Hymns Modern & Ancient

497: I vow to help abolish

Tune: 13.13.13.13.13.13. Thaxted (Gustav Holst)

I vow to help abolish those hymns that fail the test,
Those that sing of pride and prejudice, that claim we are the best.
The talk of swarthy neighbours, the tones of us and them,
The lines about our nation that fill my throat with phlegm.
The hymns that have no purpose in modern life today,
Full of gall and racial sentiment, and things we should not say.

I’ve no time for flags and nationhood, my heart lies overseas,
Let’s ignore the good of Empire, and spend time on our knees,
Asking God to please forgive us, asking Jesus for advice.
Never mind that for our freedom some others paid a price.
This old hymn just stirs up passions, and makes these matters worse,
Even though it speaks of heavenly things – ignore the second verse!