Best viewed in
Internet Explorer

Music (PDF)

Midi

Music (BMW)

Back to
Index


Updated 09/03/2020

 

Bring Them In


William Ogden

The lyrics for “Bring Them In” also known as “Hark! 'Tis the Shepherd's Voice” were written by Alexcenah Thomas. Alexcenah Thomas taught or administered the education of children in many places by the beginning of the 20th Century, but seemed aware many years before then that waywardness was something she wanted to address. Not much else is known of Alexcenah, though she left some hymn poems, of which “Bring Them In” is the most well-known. She also collaborated with a musical composer, William Ogden (1841-1897), who was a noted producer of children’s music.

When Ogden was six years old, his family moved to Indiana. He began studying music in local singing schools at age 8, and could read church music fairly well by age 10. A little later, he could write a melody by hearing it sung or played. When he was 18, he became a chorister in his home church.

At the outbreak of the American civil war, Ogden enlisted in the 30th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. During the war he organized a male choir, which became well known throughout the Army of the Cumberland. After the war, Ogden returned home and resumed his musical studies. Among his teachers were Lowell Mason, Thomas Hastings, E. E. Baily, and B. F. Baker, president of the Boston Music School. As his skills developed, Ogden issued his first song book, The Silver Song, in 1870; it became immensely popular, selling 500,000 copies. He went on to publish numerous other song books.

In addition to composing, Ogden taught at many schools in the United States and Canada. In 1887, he became superintendent of music in the public schools of Toledo, Ohio.

Though it is unknown where the paths of Alexcenah Thomas and William Ogden intersected, most likely it was their mutual Christian outlook and interest in musical endeavors that compelled their meeting. Alexcenah evidently was from Philadelphia and was educated in Chicago, followed by various stints as a teacher or principal in central Pennsylvania, Washington, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Georgia, and New York. Meanwhile, Ogden was reportedly in Ohio and various other places to pursue his passion to educate children musically. It was the year 1885 when the two cooperated to produce Bring Them In.

Lyrics by Alexcenah Thomas

  Hark! 'tis the Shepherd's voice I hear,
out in the desert dark and drear,
calling the sheep who've gone astray
far from the Shepherd's fold away.

Refrain

Bring them in, bring them in,
bring them in from the fields of sin;
Bring them in, bring them in,
Bring the wand;ring ones to Jesus.

Who'll go and help this Shepherd kind,
help him the wand'ring ones to find?
Who'll bring the lost ones to the fold,
where they'll be sheltered from the cold?

 

Refrain

 

Out in the desert hear their cry,
out on the mountains wild and high;
hark! 'tis the Master speaks to thee,
"Go find my sheep where'er they be."

 

Refrain