O Dearest Lord Thy Sacred Head

This hymn is a meditation and personal response to the damage done Jesus' head, hands, feet and heart. It is suitable for Lent, and especially Good Friday.

The words were written by Indian-born, British Anglican clergyman, friar and religious-order founder, Henry Ernest Hardy (1869-1946), who is also known as Brother Andrew and then Father Andrew, in 1918.

With meter 8.6.8.6, tunes it is set to include:

ALBANO (Novello) by Vincent Novello (1781-1861) - this appears to be the most-commonly used tune with the text
DUNFERMLINE - from The CL Psalms of David, Edinburgh (l615)
NUN DANKET ALL (Crüger 16512) by Johann Crüger (1598–1662)
BELMONT (Gardner) by William Gardiner (1770-1853)

Downloads

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PowerPoint slides

SATB choir arrangement with organ, by David N Johnson

Examples

Boys' choir with organ:

Choir and soloist, with organ and woodwind:

Choir with organ, professional recording, tune BELMONT:

Choir with flute and piano:

Instrumental - organ, tune ALBANO:

Instrumental - organ, tune NUN DANKET ALL

Instrumental - organ, tune ALBANO:

Instrumental - piano, tune DUNFERMLINE

Lyrics

Traditional language

O dearest Lord, thy sacred head
with thorns was pierced for me;
O pour thy blessing on my head
that I may think for thee.

O dearest Lord, thy sacred hands
with nails were pierced for me;
O shed thy blessing on my hands
that they may work for thee.

O dearest Lord, thy sacred feet
with nails were pierced for me;
O pour thy blessing on my feet
that they may follow thee.

O dearest Lord, thy sacred heart
with spear was pierced for me;
O pour thy Spirit in my heart
that I may live for thee.

Modern English

O dearest Lord, Your sacred head
with thorns was pierced for me;
O pour thy blessing on my head
that I may think for thee.

O dearest Lord, Your sacred hands
with nails were pierced for me;
O shed thy blessing on my hands
that they may work for thee.

O dearest Lord, Your sacred feet
with nails were pierced for me;
O pour thy blessing on my feet
that they may follow thee.

O dearest Lord, Your sacred heart
with spear was pierced for me;
O pour thy Spirit in my heart
that I may live for thee.