The day draws on with golden light

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a stark contrast between earthly joy and profound fear as a powerful figure approaches. While the "golden light" and "glad songs" suggest a celebratory atmosphere, the "deep makes moan with wailing fear," indicating a deep-seated dread accompanying this arrival. This juxtaposition immediately sets a tone of momentous, perhaps even terrifying, change. The central tension revolves around the arrival of a "mighty King" who intends to conquer death itself. The narrative shifts from the initial apprehension to a declaration of victory over the "gloomy reign" of death and the "weary prisoner's chain." This King, previously "enclosed" and guarded, is now returning "strong and free" to usher in "jubilee." The most striking element is the dramatic reversal of fortune for the "sad apostles." Initially mourning their "Lord" who was "slain" and "doom[ed] to die," they are commanded to "put their grief away" as "the pains of hell are loosed." The Angel's cry, "Your Lord is risen," transforms despair into triumphant belief, highlighting the profound impact of this resurrection. These lyrics resonate because they capture the raw emotional shift from abject despair to ecstatic relief. The craft lies in the direct confrontation of death's power and its subsequent shattering by divine intervention. The final prayer for believers to "share thy paschal mystery" solidifies the theme of overcoming mortality, offering a powerful message of hope grounded in this pivotal event.