This edition was prepared by Barry Johnston — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Complainer
Staff Notation • Sacred
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2 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
SATB · Barry Johnston
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Complainer by William Walker — Lyrics
Purify: Hymns and Spiritual Songs, 18261833
1. I am the great complainer
that bears the name of Christ;
Come all ye Zion mourners,
and listen to my cries;
I have many sore temptations,
with sorrow to my soul:
My faith, I fear's declining,
and my affections cold.
2. I wish it was now with me,
as it was in days of old,
When the glorious light of Jesus
was shining on my soul;
But now l am distressed,
and I no peace can see,
For I am filled with mourning
like the dove on every tree.
3. My mind Is so confounded
I cannot see my way,
I meet such sore temptations
that I neglect to pray;
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About Complainer
William Walker's Complainer is a sacred song for SATB choir, sung in English. The text expresses the deep personal struggles of a believer who feels spiritually distant from God and overwhelmed by 'sore temptations'. The lyrics paint a poignant picture of internal conflict, where the singer longs for the intense spiritual connection of the past, contrasting it with present feelings of distress, coldness, and a perceived decline in faith. The composer captures the lament of someone feeling lost and left behind, unable to find solace or strength amidst their spiritual trials.
