Come, Ye Sinners
This colonial hymn has two variant choruses depending on whether you use the tune GREENVILLE or the Southern Harmony tune. The Southern Harmony version is this writer's preference, both for lyric poetry of the chorus ("ten thousand charms") and the plaintive tonality of the Sacred Harp-style chords. Both choral options are set out below; note that the GREENVILLE chorus continues the verse rhyme scheme and so requires adjustment whenever the verse rhyme scheme is altered.
Original lyrics:
Come, YE sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore,
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity, love, and pow’r.
Southern Harmony:
I will arise and go to Jesus,
He will embrace me in His arms,
In the arms of my dear Savior,
O there are ten thousand charms.
or GREENVILLE:
He is able, He is able,
He is willing; doubt no more.
Come, YE thirsty, come and welcome,
God’s free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance,
Ev’ry grace that brings us NIGH.
I will arise and go to Jesus . . . .
or: Without money, without money
Come to Jesus Christ and buy.
Come, YE weary, heavy laden,
Bruised and broken, full of sin;
If you tarry till you’re better,
You may never enter in.
I will arise and go to Jesus . . . .
or: Not the righteous, not the righteous;
Sinners Jesus came to win.
Lyrics by Joseph Hart
Comments and Suggestions:
Although a good word, "nigh" is simply no longer in significant use, nor are most singers going to be familiar with the cognate terms in contemporary German. We likewise no longer "tarry."
Renewal lyrics:
Come, ALL sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore,
Jesus ready stands to save US,
Full of pity, love, and pow’r.
I will arise ... [no changes]
He is able, He is able,
He is willing; doubt no more.
Come, WHEN thirsty, come and welcome,
God’s free bounty PRAISE AND CHEER;
True belief and true repentance,
Ev’ry grace that brings us NEAR.
I will arise ... [no changes]
Without money, without money;
Come AND BE MADE FREE AND CLEAR.
Come, WHEN weary, heavy laden,
Bruised and broken, full of sin;
If you HOLD BACK till you’re better,
You may never enter in.
I will arise ... [no changes]
Not the righteous, not the righteous;
Sinners Jesus came to win.
Renewal lyric changes by RH Reinhard (c) 2014