OFFERTORY SOLO "The Holy City"
(music by Stephen Adams, 1892)
Aaron Bunnell, tenor; Dale Morehouse, piano
St. John's Methodist - Kansas City, MO
April 3, 2022
“The Holy City” is a religious Victorian ballad from 1892, with music by Michael Maybrick writing under the alias Stephen Adams and lyrics by Frederic Weatherly. It is an example of what musicians call “an old chestnut,” meaning a song that our grandparents might have known and loved. The song is mentioned in James Joyce's Ulysses, and it gained renewed popularity when it was sung by Jeanette MacDonald in the 1936 hit film San Francisco. Maybrick was one of the lowest of human lifeforms, meaning he was both an opera singer and an organist. Weatherly was a judge, poet, and lawyer, and is perhaps best remembered as the lyricist of “Danny Boy.” The hymn begins with a dream of being in Jerusalem on the day we now call Palm Sunday, observing the hosannas of the crowd. The second stanza reflects on the somber mood in the city days later “as the shadow of a cross arose upon a lonely hill.” And the hymn ends by quoting from Revelation. It seems that Jerusalem, which means city of peace, will finally live up to its name. Amen – may it be so.
Last night I lay a-sleeping, there came a dream so fair,
I stood in old Jerusalem beside the temple there.
I heard the children singing, and ever as they sang
Methought the voice of angels from heaven in answer rang.
REFRAIN: Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Lift up your gates and sing,
Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna to your King!
And then methought my dream was changed, the streets no longer rang.
Hushed were the glad Hosannas the little children sang.
The sun grew dark with mystery, the morn was cold and chill,
As the shadow of a cross arose upon a lonely hill. REFRAIN
And once again the scene was changed, new earth there seemed to be.
I saw the Holy City beside the tideless sea.
The light of God was on its streets, the gates were open wide,
And all who would might enter, and no one was denied.
No need of moon or stars by night, or sun to shine by day;
It was the new Jerusalem that would not pass away. REFRAIN
(Frederic Weatherly, 1892)
