Life Without Joy

Life Without Joy

"Gwahoddiad", despite its popularity in Wales and its Welsh name and words, was in fact written in 1872, in English, by the American Methodist minister and gospel songwriter Lewis Hartsough in Epworth, Iowa, where Hartsough was minister. He titled it: "I Am Coming, Lord!". The Welsh version "Gwahoddiad" was translated by Calvinistic Methodist minister and musician Ieuan Gwyllt (literally John the Wild, bardic name of John Roberts) (1822–1877).

It is a beautiful hymn and Hartsough's arrangement is particularly suited to Welsh choirs where it has found lasting fame as part of their rich canon. To me the tune is asking questions of the powers that be, unhappy with it's lot. I began to write down things that the average person might be annoyed about and the song took control.

One might well ask whether a song about depression is a valid choice for a hymn and I agree that it is not a traditional subject. Nonetheless, depression is something that many people suffer, including some that may be present within a given congregation and if the hymn is sung it gives the depressed a chance to sing out their pain and the rest of the congregation a chance to understand that pain through the hymn.

Depression is something that the generally contented do not easily understand and consequently they find it difficult to help a friend who is. If this hymn helps with their understanding which helps in assisting the sufferer then it has been worth it.

The reference to suicide in the final line also helps the generally contented in understanding why a depressed person might choose to take their own life. This line is confronting but suicide is a serious business and people need shaking out of their comfort zone if they are to understand it. It also makes this hymn appropriate to be sung at the funeral of a suicide. It is normally a forbidden subject in current times but a funeral where the elephant in the room is not addressed front and centre is a farce that is an insult to the memory of the real person that died.

Words: Warren Mars: 2018
Music: Lewis Hartsough (1828-1872) "Gwahoddiad"

When the morning sunlight beams into my sleepy eyes,
I force myself up out of bed to face another day.
Where is all the fun? Where my worthy prize?
This life is not all that I hoped, or else I've lost my way.

As I work throughout the day, performing as I'm told,
Sometimes I feel just like a slave and wish that I were free.
Free to be alive! Free to find my gold!
If everything feels like a chore then what's the point for me?

At the ending of the week, I count my hard-earned pay,
And find when all the bills are paid what's left is rather small.
Why should I be poor? Why can I not play?
Why must I always go without, when others have it all?

In my youth I had a dream, a plan to let me fly.
But life has always cut me down and left my dream denied.
Still I want my chance. Still I want to try.
I need to show just who I am before it's dead inside.

There's a point in many lives, where problems cross the line,
And misery is all around and nothing gets you high.
No, it isn't fair. No, the sun won't shine.
Each life must have its share of joy or else it's best to die.

The vocal score with chords is provided here in Eb and here in D.
I have also provided an SATB arrangement for choirs here.

Finally, I have provided a recording of my computer synthesizer playing the SATB arrangement. There is no singing and the synthesizer is very ordinary. Nevertheless the parts are all there and one can sing along with it or use it get an idea of how it should sound with your choir.