JESUS CHRIST >> RESURRECTION & ASCENSION
SDAH 175
Now the green blade rises from the buried grain,
What that in dark earth many days has lain;
Love lives again, that with the dead has been;
Love is come again like wheat arising green.
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Hymn Spotlight: Now the Green Blade Rises
A powerful image from nature illustrates the miracle of the Resurrection: just as green blades rise after winter’s cold, so Christ rose from the grave, bringing life from death. Written by J.M.C. Crum in 1928, it is set to a French carol tune. The hymn draws from John 12:24 and echoes Paul’s message in 1 Corinthians 15—death has lost its sting! In every season of loss, may this hymn remind us that Christ is risen, and new life awaits.
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Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
This text was written for the French carol tune that was associated with words beginning “Noel nouvelet.” It was first published in The Oxford Book of Carols, 1928. The tune is in the Dorian mode, but with the sixth note of the scale raised a half step. The famous French organist Marcel Dupré used it as a basis for his Variations on a Noel.
John Macleod Campbell Crum was born at Mere Old Hall, Cheshire, England, on October 12, 1872, and was educated at Eton, then at New College, Oxford. Ordained a deacon in 1897 and a priest of the Church of England in 1900, he served a number of churches before being appointed canon of Canterbury Cathedral in 1928. He remained in this position until 1943, when he was made canon emeritus. Among the many books he published were The Original Jerusalem Gospel, 1927, and St. Mark’s Gospel, Two Stages of Its Making, 1936. He died at Farnum on December 19, 1958. Martin Shaw (1875–1958; see Biographies) was the editor of The Oxford Book of Carols, 1928.
Stanza:
1 – John 12:24
2 – Luke 23:53
3 – Luke 24:6, 7
Text
1
Now the green blade rises from the buried grain,
Wheat that in dark earth many days has lain;
Love lives again, that with the dead has been;
Love is come again like wheat arising green.
2
In the grave they laid Him, love by hatred slain,
Thinking that He would never wake again,
Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen;
Love is come again like wheat arising green.
3
Forth He came in triumph, like the risen grain,
He that for three days in the grave had lain;
Raised from the dead, my living Lord is seen;
Love is come again like wheat arising green.
4
When our hearts are wintry, grieving, or in pain,
Your touch can call us back to life again,
Field of our hearts that dead and bare have been;
Love is come again like wheat arising green.
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) John 12:24 (b) Luke 23:53 (c) Luke 24:6, 7
Author
John M.C. Crum (1872-1958)
Performance Suggestions
Unison
Copyright
Words and arrangement from the Oxford Book of Carols by permission of Oxford University Press
Hymn Tune
NOEL NOUVELET
Metrical Number
11.10.10.11.
Arranged
Martin Shaw (1875-1958)
Tune Source
French carol
One reply on “SDAH 175: Now the Green Blade Rises”
Thank you for your ministry! I have found this site to be an excellent resource.
However, I need to point out that the lyrics in this score are not correctly aligned with the notes.