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I BIND MY HEART THIS TIDE (tune: Poor One’s Friend)

Music by Christopher M. Lee (2010)
Text by Lauchlan M. Watt (1907), alt.
Themes/imagery in text: social concern, life in Christ

  Includes: 
  1. basic hymnal version
  2. enhanced version (with modulation up half-step)

Text:
1. I bind my heart this tide
to the Galilean’s side,
to the wounds of Calvary,
to the Christ who died for me.

2. I bind my soul this day
to the neighbor far away,
and the stranger near at hand,
in this town and in this land.

3. I bind my heart in thrall
to the God, the Lord of all,
to the God, the poor one’s friend,
and the Christ whom God did send.

4. I bind myself to peace,
to make strife and envy cease.
God, knit thou sure the cord
of service to my Lord.

                                   - Lauchlan M. Watt, alt.

Notes:
Commissioned for Dianne Witte, with thanksgiving for her 13 years of service to the Bethesda Music Series, Bethesda Lutheran Church (New Haven, CT).
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