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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.
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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
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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
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