ALLELUIA! SING TO JESUS

TEXT: Revelation 5: 9; William C. Dix, 1837-1898
MUSIC: Rowland H. Prichard, 1811-1887
TUNE: HYFRYDOL
METER: 8 7 8 7 D

Episcopalian William Dix was born in Bristol, England in 1837, and like Charles Ives (1874-1954) was in the insurance business specializing in marine insurance; writing hymns was just a hobby for him. Other hymn text that Dix wrote include the famous Christmas Carol “What Child is This” and the Epiphany Carol “As With Gladness Men of Old.” Dix wrote “Alleluia! Sing to Jesus” as a Communion / Ascension hymn in 1866. It was first published in his collection “Altar Song verses on the Holy Eucharist” in 1868.

Rowland Prichard was born in Bala in Graienyn in 1811 and he wrote the tune “Hyfrydol” when he was 20 years old. The hymnal “Haleliwiah Drachefn” is where Prichard’s tune first appeared in 1855. Many English choir boys over the years have referred to Prichard’s tune as “Hydrofoil.”

Austin Lovelace, in his book, “Hymn Notes for Church Bulletins” writes that Dix, “… wrote this text as a new Communion hymn for the Church of England. However, the ‘communion’ stanza is usually omitted, making the text more generally useful for praise, adoration or Ascension.”



1. Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!
His the scepter, his the throne;
Alleluia! His the triumph,
His the victory alone;
Hark! The songs of peaceful Zion
Thunder like a mighty flood;
Jesus out of every nation
Has redeemed us by his blood.

2. Alleluia! Not as orphans
Are we left in sorrow now;
Alleluia! He is near us,
Faith believes, nor questions how:
Though the cloud from sight received him,
When the forty days were o’er,
Shall our hearts forget his promise,
“I am with you evermore?”

3. Alleluia! Bread of Angels,
Here on earth our food, our stay!
Alleluia! Here the sinful
Flee to you from day to day:
Intercessor, friend of sinners,
Earth’s redeemer, plead for me,
Where the sons of all the sinless
Sweep across the crystal sea.

4. Alleluia! King eternal,
You the Lord of lords we own;
Alleluia! Born of Mary,
Earth your footstool, heav’n your throne:
You, within the veil, have entered,
Robed in flesh, our great high priest;
Here on earth both priest and victim
In the Eucharistic feast.