word:
Wait till the darkness is over,
Wait till the tempest is done,
Hope for the sunshine tomorrow,
After the shower is gone.

Chorus
Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice,
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.

If, in the dusk of the twilight,
Dim be the region afar,
Will not the deepening darkness
Brighten the glimmering star?
Then when the night is upon us,
Why should the heart sink away?
When the dark midnight is over,
Watch for the breaking of day.


Chorus
Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice,
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.

Hope, as an anchor so steadfast,
Rends the dark veil for the soul,
Whither the Master has entered,
Robbing the grave of its goal.
Come then, O come, glad fruition,
Come to my sad weary heart;
Come, O Thou blest hope of glory,
Never, O never depart.


Chorus
Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice,
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.

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I'm not a big fan of gospel music because some of the songs strike me as silly and some of them I heard too often as a child. I never heard this one until Willie Nelson recorded it in 1976 on The Troublemaker album and I've loved it ever since. For a gospel song, it is very elegant and self-controlled.

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Some of you may not find bland church organs as annoying as I do, so here's the tune for Whispering Hope.

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