Give to the Winds Thy Fears explained

"Give to the Winds Thy Fears" is a traditional Christian hymn in short metre with words written by John Wesley.

History and description

Its first verse is:It is one of two hymns that Wesley published in 1739 that he had translated from "Befiehl du deine Wege", a longer 1653 hymn by German hymnwriter Paul Gerhardt, the other being "Commit thou all Thy Griefs".The latter has 8 out of the original 12 verses by Gerhardt, and "Give" has 4 verses.Wesley encountered Gerhardt's hymn sung by Moravians on his travels in the United States, and compiled it into the hymnal that he compiled for the people in Georgia where he lived for a while.In his diary for 1737-05-07 he records "translated six hymns from the German while on a journey to another plantation".

In hymnals such as the U.S. Armed Forces Hymnal (1959) and The Presbyterian Hymnal (1990) it is set to the tune St Bride composed by Samuel Howard.

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union adopted the hymn as its "Crusade Hymn"; to be sung at meetings at local, state, and national levels of the organization.

Jars of Clay

God Will Lift Up Your Head
Cover:Jarsofclay_godwillliftup.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Jars of Clay
Album:Redemption Songs
Released:2005
Recorded:2005
Genre:Rock
Length:4:22
Label:Essential Records
Producer:Jars of Clay
Prev Title:Sunny Days
Prev Year:2004
Next Title:I'll Fly Away
Next Year:2005

Christian rock band Jars of Clay recorded the hymn, slightly altering Wesley's lyrics, as "God Will Lift Up Your Head", released on its album Redemption Songs.The song is the first of two radio singles in promotion of the album which hit number one on the Christian CHR radio charts in 2005.

Track listing

  1. "God Will Lift Up Your Head" - 4:22

References

Bibliography

Further reading