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Representative Text
1 I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses;
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,
The Son of God discloses.
Refrain:
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
2 He speaks, and the sound of
His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing;
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing. [Refrain]
3 I'd stay in the garden with Him
Tho' the night around me be falling;
But He bids me go; thro' the voice of woe,
His voice to me is calling. [Refrain]
Baptist Hymnal, 1991
Author: C. Austin Miles
Text Information
- Text Information
- Lectionary Weeks
- Scripture References
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First Line: | I come to the garden alone |
Title: | In the Garden |
Author: | C. Austin Miles (1913) |
Meter: | 8.9.10.7 with refrain |
Language: | English |
Refrain First Line: | And he walks with me, and he talks with me |
Copyright: | Public Domain |
Liturgical Use: | Songs of Response |
- Year A, Holy Week season, Tuesday of Holy Week
- Year A, Easter season, Easter Day
- Year B, Holy Week season, Tuesday of Holy Week
- Year B, Easter season, Easter Day
- Year C, Holy Week season, Wednesday of Holy Week
- Year C, Easter season, Easter Evening
For Leaders
- Bulletin Blurb
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One occasionally hears stories of someone who disappeared and was assumed dead suddenly reappearing to their family and loved ones in a joyful surprise. Imagine how much greater Mary Magdalene's shock and elation was when Jesus, whom she had seen dead and buried three days earlier (Mark 15:40, 47), suddenly called her by name and she turned and saw Him, very much alive and in person (John 20:16). This hymn elaborates on the emotions she may have felt in that moment, when her grief was turned to joy.
Text:
This text was written by C. Austin Miles in 1912. By his own account (as given in George Sanville's Forty Gospel Hymn Stories), he saw a vivid dream after reading John 20, and was then inspired to write this hymn about the first encounter between Mary Magdalene and her risen Lord.
Miles's hymn has been criticized for being overly sentimental and even erotic. When put in the context of the Scripture that inspired it, one can see that Miles wrote the song from Mary's point of view. In it, she expresses the great joy she must have felt on suddenly hearing and seeing her beloved Savior after witnessing His death and burial (Mark 15:40, 47). However, the long and loving communion to which the refrain alludes is not recorded or implied in the biblical account (John 20:14-18), which rather indicates that their conversation was quite short – as soon as Mary recognizes Jesus, He tells her to go. Perhaps Miles means that that moment was so overflowing with the sudden change of emotions from grief to joy that time seemed to stand still.
Tune:
The tune GARDEN was written at the same time as the text by C. Austin Miles. They were published for the first time together in The Gospel Message No. 2 in 1912. Originally, the tune had two-part treble harmony on the stanza and standard four-part harmony on the refrain, but in modern hymnals, the entire hymn is given in four-part harmony. Because the hymn was written from Mary's point of view, it might be good to have the women or a soloist sing the entire song, or just the stanzas (with the entire group on the refrain).
When/Why/How:
Because this hymn narrates and expands on part of the Resurrection account, it is best suited for Easter morning, whether in a simple handbell setting like “In the Garden” as a quiet prelude, or an organ setting for an offertory (as in “With Everlasting Alleluias”, or a choral anthem based on “In the Garden” before the sermon. Unlike many Easter hymns, which overflow with proclamations of victory well suited to brass and full organ, this hymn provides a relatively quiet reflection best suited to simple piano or light instruments.
