Hicks’ Farewell

Lyrics

[Intro: Spoken] Just before the Civil War, there was a missionary Baptist preacher named Reverend Hicks who lived in central South Carolina He decided to go into east Tennesse to do some missionary work And while he was there he became very sick of a fever And thinking he would die, he wrote this song, the words and the music, and sent them back to his wife so they might be published [Verse 1] The time is swiftly rolling on When I must faint and die My body to the dust return And there forgotten lie [Verse 2] Let persecutions rage around Let Antichrist appear Beneath the cold and silent ground There's no disturbance there [Verse 3] Through heats and cold, I've toiled and went And wandered in despair To call poor sinners to repent And seek the Savior dear [Verse 4] My brother preachers, boldly speak And stand on Zion's wall Confirm the strong, revive the weak And after sinners call [Verse 5] My little children, near my heart And nature seems to bind It grieves me sorely to depart And leave you here behind [Verse 6] Oh Lord, a father to them be And keep them from all harm That they may love and worship Thee And dwell upon Thy charm [Verse 7] My loving wife, my bosom friend The object of my love The time's been sweet I spent with thee My sweet, my harmless dove [Verse 8] Though I must now depart from thee Let this not grieve your heart For you will shortly come to me Where we shall never part