Lord You have come to the Seashore - Trupia / Gabaráin

This hymn was originally written as "Pescador de Hombres" (Fishers of Men) by Spanish / Basque Roman Catholic priest, biblical theologian and liturgical composer, Cesáreo Gabaráin (1936-1991) in 1979. It is based on the story of Jesus calling the fishermen, in Luke 5:1-11 and Mark 1:16-18. Many online sources say that the Polish-language translation, “Barka”, was one of John Paul II's favourite songs.

This English-language translation was made by American, at-the-time Roman Catholic priest, Robert Trupia (b 1948) from Tuscon, Arazona (ref). It was first published by OCP Publications in 1987. Trupia also made another translation ("Lord, you have come to the lakeside, looking neither for wealthy nor wise ones ... ") which was published in Common Ground (Saint Andrew Press 1998), which is perhaps more suited for use in England (ref). There is also another translation Lord When you Came to the Seashore by Willard Jabusch - and some people don't realise that these are simply different translations of the same base text, set to the same tune.

It is set the tune PEDCADOR DE HOMBRES, which was written by Gabaráin for the original hymn. This has a 6/8 time signature. In the key of D, the first few notes are F EFG FE D D_ with accompanying chords D / F#m / G7 / A7 / Bm / D

Downloads

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Sheet music: bilingual choral arrangement by Bob Hurd and Kevin Keil

Examples

Lead singer with band and chorus:

Small group, professional recording:

Duet with piano and violin:

Singer with piano, pictures of the seashore:

Small group with bell-voice electronic keyboard:

Instrumental - organ, with on-screen lyrics:

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:

1 Lord, You have come to the seashore ....

Chorus:
O Lord, with Your eyes set upon me
Gently smiling, You have spoken my name.
All I longed for, I have found by the water.
At Your side, I will seek other shores.

2 Lord, see my goods, my possessions ...

3 Lord take my hands and direct them ....

4 Lord, as I drift on the waters ....