Faithful is the Lord (our King) - Lawton

This hymn about God's faithfulness was written by Irish Roman Catholic diocesian priest and singer-songwriter, Liam Lawton.

It was first published in 2002 by GIA Publications in Lawton's "Sacred Land" collection, with verses focussing on the characteristics of God (eg God of life / nations / land / creed / etc.)

Irish composer John O'Keeffe created alternative verses, blending phrases from C F Alexander's translation of the Lorica of St Patrick with Edward Caswall's Sequence for Pentecost - and this version was published in 2006.

The hymn is set to the tune used for the Irish-language song, ‘Mo Ghile Mear’, which was composed / collected by members of Cúil Aodha choir (Cóir Chúil Aodha), possibly based on a traditional Jacobite melody. This has a 4/4 time signature, and in the key of F the first few notes are CCC D F G A. The tune-name is listed by GIA Publication as "GIOLLA MEAR" - however alternative spellings are used in other places - it is sometimes must called MO GHILE MEAR.

Downloads

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SATB and assembly, keyboard accompaniment, guitar, violin - Arranged by Paul Tate

Guitar edition (Leadsheet) - arranged by Paul Tate

Examples

Small group with traditional instruments, including ulliean pipes:

Instrumental - harp:

Original recording, lead singer and choir

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website.

A rough outline is of the original song published in 2002 with verses by Lawton is:

God of life and God of seed ...

Chorus:
Faithful is the Lord our King,
Let us all in glory sing;
Ever praise in song and word,
Holy, holy, holy Lord

God of wisdom, God of truth ...

God of stars and God of seas ...

God as Father, God as Son ...

Some of the alternative verses by John O'Keeffe are available on this website. A rough outline of them is:

Chorus:
Faithful is the Lord our King,
let us all in glory sing.
Ever praise in song and word:
holy, holy, holy Lord!

1 Holy Father, God of might ...

2 Christ be near at either hand ...

3 Holy Spirit, Lord of light ...

4 Lord of all, with joy we sing,

See also

• Traditional tunes baptised: religious words for popular melodies
• Hymns about faithfulness

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY
1 God of life and God of seed God of nations, lands and creeds God of heaven, God of earth God made man in lowly birth. Chorus: Faithful is the Lord our King, Let us all in glory sing; Ever praise in song and word, Holy, holy, holy Lord2 God of wisdom, God of truth God of mystery, age and youth God of silence, God of quiet God of the darkness, God of light. 3 God of stars and God of seas God of harvest, God of wheat God of hillside, God of field God in love in Christ revealed. 4 God as Father, God as Son God as Spirit, three in one God who dwells in every heart God ever faithful, be not far. Alt: Holy Father, God of might, throned amid the hosts in light, take our life, our strength, our love, King of earth and heaven above. 2 Christ be near at either hand, Christ behind, before me stand, Christ with me where’er I go, Christ around, above, below. 3 Holy Spirit, Lord of light From the clear celestial height, Come thou father of the poor, Come with treasures that endure. 4 Lord of all, with joy we sing, Glory to our God and king.Glory to the One in three: Undivided unity.