Tiffany Shomsky,
Hymnary.org
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Instances
Instances (1 - 44 of 44)
African American Heritage Hymnal #494
Display Title: In the Garden First Line: I come to the garden alone Tune Title: GARDEN Author: C. Austin Miles, 1868-1946 Meter: 8 9 10 7 with refrain Scripture: Genesis 3:8 Date: 2001 Subject: Fellowship | with God; God | Love and Mercy; Jesus Christ | His Love and Mercy; Jesus Christ | Our Love For Jesus
African American Heritage Hymnal #494
Ambassador Hymnal #548
Display Title: In the Garden First Line: I come to the garden alone Tune Title: IN THE GARDEN Author: C. Austin Miles, 1868-1946 Meter: 8 9 10 7 w/refrain Date: 1994 Subject: Closing Hymns | ; Comfort & Rest | ; Death | ; Devotional | ; Eternal Destiny | ; Forgiveness | ; Inner Life | ; Testimony |
Ambassador Hymnal #548
Celebrating Grace Hymnal #200
Display Title: In the Garden First Line: I come to the garden alone Tune Title: GARDEN Author: C. Austin Miles Meter: 8.9.5.5.7 with refrain Scripture: John 20:11-18 Date: 2010 Subject: Christian Year-Eastertide | ; God the Son | Eastertide
Celebrating Grace Hymnal #200
Chalice Hymnal #227
Display Title: In the Garden First Line: I come to the garden alone Tune Title: GARDEN Author: C. Austin Miles Meter: 89.557 w. refrain Scripture: John 20:11-17 Date: 1995 Subject: Christian Year: Easter | ; Comfort | ; God Known in Jesus Christ | Resurrection and Exaltation; Jesus Christ | ; Jesus Christ: Resurrection | ; Joy | ; Serenity |
Chalice Hymnal #227
Hymns for a Pilgrim People #205
Display Title: In the Garden First Line: I come to the garden alone Tune Title: GARDEN Author: C. Austin Miles, 1868-1946 Meter: Irregular Scripture: John 20:20 Date: 2007 Subject: Assurance | ; Easter | ; Funeral | ; Guidance | ; Jesus Christ | ; Presence of God | ; Resurrection |
Hymns for a Pilgrim People #205
Hymns of Faith #19
Display Title: In the Garden First Line: I come to the garden alone Tune Title: [I come to the garden alone] Author: C. Austin Miles Scripture: John 20:11-18; John 20:18 Date: 1980 Subject: Christ | Resurrection; Fellowship | with God
Hymns of Faith #19
Hymns of Promise #174
Display Title: In the Garden First Line: I come to the garden alone Tune Title: GARDEN Author: C. Austin Miles, 1868-1946 Meter: 8.9.10.7.Ref. Scripture: John 20:1-18 Date: 2015 Subject: Easter |
Hymns of Promise #174
Lead Me, Guide Me (2nd ed.) #425
Display Title: In the Garden First Line: I come to the garden alone Tune Title: GARDEN Author: C. Austin Miles, 1868-1946 Meter: 8 9 10 7 with refrain Scripture: John 20:11-18 Date: 2012 Subject: Easter Season | Resurrection; Easter Vigil | ; Guidance | ; Joy | ; Love for Jesus Christ | ; Petition, Prayer | ; Presence of God |
Lead Me, Guide Me (2nd ed.) #425
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism #545
Display Title: In the Garden First Line: I come to the garden alone Tune Title: GARDEN Author: C. Austin Miles, 1868-1946 Meter: 8 9 10 7 with refrain Scripture: Genesis 3:8; Psalm 5:3; John 10:3; John 18:1; John 20:11-18 Date: 2018 Subject: Inner Peace | ; Joy | ; Prayer | ; The Gospel in the Christian Life | Healing and Comfort
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism #545
Rejoice Hymns #507
Display Title: In the Garden First Line: I come to the garden alone Tune Title: GARDEN Author: C. Austin Miles, 1868-1946 Meter: Irregular Date: 2011 Subject: Assurance and Confidence | ; Guidance | ; Prayer |
Rejoice Hymns #507
Sing Joyfully #267
