Earth Was Waiting, Spent and Restless
- Metre
- 8.7.8.7.8.7
- Written
- 1876
- Copyright
- Public domain
Lyrics
Earth was waiting, spent and restless,
with a mingled hope and fear;
faithful men and women praying,
'Surely Lord, the day is near;
the desire of all the nations,
it is time he should appear.'
Then the Spirit of the Highest
to a virgin meek came down,
and he burdened her with blessing,
and he pained her with renown;
for she bore the Lord's anointed
for his cross and for his crown.
Earth has groaned and laboured for him
since the ages first began;
for in him was hid the secret
which through all the ages ran –
Son of Mary, Son of David,
Son of God, and Son of Man.
History
This Advent hymn comes from Hymns of Christ, and Christian Life (1876), a collection by the Scottish minister and poet Walter Chalmers Smith. In three verses it traces the whole sweep of the Incarnation: a world 'spent and restless', praying with mingled hope and fear for 'the desire of all the nations'; the Annunciation, as the Spirit comes down to a virgin who bears 'the Lord's anointed for his cross and for his crown'; and the fulfilment of 'the secret which through all the ages ran' — 'Son of Mary, Son of David, Son of God, and Son of Man.' Hymnary.org lists it in modern hymnals including Ancient and Modern (2013), where it is sung to the French carol melody PICARDY, and it has also been paired with the tunes NEANDER and LINGWOOD.
Walter Chalmers Smith was born in Aberdeen on 5 December 1824 and educated at the city's Grammar School and University, studying theology at Edinburgh. Ordained on Christmas Day 1850 as pastor of the Scottish Church in Chadwell Street, Islington, he later became Minister of the Free High Church, Edinburgh in 1876. A prolific poet as well as a preacher, he is best remembered today for the hymn 'Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise'.
Performance
This recording by St Martin's Voices runs to about two and a half minutes: a short organ introduction leads into the three verses sung in full, closing with a brief organ postlude.
Sources: hymnary.org · St Martin's Voices recording and Words book
About St Martin's Voices
The recording on this page is sung by St Martin's Voices, the professional vocal ensemble based at St Martin-in-the-Fields, the church on Trafalgar Square in London. One of the UK's most versatile professional choirs, they sing for services, concerts and broadcasts — including on BBC radio and Classic FM — and have released a number of acclaimed recordings.
Their hymn recordings are made freely available to Anglican parishes through the Church of England's A Church Near You Resource Hub, produced by Andrew Earis, Director of Music at St Martin-in-the-Fields, in collaboration with the Royal School of Church Music.