O Remember Adam's Fall
- Renée Coventry
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Advent is the arrival of a “notable person,” which in Christendom is an understatement for the arrival of Christ on earth. Interestingly, many of the early hymnals celebrating Advent call on humanity to remember from whence they came, and to appreciate, revere, and glorify the gift of God in Christ all the more. Such is the case with the hymn, O Remember Adam’s Fall.
This hymn was written by Thomas Ravenscroft (1592-1635), who was a chorister of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London and often wrote music performed at the Globe Theatre. Beautifully sung, the beginning of this song reminds us of original sin, yet ends with thanksgiving to God “for this, our happy day.” It tells the nativity story from the angels’ song to the shepherds and stable, reminding us that it was for our sake that Christ was born in such lowliness. Our only response to such an act of humility is worship.
May today, we join with Ravenscroft and declare, “Holy, holy.”
O Remember Adam’s Fall
O remember Adam’s fall, O thou man, O, thou man!
O remember Adam’s fall from heaven to hell!
O remember Adam’s fall, how we were condemned all
Into hell perpetual, there for to dwell.
O remember, O thou man, O thou man, O thou man,
O remember O thou man, thy time misspent!
O remember, O thou man, how thou from thy God didst run,
And His presence thou didst shun, therefore repent!
O remember God’s goodness, O thou man, O thou man!
O remember God’s goodness and promise made!
O remember God’s goodness, all our evil to redress
(When we were remediless) and be our aid.
Oh, the angels all did sing, O thou man, O thou man!
Oh, the angels all did sing, on heaven’s high hill!
Oh, the angels all did sing: ‘Praise be to our glorious King,
And on earth, in ev’rything, to men good will!’
Oh, the shepherds startled were, O thou man, O thou man!
Oh, the shepherds started were at this strange thing!
Oh, the shepherds startled were when near Bethlehem they did hear
That Christ Jesus was born there to be our King!
To the stable they did go, O thou man, O thou man!
To the stable they did go, this thing to see;
To the stable they did go, devoutly asking if ‘twas so,
If Christ had been born or no, to set us free.
In a stable he was born, O thou man, O thou man!
In a stable he was born for lost man’s sake;
In a stable he was born: for us wretches, and forlorn,
Our Redeemer thought no scorn our flesh to take.
O give thanks to God alway, O thou man, O thou man!
O give thanks to God always, joyfully!
O give thanks to God always for this , our happy day;
Let all men sing and say: ‘Holy, holy!’
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