254. Holy Father, cheer our way
Richard H. Robinson, 1842-92
Based on Zech. 14:7: “But it shall come to pass, at evening time it shall be light.” The hymn was written in 1869 for the author’s congregation, to be sung at evening prayer. It appeared in Church Hymns, 1871, published by the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge, London.
Richard Hayes Robinson, a clergyman of the Church of England, was born in London. He was educated at King’s College, London, and served as minister in various churches. On the day of his second wedding, he was taken ill on the train and died the next day. He published several volumes of sermons.
MUSIC. MÜDE BIN ICH, GEH ZUR RUH is a well-known German melody in the Gesangbuch mit Noten, where it appears anonymously, set to Louise Hensel’s hymn from which the tune derives its name. The melody, in slightly different form, appeared in 1842 in Lieder-Buch für Kleinkinder-Schulen ... con Theodor Fliedner. It is used in the Methodist Hymnal (1935) set to the words, “Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear.”