Burleigh – O Perfect Love

Song Information

Title: O Perfect Love (Wedding Song)

Music: Harry Thacker Burleigh (1866-1949)

Text: Dorothy Frances Blomfield (1858-1932)

Sheet Music

Free at Art Song Central:

  • PDF: O Perfect Love
    • Key: F Major
    • Range: B♭3 – D5 (F5)
    • note: this is a minimally edited transposition of the version below from Project Gutenberg.

Elsewhere on the Internet:

  • Transcribed at Project Gutenberg
    • Key: PDF file available in A♭ Major
    • Range: D4 – F5 (A♭5)
    • Finale .mus file available to edit or transpose

Audio Files

Mp3:

  • Available at Project Gutenberg. (However, it is merely an audio recording of the midi file.)

MIDI:

Song Text

O perfect Love, all human thought transcending,
lowly we kneel in prayer before thy throne,
that theirs may be the love which knows no ending,
whom thou forevermore dost join in one.

O perfect Life, be thou their full assurance,
of tender charity and steadfast faith,
of patient hope and quiet, brave endurance,
with childlike trust that fears nor pain nor death.

Grant them the joy which brightens earthly sorrow;
grant them the peace which calms all earthly strife,
and to life’s day the glorious unknown morrow
that dawns upon eternal love and life.

Resources

  • Seiyaku.com has the story of the hymn text that served as the lyric for this song.