This was a cover I wanted to do since 2011, since back when I was in Hatfield, a fledgling organist in the local parish church hearing many hymns for the first time. This particular one, "Lead, kindly light," is set to three tunes, one of which is a miners' tune, simply called Sandon. This is my favourite hymn *of all time.* Incidentally, this hymn was sung through the sinking of the Titanic, a notable mining disaster of the last century, World War I, and the Holocaust, and is one of Mahatma Gandhi's favourites.

I am releasing this now, because the writer of the words -- John Henry Newman -- is going to be canonised (made Saint) on 13 October this year. I knew, back in 2011 when I first heard the hymn, that it was eventually gonna happen; I didn't expect it to be so soon. Because, you see, when I set foot in Britain back in 2010, he was being beatified (made Blessed).

Re the arrangement: I'd kept the backing vocals and chord progression in my head since 2011, and it has been screaming in my head, desperate to come out. Now here it is, and this is the best I can do with it at this point. I hope the song moves you all as much as it did me.

Both these lyrics AND the tune, Sandon, are in the public domain. The tune was written by C.H. Purdy (1799 - 1885). All voices mine. Arranged / recorded / mixed / mastered in under two weeks.

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LYRICS:

Lead, kindly light, amid th'encircling gloom,
lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
the distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou
shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now
lead Thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
pride ruled my will. Remember not past years!

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still
will lead me on.
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
the night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
which I have loved long since, and lost awhile!

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**Newman only wrote three verses; the fourth verse on Wikipedia is stated to have been added by Edward H Bickersteth Jr.