January 27, 2005
We've a Story to Tell
Words and Music by Henry Ernest Nichol, 1862-1928
All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed. Revelation 15:4.
A song which encourages us to go therefore and teach all nations is We've A Story To Tell To The Nations. The text was written, under the penname Colin Sterne, and the tune (Message) was composed by Henry Ernest Nichol, who was born at Hull in Yorkshire, England, on Dec. 10, 1862. Originally intending to become a civil engineer, he abandoned this desire to study music. After receiving his Bachelor of Music Degree from Oxford University in 1888, he produced a large number of melodies, around 130, the majority of which were mainly for Sunday school anniversary services. For those in which he also provided the words, he used the pseudonym "Colin Sterne," which is a rearrangement of the letters in his name. We've A Story To Tell To The Nations was first published at London, England, in "The Sunday School Hymnary" of 1896. Nichol died near Hull at Skirlaugh on Aug. 30, 1926 (some authorities give the year as 1928).
We’ve a story to tell to the nations,
That shall turn their hearts to the right,
A story of truth and mercy,
A story of peace and light,
A story of peace and light.We’ve a song to be sung to the nations,
That shall lift their hearts to the Lord,
A song that shall conquer evil
And shatter the spear and sword,
And shatter the spear and sword.We’ve a message to give to the nations,
That the Lord who reigns up above
Has sent us His Son to save us,
And show us that God is love,
And show us that God is love.We’ve a Savior to show to the nations,
Who the path of sorrow has trod,
That all of the world’s great peoples
Might come to the truth of God,
Might come to the truth of God.Chorus:
For the darkness shall turn to dawning,
And the dawning to noonday bright;
And Christ’s great kingdom shall come on earth,
The kingdom of love and light.