ATW1018Bitter CrySATB and PianoA haunting new melody to adeeply personal passion poemby John Ellerton, “Throned Uponthe Awful Tree” (1875). Thenew title points to the climaxof the piece, Jesus’ painfuloutburst to the Father on the cross,“Why have You forsaken Me?” Designed for Good Friday observances.
LYRICSThroned upon the awful tree,King of grief, I walk with Thee.Darkness veils Your anguished face;none its lines of woe can trace.None can tell what pangs unknownhold You silent and alone.Silent through those three dread hours,wrestling with the evil pow’rs,Left alone with human sin,gloom around You and within,Till the appointed time is nigh,till the Lamb of God may die.Hark, that cry that peals aloudupward through the whelming cloud!You, the Father’s only Son,You, God’ own Anointed One,Asking God, how can it be,“Why have You forsaken Me?” Lord, should fear and anguish rolldarkly o’er my sinful soul,You, as one thus once bereftthat Your own might ne’er be left,Teach me by that bitter cryin the gloom to know You nigh.
Video provided courtesy ofForest Hills Baptist ChurchNashville, TN
ATW1018Bitter CrySATB and PianoA haunting new melody to adeeply personal passion poemby John Ellerton, “Throned Uponthe Awful Tree” (1875). The new title points to the climax of the piece, Jesus’ painful outburst to theFather on the cross,“Why have You forsaken Me?” Designed for Good Friday observances.
LYRICSThroned upon the awful tree,King of grief, I walk with Thee.Darkness veils Your anguished face;none its lines of woe can trace.None can tell what pangs unknownhold You silent and alone.Silent through those three dread hours,wrestling with the evil pow’rs,Left alone with human sin,gloom around You and within,Till the appointed time is nigh,till the Lamb of God may die.Hark, that cry that peals aloudupward through the whelming cloud!You, the Father’s only Son,You, God’ own Anointed One,Asking God, how can it be,“Why have You forsaken Me?” Lord, should fear and anguish rolldarkly o’er my sinful soul,You, as one thus once bereftthat Your own might ne’er be left,Teach me by that bitter cryin the gloom to know You nigh.
Video provided courtesy ofForest Hills Baptist ChurchNashville, TN