Wake and sing! wake and sing!
When the day is entering
Thro' the open gates of dawn,
And the dreary dark is gone!
Hail, ye waves of living light
Rolling off the clouds of night!
Easter morning brightly breaks,
Earth in dewy splendor wakes.
Thankful sing! thankful sing!
Choicest blossoms of the spring
Weave in crowns and garlands rare,—
Let their incense fill the air.
Eighteen hundred years ago,
(For the Bible tells us so)—
Angels rolled the rock away
From the tomb where Jesus lay.
Hopeful sing! hopeful sing!
Warbling birds are on the wing!
Life and beauty everywhere,
Hymns of praise and thoughts of prayer.
Jesus who was crucified,
And for sinners bled and died,
Holds the keys of death's dark door,
And will enter nevermore.
He is risen! He is risen!
Christ our King is free from prison!
Over all the world He reigns
Leading tyrant sin in chains.
Humbled once, exalted now,
Every knee to Him shall bow,
Every heart His voice obey,—
Welcome! blessed Easter Day!
