Rise, my soul, and stretch thy wings,
Thy better portion trace;
Rise from all terrestrial things
Towards heaven, thy native place;
Sun, and moon, and stars decay;
Time shall soon this earth remove;
Rise, my soul, and haste away
To seats prepared above.
Rivers to the ocean run,
Nor stay in all their course;
Fire, ascending, seeks the sun;
Both speed them to their source;
So a soul that's born of God
Pants to view his glorious face,
Upwards tends to his abode,
To rest in his embrace.
Hymn Text Information: In the 18th century when this text first appeared under the title "The Pilgrim's Song," there were no copyright laws. Dr. Nares is one of several people who printed it in hymnbooks and attached their name to the text even though they did not create it. It is not known for certain who wrote the text. The song was popular in Britain and America in the 18th and 19th centuries.