🎶Open My Eyes, That I May See🎶
Psalms 119:18 – Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
Author: Clara Harriett Fiske Jones Scott USA (1841-1897
)
Hymn History:
Clara Harriett Fiske Jones Scott was a renowned composer, hymnwriter, and publisher. Born on December 3, 1841 in Elk Grove, Illinois, she attended the first Chicago Musical Institute and later worked at Lyons Girl’s Seminary. She married Henry Clay Scott and had two daughters. Clara was the first woman to publish a volume of anthems, ‘The Royal Anthem Book’ in 1882. She was killed in a tragic accident while driving a horse-drawn buggy with friends on June 21, 1897.
Horatio R. Palmer, a prominent church musician, was a source of encouragement and assisted Scott in publishing her songs. She had three volumes which were published before her untimely death in Dubuque, Iowa.
Shortly before Scott passed away in 1895, the lyrics of “Open My Eyes” were composed. Every stanza indicates a growing openness to the “Spirit divine.” Gaining insight results in “glimpses of truth.” Listening intently brings forth “voices of truth.” Speaking from the heart allows one to spread the “warm truth everywhere.” Having an open heart makes it possible to provide “love to thy children.”
Lyrics:
1 Open my eyes that I may see
glimpses of truth thou hast for me.
Place in my hands the wonderful key
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
2 Open my ears that I may hear
voices of truth thou sendest clear,
and while the wave notes fall on my ear, ev’rything false will disappear.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my ears, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
3 Open my mouth and let me bear
gladly the warm truth ev’rywhere.
Open my heart and let me prepare
love with thy children thus to share.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my mouth, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
You can listen here:
https://youtu.be/B7DKxf3OTmI?si=JEYaXJuyDEyKHbjL
References:
*https://hymnary.org/text/open_my_eyes_that_i_may_see
*https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-open-my-eyes-that-i-may-see
