Birds in Hymns – In The Garden

Based on John 20:18

Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

Words & Music: C. Aus­tin Miles, March 1912:

In 1912 the music publisher Dr. Adam Geible wanted author and composer C. Austin Miles to write something that was “sympathetic in tone, breathng tenderness in every line; one that would bring tenderness in every line; one that would bring hope to the hopeless, rest for the weary, and downy pillows to dying beds.”

I read…the sto­ry of the great­est morn in his­to­ry: ‘The first day of the week com­eth Ma­ry Mag­da­lene ear­ly, while it was yet ve­ry dark, unto the se­pul­cher.’ In­stant­ly, com­plet­ely, there un­fold­ed in my mind the scenes of the gar­den of Jo­seph….Out of the mists of the gar­den comes a form, halt­ing, he­si­tat­ing, tear­ful, seek­ing, turn­ing from side to side in be­wil­der­ing amaze­ment. Fal­ter­ing­ly, bear­ing grief in ev­e­ry ac­cent, with tear-dimmed eyes, she whis­pers, ‘If thou hast borne him hence’… ‘He speaks, and the sound of His voice is so sweet the birds hush their sing­ing.’ Je­sus said to her, ‘Mary!’ Just one word from his lips, and for­got­ten the heart­aches, the long drea­ry hours….all the past blot­ted out in the pre­sence of the Liv­ing Pre­sent and the Eter­nal Fu­ture.’

This hymn was sung in the mo­vie Plac­es in the Heart, which won two Acad­e­my Awards in 1984.
C. Austin Miles (1868-1946)

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

Refrain

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

Refrain

I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.

Refrain


References: In The Garden
Amazing Grace by Kenneth W. Osbeck, p. 116

Most information from The Cyber Hymnal

See ~ Wordless Birds

More ~ Birds in Hymns

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Singing “In The Garden” by mercy2us

Musical Only by ilovetrains63

Another by gorgrel

3 thoughts on “Birds in Hymns – In The Garden

  1. My guess is the singer in the 3rd clip is Evie who sang with the Billy Graham Crusades in the 70’s and/or 80’s.

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  2. I have never heard a more beautiful arrangement of this hymn in over 46 years of singing it. I have been a church music director for 30 plus years and this is just the best arrangement ever… not to mention the singer. Can you please tell me who (lady) is singing this LAST version of In the Garden (You Tube)… as well as who wrote this arrangement? I would very much appreciate the information. Is gorgrel the singer or singing group?

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