Display Title: In the Garden First Line: I come to the garden alone Tune Title: [I come to the garden alone] Author: C. Austin Miles Date: 1989 Subject: Fellowship | with God
Sing Joyfully #267
Songs of Zion #44
Display Title: In the Garden First Line: I come to the garden alone Tune Title: [I come to the garden alone] Author: C. A. M. Date: 1981 Subject: Hymns |
Songs of Zion #44
The New Century Hymnal #237
Display Title: I Come to the Garden Alone (In the Garden) First Line: I come to the garden alone Tune Title: GARDEN Author: C. Austin Miles Meter: 8.9.5.5.7. with refrain Scripture: John 20:14-18 Date: 1995 Subject: Biblical Names | ; Easter | ; Jesus Christ | Presence of
The New Century Hymnal #237
The United Methodist Hymnal #314
Display Title: In the Garden (I Come to the Garden Alone) First Line: I come to the garden alone Tune Title: GARDEN Author: C. Austin Miles Meter: 89.557 with Refrain Scripture: John 20:11-18 Date: 1989 Subject: Biblical Narrative | ; Christ's Gracious Life | Resurrection and Exaltation; Christian Year | Ascension; Christian Year | Easter; Jesus Christ | ; Jesus Christ | Love For; Joy |
The United Methodist Hymnal #314
Timeless Truths #962
Display Title: In the Garden First Line: I come to the garden alone Tune Title: [I come to the garden alone] Author: C. A. M. Meter: 8.9.10.7 R Scripture: John 20:15-16 Subject: Jesus/Savior | Source: Anonymous/Unknown, The Blue Book (1); Timeless Truths (//library.timelesstruths.org/music/In_the_Garden)
Timeless Truths #962
Total Praise #492
Display Title: In the Garden First Line: I come to the garden alone Tune Title: GARDEN Author: C. Austin Miles, 1868-1946 Meter: 8 9 10 7 with refrain Scripture: Genesis 3:8 Date: 2011 Subject: Fellowship with God | ; Guidance | ; Jesus Christ | His Love and Mercy; Jesus Christ | Our Love For Jesus; Joy | ; Prayer and Intercession |
Total Praise #492
Worship and Rejoice #300
Display Title: In the Garden First Line: I come to the garden alone Tune Title: GARDEN Author: C. Austin Miles, 1868-1946 Meter: 8.9.10.7.Ref. Scripture: Genesis 3:8; Psalm 5:3; John 10:3; John 10:27; John 20:10-18 Date: 2003
Worship and Rejoice #300
Worship and Service Hymnal #311
Display Title: In the Garden First Line: I come to the garden alone Tune Title: [I come to the garden alone] Author: C. Austin Miles, 1868-1946 Date: 2006 Subject: Christ | Resurrection; Duets | ; Resurrection | ; The Christian Way of Life | Assurance and Trust
Worship and Service Hymnal #311
Worship in Song #121
Display Title: In the Garden First Line: I come to the garden alone Tune Title: IN THE GARDEN Author: C. Austin Miles Scripture: John 20:11-18 Date: 1996 Subject: Jesus as friend | ; Joy | ; Living Christ | ; Singing (or Song) |
Worship in Song #121
Yes, Lord! #87
Display Title: In the Garden First Line: I come to the garden alone Tune Title: [I come to the garden alone] Author: C. Austin Miles Date: 1982 Subject: Comfort |
Yes, Lord! #87
찬송과 예배 = Chansong gwa yebae = Come, Let Us Worship #296
Display Title: 저 장 미 꽃 위 에 이 슨 (In the Garden (I Come to the Garden Alone)) First Line: 저 장 미 꽃 위 에 이 슨 (I come to the garden alone) Tune Title: GARDEN Author: C. Austin Miles Meter: 89.557 with Refrain Scripture: John 20:11-18 Date: 2001 Subject: Christian Life | ; Christian Year | Easter; Jesus Christ | Friend; Jesus Christ | Name of; Trust and Assurance | ; 교회 년 | 부활절; 그리스도인의 삶 | ; 신 뢰 와 확신 | ; 예 수 그 리 스 도 | 친 구; 예 수 의 이 름 | Source: Korean trans. The United Methodist Korean Hymnal Committee
찬송과 예배 = Chansong gwa yebae = Come, Let Us Worship #296
Include 201 pre-1979 instances